I like how versatile this humble grain Rice could be in various forms of cuisines world over. From more exotic Sushi to Risotto to the simple curd rice from South India, this ancient grain has come a long way. Though I am not a rice loving person, having married in a place where every day starts with rice and ends with it made me reinvent some of the very famous rice recipes here. Now my menu boasts of many easy to make and scrumptious rice recipes I learned from my MIL and friends here.

And yes if you are already bored with the time consuming & tedious cooking methods of your Risottos and the Shahi Pulav these quickies will win you over hands down

A bowl of soup could be a perfect meal when one is looking out for something light to eat which is comforting and filling as well. Though steamy soups remind that of chill winter nights, this healthy broth could be a refreshing delight during summer as well when served cold. This whole lentil soup is one such recipe which comes handy in all weather. The Whole lentil and Mint soup with cherry tomato Foccasia bread is a great combo for a scrumptious dinner.

The refreshing and creamy yogurt concoction also known as Kadhi is almost a staple weekend lunch for my family. When paired with plain hot rice or Khichdi with a dollop of fresh ghee and a papad to accompany, this yogurt delicacy is a heavenly delight!

I make a few versions of this yogurt recipe, at times adding steamed dumplings made with chickpea flour and seasoned with various greens and spices. And have done small variations in my Kadhi by adding coconut and cumin paste from the recipe of Mor Kolumbu from the cuisine of South India. Coconuts in it gives a body to the recipe besides the wonderful flavors and aromas of cumin and curry leaves.

Legumes Made Easy is a series to highlight the health benefits of pulses and beans and to include them in our diet with some easy recipes. This split whole green gram or sabut Moong dal as called in Hindi, recipe is the easiest to make during the morning rush hours. And packed with soft chapattis and veggie salad, this can make a wholesome lunchbox.

Legumes are a healthy and economical way to add extra protein to our diet. And we take pride in the numerous traditional and regional recipes which makes us distinct and special. Be it the sweet Dal from Gujarat, spicy usli from Andhra or Sambhar from Tamil Nadu.

When many readers asked me to post Sambhar vada recipe in Lite Bite, I was a bit hesitant. For Lite Bite is reserved only for healthy recipes and is devoid of any kind of fried dishes. But then my other blog Different Strokes came to my rescue.

So you can find the recipe of vada there and sambhar here

What better than a bowl of healthy dessert and celebrating your happiness for the hard work done. Considering the fact that the said feat is from one who, a couple of months back was even scared to touch the might mouse But as they say ‘The desire for knowledge increase with the acquisition of it’ and it proved to be true in my case.
The new venture for all the readers and bloggers, Tasty Bites is out and kicking.

A prudent way to practice healthy eating in children is to start variety foods at a younger age. As an adult we normally follow the same diet which our palates are used to, from our childhood days. And adjusting and trying out for new food is quite difficult when we grow old.

Even my kids resist any new recipe or a food ingredient, which looks or sounds unusual. It was quite difficult to introduce soybeans in their diet and this recipe calls out for my successful trials of the same.

Quantity of Soy chunks was minuscule in the beginning, but increased to a substantial amount as they started liking the taste of it.

A low-key healthy grain, Soybean is slowly gaining popularity in the circle of health conscious people. The wholegrain is still a mystery in many remote places, for whom this protein rich grain is a good fodder for animals only! Not many include soybean in their daily grocery list, let alone cooking the same.

Massor dal or Whole lentil is used in various forms of Indian cooking. Soups, snacks and side dishes to name a few. The lentil has a dark Grey outer skin which is de-husked to get the reddish orange variety. Lentils come under the family Legumes, which are an excellent source of protein, rich in soluble fibers and have no cholesterol. These are probably the cheapest source of protein available to us.

Culinary skills like any other skill is either inborn or acquired. We add friends to our network to increase our interpersonal skills. Likewise spices are added to give extra flavors and a professional touch to our culinary skills.

In secrets to spice up your recipes I plan to share those small tips about cooking which I learned from friends and acquaintances from different regions of India and abroad. These secrets are what makes a normal cooking look more creative and a mundane recipes more delicious.