Geetha's Kitchen

Tangy/spicy Kariveppilai Kuzhambu is delicious with the aroma of fresh curry leaves which are the stars rather than a garnish or an afterthought! It is wonderful with rice and simple veggie dishes especially after enjoying rich festival fare. Curry leaves (kariveppilai) are considered medicinal and healthful so it is often prepared for women after childbirth and convalescents. Kariveppilai Kuzhambu is nicely spicy but not necessarily hot even though there are red chiles and black pepper in the line up; they add flavor and a nice kick. You can increase them if a hotter sauce is required. NOTE: I have used tamarind CONCENTRATE here; if using regular tamarind paste, more maybe needed. If using dried tamarind, use a lime-sized ball (about 2 Tablespoons) and soak in 1/2 cup of warm water for about 10 minutes, knead well, and strain the juices. Add 1/4 cup water to the pulp and knead again. Squeeze out the pulp, fibers, and seeds and discard the solids; add the juices to the first b...

Happy Pongal everyone! Join in the celebration of this festival which is similar to Thanksgiving; giving thanks for the Earth, Sun, and all the bounty of the harvest. This Pongal is very similar to Basic Pongal , a wonderful comfort food, quite simple and delicious. Trying to incorporate healthy ingredients while yet keeping food tasty is quiet a challenge; Multigrain Pongal/Risotto more than rises to it! Although similar to the  barley pongal , this one is prepared without any added fat! Paired with a delicious curry of your choice, it makes an awesome meal; the complex carbohydrates, abundant fiber, and proteins from the grains and dal make it filling and satisfying. This pongal may be made soft or fluffy depending on the amount of water used. Other dals like red lentils, toor dal, or chana dal and grains such as steel cut oats, quinoa, coarse cornmeal/polenta, millet or buckwheat may also be used to make pongal. Since pongal is very mild, spicy and saucy dishes go w...

A friend sent me a list of some super foods that we often overlook but should incorporate into our daily meals; you don't have to eat all of them every single day but include them as often as you can. I have added a few of my own to the list. Check out the following good for you as well as good tasting foods with suggestions on how to include them in your diet. Enjoy!! ARTICHOKES: Low in calories, high in fiber, artichokes are an anti-oxidant food and also good sources of many vitamins and minerals. Try them  whole steamed, the hearts in salads, stir-fry, risotto, and dips. AVOCADO:  Amazingly delicious, creamy and smooth, avocados are anti-inflammatory and a fantastic source of fiber, beneficial fats, carotenoids, Vitamins B5, K, & C, and easily digestible protein.  Serve them in the shell, in salads, dips, sandwiches. Try guacamole or  avocado salsa - yum! BARLEY: A wonderful grain highly prized for its many qualities, it has been eaten by humans...

Whoever has heard of hot milkshake? This is a traditional home remedy for cough!  Whenever we were afflicted with cold and cough, we had this hot milkshake just before bedtime to soothe our cough so everyone could have restful sleep :-). The recipe is very simple with just a couple of ingredients -  although turmeric is the most important, black pepper is added to reduce mucus production.  It is quite a pleasant beverage even if it does not sound like it! 1 serving Ingredients: 1 cup Milk, any type 1/2 tsp Turmeric 1/4 tsp Freshly ground Black Pepper 1 tsp Sugar or Honey Method: Place all the ingredients except the honey into a small pan and heat slowly to almost boiling; simmer for about 5 minutes. Keep heat low while simmering so the shake does not boil over. Strain through a fine sieve into a mug. Add the honey and let cool for a couple of minutes. Serve hot or warm... bottoms up!  Enjoy!! You might also like Ma...

Vegetable soup with parsley, sage, oregano, and thyme is a versatile, delicious, simple, and quick. I made it for a bunch of little children and they ate it all gone!:-)  The veggies can be varied according to the season or your needs.  I add a little pasta to round out everything - especially for my pasta loving  little diners :-).  Another great addition is cooked beans - the beans add protein and fiber too as well as color and great taste. It is wonderful to have the herbs growing in your garden; it does not take much space to grow them - a large pot will work very nicely. Not only is it handy to have your own homegrown herbs to snip as you need, they are economical too and look beautiful on your patio, balcony, etc. Quite often people only use a part of the expensive bundles of herbs for a specific recipe and the rest eventually end up in the waste bin.   The barley broth is particularly delicious in this soup but if you don't have time for it or the i...