Geetha's Kitchen

Delicious Indian Coleslaw is a hit! - everyone who tried, absolutely loved it. Hema calls it Vegetable Achar or Achards Des Legume s - as the veggies get a bit pickled in the marinade. Use as a topping on any bread for a lovely, fresh tasting bruschetta, as a filling for a spring roll, wrap, or a sandwich, and as a side dish. With all the fresh tasting and crunchy veggies, Indian Coleslaw really satisfies one's craving for the munchies :-). So go ahead and make a big batch ... you'll be glad you did. Note: My favorite is apple cider vinegar and I do not use any sweetener. Any vinegar may be used including rice vinegar. When you use a vinegar other than seasoned rice vinegar, you might like to add about 1/2 tsp sugar, agave syrup, or other sweetener to the coleslaw to mellow the bite of the vinegar.  Hema's Indian Coleslaw (photo by Hema) Ingredients: 1 Tbsp brown Mustard Seeds, coarsely ground 1/2 tsp - 1 Tbsp Oil 1/2 medium Onion 1-2 cloves Garli...

A very easy but rewarding stew that finds its way into everyone's favorite stew list!  Although similar to the Kerala special Olan , this stew has a bit of spice as well as onions. The simmering results in velvety soft veggies some of which melt into the cooking liquid to make a delectable rich sauce. Fresh curry leaves and freshly ground cumin are the essential flavorings; if curry leaves are unavailable, use cinnamon sticks and bay leaves in addition to the cumin. Green chiles add their magical flavor; removing the core keeps the stew mild. Leave the chiles whole with the blossom ends slightly split for a milder stew; remove and discard the chile at the end of cooking. You may use any flavorful pumpkins, winter squash or orange-colored sweet potatoes for this stew. I have used them all singly or in various combinations with great results. Banana squash Stew   Butternut (l), Castillo (at the back), and Banana squash in front Ingredients: 1 Tbsp Co...

Halwa I had given up on enjoying  traditional halwa  as it is made with ghee. Following a whim, I made it with Earth Balance, a butter substitute and Wow! life got a whole lot better :)! Easy to make and simply delicious, this halwa is low in fats too. It was indeed a Happy Diwali! Any leftovers may be saved in the fridge and reheated to serve; store in the freezer for longer storage. Makes about 6 cups of Halwa Ingredients: 1 cup fine Cream of Wheat 1 1/2 cups Sugar 1/4 cup Earth Balance (butter substitute) 7-8 Green Cardamom Pods 1 small pinch Saffron (Optional) 1/4 cup Raw Cashew pieces 1/4 cup Raisins Method: Dry roast the cream of wheat either in a skillet or in a 350 degree F oven until deep golden; roasting in a skillet will require constant stirring; it burns easily if not careful. Let cool slightly while you proceed with the water. Heat 2 and 1/3 cups of water to boiling; stir in sugar and Earth Balance. Reduce the heat to low and pou...