Simple Kozhukattai/ Steamed rice flour dumplings

Kozhukattais are very simple and elegant sweet that form a versatile part in offerings made to Lord Ganesh during Pillayar chathurthi. Apart from that kozhukattai are also made during karthigai deepam, maattu pongal and also during Sankatahara Chathurthi. 


Chathurthi is a day of importance for Lord Ganesh and is considered auspicious to initiate with any new endeavour on that day. This occurs twice every month during growing moon period and waning moon period. The Sadhurthi which falls during the growing moon period is considered as Sankatahara Chathurthi. Its a normal practise to fast on that day and perform pooja to Pillayar with some offerings and flowers. For last month's Chathurthi I have made these yummy kozhukattais and took it to temple. I was happy that they were offered to God and enjoyed by many others as part of prasadam.

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Sesame Brittle

This is a very simple and yummy sweet that can be made in few minutes and will be great for munching. There is a slight difference between sesame laddu and brittle. Laddu is made by using a soft jaggery syrup whereas these brittle are made by using a thicker jaggery syrup, resulting in a crispy and crunchy brittle.

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Stir fried Okra and Sweet corn Salad

This is a very simple and healthy salad that can be made in just few minutes. It's a great, light snack or the same can be converted into a yummy raita by adding some yogurt to it. I have the used the traditional seasonings for this salad to give it that Indian touch.

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Fenugreek sprouts and sweet corn pulav

Fenugreek (Venthaiyam in Tamil) is one of the amazing spice that's being used in our cuisine either as seeds, sprouts or leaves. Fenugreek seeds some how find their way into all the masala podis used for our cooking like rasam podi, sambar podi. Also the seeds are used in most of the kuzhambhu recipes, especially fish kuzhambhu. Use of fenugreek seeds in fish curry preparation helps to eliminate the raw flavor of fish. Also roasted seeds make thier way into all the pickles. Apart from this fenugreek leaves known as Venthaiya keerai in Tamil is usually used to make kootu, parathas. Dried fenugreek leaves popularly known as Kasuri methi is used in most of the North Indian curries as flavor enhancer.

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Spinach Sweet corn Kootu

This is a simple kootu that goes well with rice or chapathi. The combo of corn with spinach makes the kootu to taste great with the mild sweetness from the corn kernels. I have used kadalai paruppu or bengal gram for the kootu. This recipe can also be tried with other varities of dals like moong dal or toor dal.

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