Monthly Archives: May 2012

Pav bhaji


Pav bhaji is the most famous street food of India and most popular snack. Pav means bread (bun) bhaji means mixed vegetables curry. Spicy gravy is prepared in which various boiled vegetables are added and mashed well and served with a butter fried pav (bread or bun). As soon as I say mashing the vegetables, only one thing come to my mind is taka tak. Taka tak means mashing the vegetables and the sauce together with a spatula on the big pan or tava, they will be holding one spatula or 2 and will be doing taka tak – taka tak on the vegetables, till it is mashed and mixed well with their sauce.


Ragda patties


Ragda patties the most popular snack and chaat food of Mumbai and is available in every chaat stall. It is usually found near the chaat based vendors who will be selling pani puri and other chaats. Ragda patties is a curried dry peas which is spooned over the potato patties, it is like aloo tikki chaat. Ragda patties are served with pav, but I have served with just ragda patties or with some small puris which is served for pani puris, with onions and with 2 different chutneys (green chutney and tamarind chutney) and other spices.


Pani puri


Pani puri(in south and other places) has many names and each state has its own name as puchka (culcutta) or golgappa or pani kae bataashe (Marathi). Pani puri is the best and the most favourite and popular street food of India. Pani puri can be eaten as a chaat or snack. The filling and the water which goes inside differs from place to place and each house prepares it differently as per their taste. I have made pani with mint and tamarind flavoured, which gives the real chaat vendors taste, next time aim going to make pani with different flavours.


Kolkata style tamarind chutney


This is my most favourite sweet chutney among other tamarind chutneys. I got this recipe from my friend who is from Calcutta; she shared her recipe with me. I made this sweet tamarind chutney which is different and tastes very good. In this I have added green chillies and coriander leaves which makes different from my previous chutney. For this you need tamarind pulp, buy dry tamarind which is red colour not black as it will not give you good colour.


Malabar fish biryani


Fish Biryani is every ones favourite dish like any other mutton Biryani or chicken Biryani. Malabar Fish Biryani is similar how we cook in our house but slight changes are there. In Malabar muslim biryani they use coconut milk (optional), raisins and cashew nuts as this recipe was shared by our neighbour when we were in Coimbatore and they used to serve with pickle and raitha.


Dry anchovies fish and egg curry


Dry fish curry, is made in south part of India, where fish is available in abundance and near the coastal area where people eat lot of sea food. If you go near the beaches, sometimes can see dry fishes, where fishermen have put there nets or fresh fish to dry on the hot sand. Each dry fish has its own taste like dry king fish (vangaram in tamil) can be fried or cooked like semi gravy with brinjal or can make khar.


Thenga manga pattani sundal


In Chennai the most popular snack which is very popular and sold near Marina beach is Thenga manga pattani sundal. Thenga manga pattani sundal is a snack which is eaten mostly near the marina beach in Chennai or near the parks. A boy comes with his barefoot on the sand and with his sundal bucket, some murk (made with rice flour, with some spices) and some news papers with him. With the help of newspaper he make a cone shape pocket and serves the sundal. I always ask him to top with more mango pieces.


Okra in tangy coconut sauce (Bhindi ka khatta salan)


Okra or Ladies Finger (Bhindi) is a favourite of all in my house, either stir fry (Poriyal) or in the curry form, it is loved by every one. This time I prepared okra in tangy Coconut sauce, which is a mixture of Coconut and Tamarind. This is the base for the curry; in this you can add Potato, Arvi (Colocasia), fried Paneer too and for the non vegetarians both Vegetable and Meat (Lamb/Mutton, Prawns and Chicken) is added, can see my previous recipe Mutton and Okra in tangy sauce.


Bhindi fry


Bhindi fry (okra fry) is very famous in north and south places, but it is prepared differently in each house. In our home I fry it as I do for other vegetables stir fry (Poriyal), but in this we have to keep stiring Bhindi(Okra) as it can stick to the vessel because of its gluey and sticky texture. Bhindi(Okra) fry is my brothers and my mother in laws favourite, of course me to, we all love it.


Matar paneer


Matar paneer a popular main course dish of north Indians and every ones favourite and popular through out in India and mostly ordered dish in restaurants. For vegetarians paneer is a must in their parties and in their daily meal too but not often. Each house prepares this dish differently and in their own style. I have made it myself so many variations like in creamy sauce, coconut gravy and many more. I have used tomato puri(concentrated) and kasmir chilli powder for colour.