Authentic Bisi Bela Bhath

On a cloudy, cold winter day one often craves for something warm and spicy.  This dish will foot the bill perfectly well.

Try 'Authentic Bisi Bela Bhath' from Vidya Swamy's Kitchen.  If you have a variety of left-over vegetables sitting around that you don't know what to do with,  then here's the answer.

Try the tastiest Rava Dosai from Vidya Swamy's kitchen

The recipe for Rava Dosai is no secret as it is too simple. However, the taste varies from kitchen to kitchen.  I guess here is where the cook's aptitude for this art comes in.

Try this recipe of the week from vidyaswamy's kitchen.

Authentic, Spicy Thai Red Curry

This is a simple recipe and takes just over half an hour. If you are stuck in a spot like I am where asian cuisine is hard to come by, then here is a recipe that would beat even a comparable Thai restaurant in a cosmopolitan area.

This Thai Red Curry is a borrowed recipe from my brother who is another 'foodie'. Yes, we come from a long line of food ethusiasts. Try it this week from Vidya Swamy's kitchen. You'll love it; especially the stove-to-table part that takes less than 45 minutes.

What do you do with all the left over turkey after your Thanksgiving dinner?

Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday. I have a huge spread with a mix of both Indian and American dishes. I cook almost all of them, except turkey and a couple others. The kitchen is filled with the aroma of mulled cider, cookies, the masalas and of course, the turkey. It is always hard to stay away from constantly tasting them; so by the time we sit at the table for dinner I am already in a state of food intoxication. But, I don't give up that easily. I just continue eating.

So, after all the turkey one has had at the dinner table and then a couple more turkey sandwiches, what do you do if more of the turkey is still left over? Here's a recipe that will tranfer you to a whole new world. Try it from Vidya's Kitchen.

Cauliflower and green pepper in exotic spices

I prepared this dish for lunch and it tasted so good; I decided to re-post the recipe.

I recently read that cauliflower is one of those cruciferous vegetables that helps in flushing out the toxins from the body just like broccoli. I had dismissed cauliflower as one of those starchy vegetables that we can do without. Now I use it quite often.

If you can afford organic cauliflower, use them for this recipe. The organic ones are smaller in size but taste better.

1 cup, cauliflower florets

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1 large tomato, chopped
1 medium-sized red onion, chopped fine
1 Tbsp. ginger-garlic diced and mashed
2 green chillies, finely chopped
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. garam masala powder
2 Tbssp. chopped coriander
2 Tbsps. extra virgin olive oil
salt to taste

Method:

Steam cook cauliflower with 1 tsp. of turmeric powder for 8 minutes. Remove from stove and drain excess water.

Take a pan. Add a Tbsp. of oil. Sputter the cumin seeds first, add the onions and chillies. Sauté for a couple

minutes.

Add the 2nd Tbsp. of oil, green chillies and garlic-ginger paste. Mix, then add the green pepper and half-cooked cauliflower. Sauté all the vegetables until the cauliflower browns a little.

Finally add the tomatoes, cayenne pepper, garam masala and salt to taste. Add half the chopped coriander. Cook for about 10 minutes. Garnish with the remaining coriander. Serve warm.

Serve with plain basmati rice or Indian breads.

To the Indian palette bland food is uninteresting. With a little kick and a twist, an ordinary appetizer can be turned to something fantastic.

Here is a quick and tasty peanut appetizer for your next party. There are several ways to prepare spicy peanuts, here's just one of them. Peanuts don't have to be consumed with any kind of spice but serving plain peanuts at a party is like having peanuts in a sports bar while watching a game. That's a different mood for a different time. Spiced peanuts at a party can be served as one of many appetizers. A decorative platter with a heap of spiced peanuts add color and taste without much effort. Try it from Vidya Swamy's kitchen.

Bisibela Baath - a specialty from the state of Karnataka, India

This is one of my favorite southern Indian dishes, and the best part is I am making it for lunch today. Even though it may not look it, it's an exotic blend of flavorful spices and tastes great. You can try it too from vidyaswamy's kitchen. 

Spicy Cauliflower Stir Fry

This recipe takes about 35-40 minutes inclusive of prep time. It's one of those straight forward recipes that cannot go wrong. This dish can be served as an appetizer or a side dish. They look colorful and appealing when served in a decorative platter. Try the spicy cauliflower stir fry from Vidya's kitchen.

Quinoa Pasta with home made tomato sauce, kale, peppers and cherry tomatoes

I think this is one of my best pasta recipes. And, quite possibly the healthiest. It takes about 40 minutes tops.  A great dinner menu would be to serve this pasta with a simple salad and roll. A glass of red wine would make it a perfect romantic dinner. Oh, don't forget the candles. Check it out at vidyaswamy's kitchen.

Broccoli Rabe from Vidya's Kitchen

This is an authentic Italian recipe. Cooking broccoli rabe is not the exactly a complicated science experiment, however as in any other preparation, the rabe has to be absolutely fresh and tender; and the olive oil extra virgin. The blanching has to be for exaclty 8 minutes, no more no less. Try this recipe from Vidya Swamy's Kitchen