Murangakai Soup (Tamil Drumstick Sāmbhar Soup)

Murangakai Soup (Tamil Drumstick Sāmbhar Soup)

Chefs Dhiraj, Suresh and Chindi at Grande Bay Resort and Spa in Mamallapuram shared this authentic drumstick Sāmbhar soup with us. The fact that we walked their organic garden and saw the drumsticks hanging from the trees just a few feet from where we were cooking the soup made this a truly “mile zero” meal.

Vegetable Kootu– Dal with Spinach. Recipe from the Grande Bay Resort and Spa.

Vegetable Kootu (dal with mixed vegetables) from the Grande Bay Resort and Spa

Kootu is the Tamil word for “add” and it typically refers to a dal dish with a variety of vegetables added. Each region of South India will add their own favourites. Chef Chindi Varadarajulu of Grande Bay Resort in Mamallapuram likes to add any combination of ash gourd, squash, pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, broad beans, green …

Coconut buns with candied ginger and citrus peel.

Isha’s Coconut Buns

We are so happy to share this recipe for Isha’s Coconut Buns. It’s an adaptation of one of the more popular tea time treats in Peppervine Cafe at Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. We stopped for a chai break there one day and enjoyed freshly cut wedges of it. They came from huge …

Green-Gram-Sprout-Salad

Isha’s Green Gram Sprout Salad

Isha’s Green Gram Sprout Salad is loaded with nutrition and energy. Sadhguru says that, “when one thinks about food sources, and getting the most bang for your nutritional buck, there’s nothing more concentrated than nuts, legumes and seeds because they contain everything needed to become a healthy, vibrant plant.” Isha fills their menus at workshops …

Sambhar Sadam from the Isha Ashram in Coimbatore.

Isha’s Sāmbhar Sadham

Sāmbhar is everywhere in South India. Isha’s Sāmbhar Sadham is an especially delicious version. What is it? Sāmbhar is a vegetable and lentil stew. It’s usually enjoyed for breakfast with idli or puttu (rice dumplings or rice and coconut cakes). Sadham is Tamil for rice. With the addition of Sadham to Sāmbhar, the dish becomes …

Okra sliced lengthwise is prepared into a red curry.

Okra Curry

This Okra Curry is inspired by the plethora of fresh produce we saw at our stop at a roadside vegetable market near Madurai. The recipe is adapted from our previous cookbook –  A Spicy Touch: Family Favourites from Noorbanu Nimji’s Kitchen. You could substitute eggplant, another great Indian vegetable. Both are equally delicious as prepared …