Whenever we have boiled cassava (see note) for breakfast, my children ask for cherry umman as the side dish. I am only too glad to comply as it takes less than 15 minutes to make this marvelous dipping curry. So I hasten to the acerola cherry bush to look for ripe, red acerola cherries. You can have…
Savory
Uppatta Nonche – Traditional Konkani lime pickle (Vegan + Gluten Free)
I was born into a large joint family. My father was one of nine children, and my mother, the eldest of twelve siblings. My dear late father, a jeweler, was the smartest and the most handsome of the lot. He took it upon himself to conduct every marriage or thread ceremony of all my cousins….
Potato Pakoda – A tasty snack (Vegan)
Most of us around the world love potatoes. Potato lovers like to think that the earth is round like a potato! We are easily annoyed when asked if it isn’t the other way around. To us, a world without potatoes is just impossible! A kitchen without a bag of potatoes, just inconceivable! Both my dear…
Tomato Sauce (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Rows of bottles of tomato sauce line the shelves of every supermarket, every grocery shop. It has become such an indispensable part of our lifestyle in recent years. Whether it is french fries, pizza or fried rice, noodles, gobi manchurian or samosas, tomato sauce is a must. Yet, when one goes through the mandatory list…
Acerola Cherry and Ivy Gourd Pickle (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Konkani people make delicious, tender karonda cherry pickle called karinja nonche in Konkani. It is made using karonda cherries and tender ivy gourds. However, it is a tedious process as the karonda cherries are gummy and need to be processed for days before the pickle can be made. If you substitute the karonda cherries with…
Konkani Chili Pickle (Vegan + Gluten Free)
There are no newspaper boys where I live. Early morning, everyone goes to the tiny village marketplace to pick up their newspapers or to sell their milk and fresh farm produce, or to just gossip over a glass of tea at the local tea shops. This morning, when my husband went there for the newspaper,…
Savory Taushali – A savory cucumber pancake (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Three days ago, my husband and I were watering the vegetables in our garden. Suddenly, our hibiscus hedge parted and the smiling face of our tribal neighbor emerged, accompanied by her little grandson. The brought us two presents. A beautiful, freshly plucked pumpkin and a huge, ripe, thorny cucumber (a sort of Kirby cucumber) grown…
Chili Peanuts – A delicious deep-fried snack (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Nearly everyone loves peanuts (groundnuts). In India, one finds beaches and marketplaces dotted with pushcart peanut vendors, roasting salted, shelled peanuts in hot sand and selling them in little newspaper cones to eager buyers. Such a delight to eat, peanuts are brain food – great for children and adults alike. When peanuts are…
Tomata Gojju – A quick and easy tomato curd curry-salad (Gluten Free)
Sometimes, when guests arrive unexpectedly, or when suddenly, friends accompany family members home at mealtimes, and you find that all you have is just a few onions, tomatoes, chilies and some curd, tomata gojju saves the day! You can serve a simple, satisfying, tasty meal of steaming hot rice, tomata gojju, deep-fried curd chilies or…
Roasted Garlic Chutney (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Looking for a delicious chutney with a storage life of up to 3 months in room temperature? Seeking a chutney you can truly drool over? Are you an office worker too busy to cook a proper meal? Seeking to enrich your lunchbox with a tasty pinch of a superb chutney? Here’s a delicious traditional Konkani…