Meena's Taste Mantra

Healthy Oats

Oats Mushroom Sago Matki Sprouts Tikki - a lip smacking Tea Time Appetizer!
Tikkis are Appa's favourite. Amma frequently experiments with a variety of these. The latest of the lot is Oats Mushroom Sago Matki Sprouts Tikki! I am sure no where in the world this would have been made and we had a fun time coming up with the name for this foodgasam! Sprouts is...
Roasted Red Bell Pepper Soup - a hearty soup with a dash of Oats!
A great evening refresher is must definitely a bowl of healthy hot soup. And a vibrant bowl of Roasted Red Bell Pepper Soup with the faint roasted fragrance with the perfectly spiced taste is out of this world! I had got fresh Red Bell Pepper yesterday from our local market. These were really...
Cream Of Mushroom Soup
Recently at a seminar I tasted Cream of Mushroom Soup and was very much intrigued by it. The one I tasted was loaded with calories thanks to the generous addition of Fresh Malai | Cream and empty calories in terms of Maida | Refined Flour as thickening agent! Being my Amma's daughter, I obviously...
Masala Oats
How about making Masala Oats at home??? This tastes so delicious than the ready made ones available in the market. You can add the veggies of your choice too! Very easy to make and a great way to start your mornings with this healthy breakfast! This is a must have atleast twice in a week as...

Mighty Millets

Bajra Chakli - A crunchy, uber delicious munch! Diwali | Gokulashtami Special!
Amma had been wanting to make Bajra Chaklis from the time she tasted them which I had bought at a local store just to try out. Amma deconstructed the same as per her taste profile and infused her own creativity to make these lovely crispy crunchy munchies! This was a trial round and very...
Flaxseed Millet Walnut Ladoo - A globe of goodness! Winter Special!
The goodness of Flaxseed | Bajra & Jowar - Millets | Walnuts gets amplified when bound in this delicious globe of goodness! Flaxseed also known as Alsi is rich in anti oxidants | fiber | lignans | Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Both Bajra and Jowar are gluten free and hold a host of health...
Vazhaipoo Bajra Adai - a delicious crepe made with Banana Florets, Pearl Millet and lentils!
This winter our local market seems to be getting really fresh Vazhaipoo | Banana Blossoms. These are very nutritious and a regular inclusion in our daily diet is really good for health. Since we got these lovely Vazhaipoos, Appa suggested to make for Breakfast Vazhaipoo Bajra Adai. This recipe...
Jowar Vada Kadhi - a mouthwatering and healthy Side Dish for any type of Rice | Biryani | Pulav!
Amma had made these delicious Jowar Vadas the other day. These are so mouthwatering. The next day Amma made plain kadhi and since we had few left over Jowar Vadas, she dunked these into the kadhi. The result was simply delectable! So delicious! Since we all loved it, Amma decided to make today...

Accompaniments

Karela Pickle - a mouthwatering accompaniment to add taste to any meal!
Appa loves pickles, but I am like a mother hen that controls his portion size and many a time poor thing has to have it sans the same. Everything in moderation is welcome, but Appa dear makes the pickle itself as his side dish rather than just an accompaniment! What to do, Amma made pickles are...
Boondi Fruits Raita - a refreshing delight that enhances any Biryani | Pilaf!
Amma always keeps in mind the taste and preferences of our family and friends and hence when they join us for lunch they are sure to relish the spread as it is to their liking! Today a dear family friend was visiting us. She has absolutely zero tolerance for spice and so Amma decided to make...
Aayiram Curry - 1000 Curry - An easy to make side dish that is equivalent to 1000 curries!
Aayiram Curry, the literal translation of this is 1000 Curry - A curry that is equivalent to 1000 different curries! This recipe is my late uncle Sri. C R Sangameshwaran's favourite and be it any occasion he would prepare this and in fond memory of him, Amma also prepare this just the way he had...
Onion Raita - A flavourful Yogurt dip with freshly diced Onions!
Amma loves onions. I wonder why she does not prefer Garlic though! Anyway...this Onion Raita is her favourite. This is one flavourful Accompaniment that goes well with any Paratha | Rice | Biryani | Pulav. We got wonderful onions which were sweet and spicy. These fresh onions really give a...

Snacks

Wheat Chakli - a crunchy munchy Tea time Snack!
It has been quite some time since we set out to prepare anything deep fried. Since Gokulashtami is just around the corner, and whilst preparing the traditional savoury naivedhyams like Kai Murukku, Thattai and Uppu Seedai, Amma decided to try out the Wheat Chakli, which recently she saw in one of...
Oats Mushroom Sago Matki Sprouts Tikki - a lip smacking Tea Time Appetizer!
Tikkis are Appa's favourite. Amma frequently experiments with a variety of these. The latest of the lot is Oats Mushroom Sago Matki Sprouts Tikki! I am sure no where in the world this would have been made and we had a fun time coming up with the name for this foodgasam! Sprouts is...
Arisi Upma Kozhukattai | Steamed Rice Balls - a Maha Shivratri Special!
Arisi Upama Kozhukattai is a very tasty and healthy Breakfast | Snack Option. Since it is steamed, it is really good for health!We normally make either Arisi Upma Kozhukattai or Neer Kozhukattai or Jowar Veg Kozhukattai on Maha Shivratri along with Paruppu...
Vazhaipoo Bajra Adai - a delicious crepe made with Banana Florets, Pearl Millet and lentils!
This winter our local market seems to be getting really fresh Vazhaipoo | Banana Blossoms. These are very nutritious and a regular inclusion in our daily diet is really good for health. Since we got these lovely Vazhaipoos, Appa suggested to make for Breakfast Vazhaipoo Bajra Adai. This recipe...

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Elai Adai - The method of making a traditional South Indian delicacy

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