photo credit: George Augustine

Onam this year is falling in the month of August. Onam, the most important festival for Keralites is celebrated across the state for 10 days amidst equal enthusiasm from all malayalees irrespective of their caste or religion.

Onam sadya or Onasadya is the grand feast made on the main day of Onam (thiruonam). Onam sadya traditionally comprises of 11 to 13 essential dishes however, these days people have started restricting to 6-9 dishes not only because of paucity of time but also diminishing consumption of food by the weight watchers. Onasadya is served on a banana leaf and people generally sit on the floor to have their meals.

In the spirit of Onam, I thought why not share all good Kerala recipes with you? Including the ones made specifically for the festival.

Sadya is purely vegetarian but all you non vegetarian food lovers don’t be upset, for I plan to dedicate the month of September just to you

So coming up this month and the next……few delectable, very healthy, coconut-y and not so coconut-y, spicy as well as moderately spiced Kerala recipes.

Rasam

Considered the “Soup of South India”, Rasam as a name is quite popular across India. Rasam which in Tamil means juice is known by different names in the other southern states of India. It’s a brilliant appetizer; hence you might find many of the restaurants down south serving it in small steel tumblers for you to sip before you start your main course.

However, there is no hard and fast rule. In my home, rasam was and still is one of the main dish served with rice along with other curries and side dishes; mostly for lunch. Apparently, it’s light on your tummy and very good for your digestion as well.

Drink or eat it with rice; totally your call. Oh btw, I have had my mother using rasam as the water used for pani puris as well . Who thought cooking wasn’t creative?

Coming up next on Akshayapatram few Rasam recipes….

Till then…happy cooking!

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photo credit: Matt Seppings

Sweet, hot, tangy or sour chutneys (or sauce) can be of very many types prepared using various vegetables and spices. It not only goes well as an accompaniment with the main course but also serves well with snacks. Quite simple to make chutneys are a must store for any one who has to whip up snacks in no time! For example houses with kids?

Chutney primarily a Hindi word has found its way into English vocabulary due to its popularity.  Coming up next on Akshayapatram varied range of chutney preparations for you..

it goes without saying that chutney recipes from your kitchen are most welcome:)

happy cooking!

Walnuts

Walnuts are extremely nutritious. There are various benefits of walnuts. Not only are they rich in protein but also vitamins B and E. They serve as good snack however, check how much you eat lest you want to put on some extra pounds / kilos. Walnuts if taken in moderate quantities are extremely good for health.

Week of March 15- 19, 2010, I would like to bring to you few walnut recipes. Hope you enjoy cooking, serving & eating them!

Do you have a walnut recipe on you? Send it across with a brief about yourself! Looking forward to your contributions!

Check out…Meals that heal inflammation by Julie Daniluk!

What does Sarah Merson say about benefits of walnut?

Walnuts and walnut oil contain protein, vitamin B6 and E, potassium, magnesium, copper & zinc, all of which help to keep us youthful. Vitamin B6 helps to prevent memory loss and protect the heart, while vitamin E maintains skin and hair. Both potassium and magnesium are good for the heart, and copper helps to prevent varicose veins. Zinc has a miraculous ability to rejuvenate the thymus gland and to boost immunity Walnut is a good source of fatty acids, central to skin and heart health.

Sarah Merson is a freelance writer specializing in alternative health & nutrition. She works for the college of Naturopathic Medicine in the UK and is the author of The Top Traditional Remedies (DBP)

Well, yes…its has been some time since Akshayapatram has been hibernating and I do feel bad about it. Not that I had been plain lazy but there where other challenges both technical as well as personal I was grappling with. Now that atleast the technical snag has been corrected (phew!) am planning to get back to Akshayaptram if not with a bang but surely with some action.

So far I had been sharing recipes and only recipes. Here forward I thought that you might be interested in getting to know few of the tips and tricks that can make anybody’s day in the kitchen more efficient and hence pleasurable. So that’s one addition of a section and will be simply called ‘Kitchen tips’!.

Another thing I was looking at was may be a section on healthy eating? No preaching I promise for am no health consultant! But yes, whatever I have learnt over a period of time. I would definitely want to share with you. Whether you take it or leave will be totally your choice

Am also inviting you to share your recipes, tips and tricks etc for the website. Your recipes will go under section ‘Guest Kitchens’ with your picture (optional) and a brief about you and what you do. If you want to put your blog /company link here, it is possible. Mail me your contributions at cogitoergosumpriyaATgmailDOTcom with the subject line ‘Akshayapatram-Guest Kitchens’.

Last but not the least please do write to me if you have a suggestion or if there is some section you would like me to add to the blog.

cheers!

Priya Q