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Chettinad eggs in spice sauce (Muttai masala)
This is a classic recipe in Chettinad. Eggs are a staple, easy to get, cheap and an excellent alternate source of protein. This is a simple and quick recipe. The eggs are boiled, then doused with a dry, peppery, aromatic sauce. The combination is perfect; tangy tomatoes form the base of the curry, and the spices infuse it beautifully. This dish is usually served as an appetiser, especially with drinks, but you can also serve it as a side dish. This South Indian cookbook bring

kzafarullah
Nov 222 min read


Curried eggplant (Kathirikai poriyal)
This is a poriyal, but not in the truest sense. A traditional poriyal is a South Indian dish, primarily seen in Tamil Nadu, that is a dry stir-fried vegetable dish with a specific recipe. Here, the recipe is followed, but the dish is made as a curry; it is very unusual. This is a robust curry. The flavours are bold, the eggplant soft and creamy. I love the combination of spicy and sour that this dish portrays. Southern Spice is a thin volume of amazing recipes by a master che

kzafarullah
Nov 192 min read


Sri Lankan pennywort sambol (Gotukola sambol)
If there is a sambol quintessential to the Sri Lankan table, it is gotukola sambol. It is recognised by the fresh green colour and the light aromatic aroma. I had not had gorukala, or pennywort, before this trip; I had seen recipes with it and so was curious. Early in the trip, I had a chance not just to taste this dish, but also to make it. We had gone to a home to prepare dishes for the Katina poojava ceremony, the most important of Buddhist ceremonies. We were invited to p

kzafarullah
Nov 182 min read
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