About Zephyr
I am pleased to have this corner dedicated to some mouth-watering, easy (and often lazy – in her own words) recipes from the kitchen of my friend Zephyr aka Thangamani.
Over the years, Zephyr has lived in several states of India and has added recipes from these places to her repertoire. Being a Tamilian, her forte is TamBrahm cuisine.
Her recipes carry stories and flavors from each of these destinations, which she will be sharing with my readers here. I have been lucky to have tasted some of these dishes at her home in Mumbai. I am excited to share them with you all here!
Zephyr blogs at Cybernag, where she writes on social issues, family, humor, and spirituality.
Zephyr’s Latest Recipes:
- Spicy, Mini-Rice Balls
This is a tasty and visually very pleasing snack. It can be made with very few easily available ingredients. What is more, it is steamed and so uses very little oil. It is chiefly made in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, … - Simple No-fuss Rice chakli / Rice Murukku
आप इस रेसिपी को नीचे हिंदी में भी पढ़ सकते हैं Chakli or murukku as it is known in Tamil, is a favourite snack across the country. It has many versions, with some being made with elaborate grain and pulse … - Cluster Beans/Gavarfali and Moong Dal stir fry
I like cluster beans (gavarphali/kothavarakkai/gawar) because it is so full of flavour and is a desi vegetable to boot. Also, it lends itself to a variety of dishes, each excellent in flavour and taste. I usually make a simple stir-fry … - Medu Vada
आप इस रेसिपी को नीचे हिंदी मे भी पढ सकते है Medu vada has become a popular snack for Indians across the globe. In the south, hotels serve a vada along with any other snack you order, be it rice … - Bisi Bele Bhat – Popular Dish from Karnataka
आप इस रेसिपी को नीचे हिंदी में भी पढ़ सकते हैं Bisi Bele bhat – The special dish from Karnataka We Indians love khichdi, no matter which part of the country we belong to. Every region has its version of … - Ajwain Patta Thambuli/Thambli
आप इस रेसिपी को नीचे हिंदी में भी पढ़ सकते हैं Call it what you want–chaach, taak, mor, mattha, buttermilk—it is an integral part of Indian food. While it is consumed as a refreshing drink with a pinch of salt … - Baby Potato Roast/Fry
Potato must be one vegetable that is loved by almost everyone in one form or another and at times in all forms! Though unlike in the west, it does not form the base of our carbohydrate requirement, it certainly is … - South Indian-style kadhi: Morkuzhambu
Kadhi is made across the country in many different ways, the common ingredient being curd/buttermilk, though, Sindhi kadhi is made without it. However, the Tamil-style kadhi can’t be made without it, for it has buttermilk in its very name (mor … - Dal Dumplings in Jeera Rasam
There is some version of this dish in many parts of the country, with different dals, masala and gravy. The fact that we have twins and triplets of dishes across the country and the world had inspired me to write … - Avial: Mixed Vegetables with Coconut Masala
आप इस रेसिपी को नीचे हिंदी मे भी पढ सकते है Any dish made with an assortment of vegetables has a special appeal. Every region of the country has some unique dish in this category. When it comes to Tamil … - Adai – the nutritious ‘tiffin’ dish
Adai can be eaten as a snack or a meal! - Minimalist Bhindi/Okra subzi
I am one of those who like their vegetables with a minimum of spices. I even enjoy boiled vegetables with some salt, pepper and lemon juice to spice them up. As it is, the south Indian, especially the Tambrahm type … - Soup-style Lauki/Bottle-gourd curry
Bottle gourd, which is also known as lauki/ghia/dudhi/suraikkai is a mundane vegetable, which doesn’t have any distinctive flavour to endear it to many people. The mention of this vegetable is enough to elicit a grimace from those sitting at the … - Wholewheat Banana Pancake
Overripe bananas are easily turned into banana cake or panchamritham, which is a favourite naivedyam. I also make sweet appam if there are just a couple of them. But what could I do with five of them, especially since I … - Quick Beetroot Curry with coconut masala
One of the vegetables that the pre-packed vegetables being supplied to housing societies has humongous quantities of beetroots. Not too fond of the stuff, I still need to use them, right? So today I made a stir-fry with a masala … - Persarattu: Healthy, no-fermentation, whole moong dosa
There are so many varieties of dosas in our country that one need not repeat the same one, even if one were to make only dosas for breakfast or as a snack! Pesarattu is an Andhra special, which is made … - Desi Marmalade: Tangy Orange Peel chutney
I don’t like to waste peels of vegetables and fruits if I can help it. Apart from cooking some of them with the peel, there are ever so many things one can make out of peels, like this chutney/thogayal recipe … - Mixed Green Rice – A Lock-down Meal!
We all know the recipes of at least some varieties of mixed rice. I have shared many of my favourites in this blog. But the one I am going to share now is a proper ‘lockdown mixed rice’ and a … - Green chilli-Ginger pachadi—It is Ssssspicy🌶️ !
Indian meals are not complete without condiments like pickles, raitas, chutneys and relishes. In this list, we can include the pachadis, which are a tangy-sweet-sour-spicy condiment made with various ingredients. We make this Milagai pachadi (chilli pachadi) and eat it … - Kerala-style ishtu/vegetable stew-a rich coconut milk based vegan delight
In Kerala, they call it ‘Ishtu’–perhaps the Malayalam word for ‘stew’? No matter. It is a vegetable dish that is cooked in coconut milk and very mildly spiced. Traditionally only potatoes were used, but I have eaten and enjoyed ishtus … - Healthy and tasty Ragi Laddoo–nutritious Finger Millet sweet
Millets are the new superfoods. It is ironical that after throwing them out in favour of imported cereals and other breakfast foods, Indians have discovered millets anew, thanks to western research and endorsement about their nutritious value and health benefits, … - Quick Sem/Papdi/Averakkai subzi with green spices
Winter is when you get the best field beans of several varieties and colours. They are variously called Sem, Papdi, Val papdi, avarekkai, sem phali, etc. Thankfully it is one of those few vegetables that are still available in their … - Green tomatoes in a tangy, nutty, gravy
Green tomato is a versatile vegetable. Whenever I see it in the market, I unfailingly pick up some. A thogayal* made with green tomatoes is a family favourite. I add this vegetable to sambar, which gives it a distinct flavour. … - Idli! The fluffy, filling snack/meal
Being fermented and steamed, idli has enormous health benefits, is easily digestible and suitable for all ages - 🌿Kariveppilai Podi-Curry Leaf Dry Chutney
Podis or dry chutney powders are handy to have around. They can make an instant mixed rice or raita!