I used to call this a pumpkin curry, because I figured an orange fleshy fruit that tastes pumpkin-y was a pumpkin. I later learned that it’s actually called a kabocha squash (Japanese squash) which just sounds way more intriguing and exotic. Also, how fun is the word kabocha? I always loved this dish which is…
Category: Cooking
Mom’s Recipes: Palappam
I am beyond excited to share this recipe because it is absolute my FAVORITE Kerala breakfast! Idli sambar is a close second. Typically our breakfasts are savory/spicy, but sometimes we opt for mildly sweet breakfasts. The sweetness comes from, of course, coconut. I would not call this dish particularly sweet like American pancakes, but they…
How I Meal Prep
Nowadays, everyone can google “meal prep” and find countless examples of how to plan and prepare meals at home for a healthy week ahead. Ever since starting a new job where I no longer get free hot meals for lunch (those previous meals were mediocre at best and could hardly be called healthy anyway), I…
My Husband’s On Point Lamb Curry
Lamb curry is usually a special occasion dish in our home. Over the past few years, we have made it on numerous occasions especially when hosting guests. It’s a dish that I always look forward to if my husband is making it because he puts a lot of time and love into it — and it…
Curried Cauliflower, Carrot, and Cannelini Bean Soup
I first made this soup a few years ago and forgot how good and simple it was. I made a batch in my pressure cooker this past weekend, and it provided 4 days of lunch plus a little leftover for the baby to try (she ate it up aside from the cauliflower, ha!). It is…
Mom’s Recipes: Naranja Achar (Indian Lemon Pickle)
Side note: I always found it weird that the Malayalam word for lemon (naranja, pronounced na-ren-ya, looks like the Spanish word for orange. Our word for table (mesa) is also similar, mesa but we pronounce the “s” as “sh”). Since fermented foods are all the craze right now and boast many health benefits (think kombucha, kimchi, etc.),…
Mom’s Recipes: Dry Masala Chicken
This recipe is way overdue as I was supposed to share this beauty weeks and weeks ago. Sorry to those who asked for the recipe — I had not forgotten! I think my chicken curry cooking skills are fairly honed by this point. I like to alternate between regular chicken curry (using red chili powder and…
Mom’s Recipes: Spicy Kerala Shrimp Curry
I find that whenever I try to make fish curry like my mom’s, it never quite turns out right. It tastes fine, but the color is totally off and it’s not spicy enough. The last time I made it, I asked her what the heck I was doing wrong and she informed me that I…
Mom’s Recipes: Beans Mezhukkupuratti (Simple Sautéed Green Beans)
First of all, I am super impressed with myself and my google skills in finding the English spelling of the name of this dish, ha! Malayalam does have a soft “R” sound, in addition to two other R sounds. Why does it have to be so complicated?! Anyway, the soft “R” is spelled as a…
Mom’s Recipes: Coconut Curry Chicken
Well that was a hiatus and a half. Sorry about that…life duties, you know? I finally had a week in which I could breathe a bit…so I decided to start overhauling and organizing and minimizing my entire house and possessions lol. That’s still a work in progress, but I’m so glad I finally got around…
The Book That Is Changing My Life
…is The Dirt Cure. Before I delve into that, I want to mention the other book I recently finished (on Audible): Grain Brain. I cannot even remember now where I first heard about Grain Brain, but I listened to it in full and was intrigued by its assertions. After reading more about the book and the…
Mom’s Recipes: Tuna Thoran
In keeping with the theme of my mom’s Malayali cooking and our heavy reliance on coconut, my next dish is a great option for fish eaters. As I mentioned before, Malayalis eat alot of fish and seafood. My mom always purchased fresh fish from the local Indian or Asian grocery store, bones included. We enjoyed…
pen . paper . storm 