Shahi Gobhi (Royal Cauliflower)

Marinade consisted of curd and various spices. Followed this recipe.

Chakkara Pongal

My favourite sweet dish. It was osum.

Dry fry (lightly) some moong dhal in a pan. The ratio of moong dhal to rice should be about 1:4. Then pressure cook the rice and moong dhal for ~5 whistles. The idea is to get the mash the dhal and rice together. Grate a lot of jaggery. For 1 cup of rice, you will want 3-4 cups of jaggery. Use the microwave to make the jaggery cubes soft and then use a knife to cut them into small chunks. This will approximate the process of grating. Now boil 2 cups of water in a wide bottom pan like the one shown in the picture. Add the jaggery pieces and let them melt and form a syrup. Stir continuously and crush the pieces using a ladle. Once a consistent syrup has formed, check to see that there are no foreign particles (apparently tiny rocks find their way into the jaggery cubes) in the syrup. Then add the rice-dhal mixture to the syrup. Add a few cups of milk. Mix well. Add some ghee. Mix. Fry some cashewnuts and raisins in ghee and add to the mixture. Mix. Stir. Stir. Stir.

As Madrasi as it gets...

Bangalore Kathirikka Koottu

Tomato Rasam