Recipes From My Kitchen

A light, mildly spiced Karnataka-style avalakki made with fresh cucumber and coconut, finished with a simple tempering. 📝 Ingredients 2 cups thick Avalakki (Poha / Beaten rice) 1 medium cucumber, finely grated ¼ cup fresh grated coconut Salt to taste For Tempering: 2 tbsp oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 1 tbsp urad dal 1 tbsp chana dal 2 tbsp peanuts 1–2 green chilies, finely chopped 1 tsp grated ginger Few curry leaves 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves (for garnish) 👩‍🍳 Method Step 1: Prepare the Avalakki Take avalakki in a bowl. Rinse quickly in water and immediately drain. Gently squeeze out excess water. Keep aside. Step 2: Mix the Fresh Ingredients Add grated cucumber to the softened avalakki. Add grated coconut and salt. Mix gently and keep aside. Step 3: Prepare the Tempering Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Add urad dal, chana dal, and peanuts. Fry until golden. Add c...

These crispy rice balls are a great way to use leftover rice. Lightly spiced and fried to perfection, they make a delicious snack or breakfast served with chutney. 🕒 Prep Time 10 minutes 🍳 Cook Time 10–12 minutes 🍽 Servings 4–5 (depending on size of balls) 🧾 Ingredients Leftover cooked rice – 2 cups (or freshly cooked rice, cooled) Salt – ½ teaspoon (adjust to taste) Garam masala – ¼ teaspoon Chaat masala – ¼ teaspoon Red chili powder – ¼ teaspoon (optional, for heat) Black pepper powder – ⅛ teaspoon Oil – 1–2 teaspoons for frying 👩‍🍳 Method (Step-by-Step) Step 1: Prepare the Rice If using leftover rice, reheat it in the microwave to warm it up. Transfer the rice to a bowl and mash it lightly with a spoon or fork. Step 2: Add Spices Add salt, garam masala, chaat masala, red chili powder, and black pepper powder to the mashed rice. Mix well until the spices are evenly distributed. Step 3: Shape the Balls Take small porti...

Masala Toast is a quick and tasty Indian-style breakfast made with a lightly spiced vegetable masala spread over crispy butter-toasted bread. Perfect for busy mornings or evening snacks. 🕒 Prep Time 10 minutes 🍳 Cook Time 15 minutes 🍽 Servings 2–3 🧾 Ingredients For Vegetable Masala Oil – 1 tablespoon Mustard seeds – ½ teaspoon Onion – 1 medium, finely chopped Tomato – 1 medium, finely chopped Green chilli – 1, finely chopped Bell pepper (capsicum) – ¼ cup, finely chopped Carrot – ¼ cup, grated Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon Chaat masala – ½ teaspoon Garam masala – ¼ teaspoon Salt – to taste For Toasting Bread slices – 4 Butter – as needed 👩‍🍳 Method (Step-by-Step) Step 1: Prepare the Masala Heat oil in a pan over medium flame. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add chopped onion and green chilli. Sauté until onions turn soft. Add chopped tomato and cook until the mixture becomes soft and mushy. Add chopped...

Kara Pongal is a traditional South Indian comfort dish made with rice and moong dal, tempered with ghee, pepper, cumin, ginger, and cashews. It is best served hot with chutney or sambar. 🕒 Prep Time 10 minutes 🍳 Cook Time 20 minutes 🍽 Servings 4 🧾 Ingredients For Pongal Raw rice – 1 cup Moong dal – 1 cup Water – 5 cups Salt – to taste For Tempering Ghee – 3 tablespoons Cumin seeds (jeera) – 1 teaspoon Black peppercorns – 1½ teaspoons (slightly crushed) Ginger – 1 inch, finely chopped Curry leaves – 8 to 10 Cashews – 10 to 12, halved 👩‍🍳 Method (Step-by-Step) Step 1: Wash Rice and Dal Wash the rice and moong dal together 2–3 times until the water runs clear. Step 2: Pressure Cook Add washed rice and dal to a pressure cooker (3 whistles) or Instant Pot 9 (15 minutes). Add 5 cups water and mix well Once cooked, mash lightly and keep aside. Step 3: Prepare Tempering Heat ghee in a small pan on medium flame. Add cum...

This easy Ragi oatmeal is nutritious, filling, and gentle on the stomach. Made with ragi flour and quick oats, it is perfect for breakfast or a light meal. 🕒 Prep Time 5 minutes 🍳 Cook Time 10 minutes 🍽 Servings 2 🧾 Ingredients Water – 4 cups Ragi flour – ¼ cup Quick oats – ¼ cup Salt – to taste 👩‍🍳 Method (Step-by-Step) Step 1: Boil Water Add 4 cups of water to a deep saucepan. Place on medium flame and allow the water to heat up. Step 2: Add Salt Add salt as per taste to the water. Stir well so the salt dissolves evenly. Step 3: Add Ragi Flour Lower the flame slightly. Slowly add ¼ cup ragi flour to the hot water. Continuously stir while adding to avoid lumps. Keep stirring until the ragi flour mixes completely with the water. Step 4: Boil the Mixture Let the ragi mixture come to a gentle boil. Stir frequently to prevent thickening or sticking at the bottom. Step 5: Add Oats Add ¼ cup quick oats to the boiling ragi mixture. Mix well and continue stirring. Step 6: Cook...