Geetha's Kitchen

A rich and delicious Korma-like stew, Masala Kadapa is a fabulous taste treat served with Idlis and Dosai in Kumbakonam -Thanjavur area, the Eastern part of South India. Masala Kadapa is just like Simple Kadapa  but is enriched with the fragrant addition of a few more spices. It is phenomenal as a side served with Pongal, plain rice, etc. also. Although split and skinless yellow moong/mung dal is the traditional dal used in this stew, I have used others with good results. For example, if I make Sambar or a Red Lentil dish, I usually cook a little extra Toor Dal/red lentils and put aside to use in making Rasam, mulagutal, etc. I also often add cooked whole Peas, Chickpeas, etc in addition to whichever dal I use if they happened to be available.  The traditional Kadapa uses only potatoes; I love to add lots of vegetables in my recipes as they make them filling and rich in nutrients. I have included carrots, green beans, cauliflower and green peas in addition to the ...

Fresh and Tangy Cucumber Salad With Chili-Lime Dressing is so delicious that even those who are not salad afficionados will enjoy it. The dressing adds sweetness, tartness, and heat; combined with crunchy fresh cucumbers, it is a match made in foodie heaven! Cucumber Salad With Chili-Lime Dressing Fresh and Tangy Cucumber Salad maybe served with any meal or enjoyed as a refreshing starter or snack. I love to offer it especially with Asian/Indian themed meals. NOTES: Use the greenhouse grown English type, Japanese , Armenian or the smaller Persian cucumbers. Regular cucumbers release a lot of moisture; but if only the regular types are available, remove the core and seeds and use.  Fresh red chilies add a lovely flavor to the salad; if not available, soften dried chiles in warm water or use a little ground cayenne. The salad maybe served with or without the nut/seeds. 2-4 Servings INGREDIENTS: Dressing: 1 clove fresh Garlic 1-2 pinches Sa...

Sevai or Rice Noodles are popular South Indian dishes one can cook up in a jiffy nowadays with dried rice nooldes for a quick and delicious gluten-free treat for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner! Plain dried rice noodles are readily available in Indian and Asian Markets. Simple sevai is delicious but the Lemony and Coconut Sevai are simply fabulous with their tangy and aromatic flavors respectively. It is quite amazing how the addition of one or two ingredients transform the plain into sublime! Traditional Lemony Sevai does not contain any veggies; but I love to add them sometimes.  Once you have cooked the plain sevai, it is fun to make it into two or three different types by adding the appropriate seasonings and other ingredients. Here directions for Simple, Lemony and Coconut Sevai are given. The other favorites are Puli (Tamarind), Sweet Sevai, Ellu/(Sesame) Sevai and Thair or Yogurt Sevai; recipes will follow soon.  Although simple sevai is an everyday dis...

Red Onion Salad Red Onion Salad, though simple, is quite delicious served as a side salad or as a topping for other salads, sandwiches, soups, stews, and main dishes in many cuisines - Indian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, etc. The lime juice, chile and the herbs bring a burst of fresh flavor to every bite. We love this as a condiment to most meals. Although limes are the citrus fruits of choice (key limes as well as other limes are equally delicious), lemons work fine also. If red onions are not handy, other kinds may be used which then will be simply "Onion Salad" :-). Variation: If tomatoes are added, then we have Red Onion & Tomato Salad! Stir in two thinly sliced tomatoes. Adjust the amounts of lime juice, chile, cilantro, and the seasonings if tomatoes are added. Ingredients: 1 medium Red Onion, finely sliced/slivered 1 Red Bell Pepper, very thinly sliced 1 hot Red or Green chile (serrano or jalapeño), cored and sliced thinly 2-4 Tbsp...

         Indian Aloo/Batata Roast     Patates Fournou Roasted potatoes are irresistible whether they are prepared the Indian or Greek way. In India this is Aloo or Batata Fry/Roast, in Greece, Patates Fournou. Patates Fournou is so like this  Indian  one - only the choice of oil and spices are slightly different. Which way to go? - a tough choice - but both are delicious. Although I like to use small potatoes - red, white, yellow, blue or brown - any type will work very nicely. Garlic may be added to the Aloo/Batata Roast as well if you enjoy garlic. 4 Servings   Ingredients: 2 lbs Potatoes Salt & Pepper 1/2 tsp Turmeric 1 Lemon/Lime 2-3 Tbsp Fresh Spearmint, finely sliced - for garnish Extra Lemon/Lime wedges, as needed for serving Indian:  2-4 Tbsp Coconut or other oil, 2 tsp coarsely ground Cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp ground red pepper. Greek:  2-4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3 cloves f...

Kadapa With Idlis Kadapa is a very tasty and flavorful saucy korma type of stew to accompany Idli and Dosa instead of the usual Sambar! It is very similar to Poricha Kuzhambu or Molagutal. Kadapa is delicious with roti/pooris as well as served over cooked grains. Coconut, fennel seeds, and lime juice add a lovely flavor to the stew. NOTE: If grinding coconut is not an option, use 1 cup of coconut milk instead of the fresh/frozen/dry. If you prefer, onions and garlic may be omitted. Cumin seeds may be used instead of the fennel. 4-6 Servings Ingredients: Grind together: 1/2 cup fresh/frozen Coconut (1/3 cup dried) 1 tsp Fennel seeds 1 Green Chile, Serrano type 4 - 5 Raw Cashew nuts or a small handful of cashew pieces 1/2 tsp uncooked rice OR roasted Gram Dal (Pottu kadalai) For the Stew: 1/4 to 1/3 cup dry yellow Moong Dal 1 cup Cooked dried Whole Peas, Black-eyed Peas, OR Chickpeas (optional) 1 small Potato, diced 1 Carrot, diced 1 handf...

Yogurt Rice with Mango Pickle, Zucchini With Besan , Papadams You read that right, yes non-dairy! Vegan Yogurt Rice - really and truly vegan! South Indian people raised on yogurt for every meal would appreciate the joy of this vegan version. I had been trying to make vegan yogurt a long time. I tried to find plain unflavored soy or coconut yogurt as a substitute for regular yogurt but have not been lucky to find them. Life without a yogurt substitute has not been easy - but not anymore :-). Now we can have our fill of recipes that usually include yogurt as an important ingredient! In my quest for a replacement for regular yogurt, I made cashew yogurt; it was absolutely lovely but a bit expensive, not practical for daily consumption. Although I had toyed with the idea of making a tofu yogurt for a long time, I just honestly did not find the idea very exciting - until I did it - thinking that if it did not work, I could always compost it! Long story short, I plunged ah...

Ginger Lemonade Concentrate When warm weather approaches, I stock the fridge with good tasting and healthy quenchers.  Ginger Lemonade makes it very easy to include the amazingly healthful ginger in the diet. Kept in the fridge, the ginger lemonade concentrate provides a lovely and refreshing beverage ready to go! Use any variety of lemons or limes in any combination - we especially love the juicy and flavorful Meyer lemons for this. Researchers from around the world are studying the effect of ginger in treating many ailments. Ginger has so many wonderful health benefits, I will list the first 10 that come to mind:  1.  it stops/slows growth of ovarian and colo-rectal cancer cells  2.  effective for treating morning sickness 3.  effective remedy for nausea and motion sickness 4.  reduces pain and inflammation 5.  relieves heartburn and other digestive tract distress 6.  it is a natural treatment for cold, cough...