Vankaya Kura – with Kura Podi

This particular recipe is very easy, and is handy at times when you don’t really want to spend too much time in the kitchen! 😉

This recipe uses kura podi (https://teluguveggie.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/kura-podi/), and takes only abt 20 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients:
4-5 vankaya (brinjals/eggplant)
5 spoons of kura podi
3 tsp oil
1/4tsp turmeric
pinch of salt

Method:

• Chop the vankaya into 4 parts each. Keep the pieces as similar in size as possible, and keep in a dish of water till needed.
• Heat the oil in a wok, and when it starts to heat up, add the vankaya.
• Add the salt and turmeric and mix well.
• Put on a lid, and let it braise. Keep checking every 2 mins to ensure the vankaya is done.
• When the vankaya skin is soft to touch i.e. makes a light indent when pressed, add the kura podi.
• Mix well to ensure the podi covers all the pieces.
• Cover again, and let it cook for 2 mins. Turn off the gas when the podi and vankaya starts to stick to the wok.

Serve hot with rice and dal.

Nimmakaya Majjiga

Nimmakaya Majjiga, or spicy buttermilk, is a favorite across India. It is, of course, called by other names as well, the most familiar being chaas.

I was familiar with the name chaas, and not with nimmakaya majjiga. So when ma-in-law asked me to make this for their return trip, I said I had no idea what she was talking about. So she set about teaching me how to make it, just a few hours before her trip. 🙂 But this is a lesson I will certainly be thanking her for again, since this is the best thirst-quencher one can find in summer!

Ingredients:
2 glasses buttermilk, thinned with water
2 green chillies
1/4′ piece of ginger
2 stalks of curry leaves
pinch of salt
juice from 1 lemon

Method:

• Rough-grind the chillies and ginger.
• Add the curry leaves and spin once to ensure the leaves have been chopped into very fine pieces, but not mashed.
• Mix into the buttermilk.
• Add the salt and lemon juice.
• Stir well and set aside for at least 1 hr.

This buttermilk can be had at anytime, whether after a meal or after stepping into the house after a long day out in the sun, or as a pick-me-up after a tiring day!! 🙂

The Food List – The Indian Language versions

One of the biggest problems I faced when learning to cook, and later while blogging, is Language.

I was always more familiar with the English Language. When I learnt to cook, it was with the Telugu names. So it used to be quite confusing for me while shopping and blogging, to tally up the name I’d learnt. Every blog invariably meant a quick search on the internet for alternative names, just to get my recipe across.

Found this list on some website. Made some changes to update it. Please comment to help me update this list. Also I may be familiar with some terms, but definitly not with all.

So please help me make this list more comprehensive. 🙂

Spices
Hindi	English	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada
Aamchur	Dried mango powder	Maangai thool
Ajmud	Celery seed
Ajwain	Oregano		Vamu
Kacha Karpoor	Borneo-Camphor	Pacha Karpooram	Cheen Karpooram
Dalchini	Cinnamon	Pattai	dalchini chakka/  patta
Dhania	Coriander	Kothamalli	Dhaniyalu	Korthambari
Elaichi	Cardamom	Ellakaai	Ellakai	Elathari
Haldi	Turmeric	Manjal	Pasupu	Anashina
Hing	Asafoetida	Perungayam	Inguva	Hingu
Jaiphal	Nutmeg	Jaathikaai	Jajikayi	Jaijkai
Jeera	Cumin	Seeragam	Jilakara	Jeerake
Kali mirch	Pepper	Milagu	Miriyalu
Kalonji	Onion seed
Kesar	Saffron	Kunkuma Poo
Khus khus	Poppy seeds	Kasa Kasa	gasagasalu
Lal mirch	Red chilis	Milakai Thool	Erra Mirpakaya
Lavang	Cloves	Kirambu	Lavangalu	Krambu
Methi	Fenugreek	Vaendhayam	Menthulu
Mirchi	Chilis	Milagai	Mirapakaya	Molaku
Sarson	Mustard Seeds	Kadugu	Avalu
Saunf	Fennel	Soombhu	sompu
Vegetables & Fruits
Hindi	English	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada
Aam	Mango	Maangai	Maamidi
Adrak	Ginger	Inji	Allum	Shunti
Aloo	Potato	Uralai Kilangu	Alugadda
Amrud	Guava	Koiya Palam	Jampandu
Ananas	Pineapple	Annachi Palam	Panasapandu
Anar	Pomegranate	Madhulai	danima
Angoor	Grapes	Dhiratchai	Dhraksha
Baingan	Eggplant/Brinjal	KathiriKaai	Vankaya
Bhindi	Lady’s finger/Okra	Vendakaai	Bendakaya
Gajar	Carrot	Carrot	Gajar
Gobi	Cauliflower	Cauliflower	Gobi
Kakari	Cucumber	Velarikaai	Dosakaya
Kaddu	Pumpkin	PoosiniKaai	Boppaspandu
Kela	Banana	Vaazhai Palam	Aritipandu
Lahsun	Garlic	Poondu	Vellulli
Matar	Peas	Pataani	Batani
Mooli	Radish	Mulanki	Mullangi
Nariyal	Coconut	Thaengai	Kobbari
Nimbu	Lemon	Yaelumichai	Nimmakaya
Palak	Spinach	Keerai	Palakura
Papita	Papaya	Papaali	bopasapandu
Piaz	Onions	Vaengayam	Ulligadda
Sev	Apple	Apple
Tamatar	Tomato	Thakaali	Tamata
Herbs
Hindi	English	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada
Tulsi	Basil		Tulsi
Hara dhania	Coriander leaves	Kothumalli Thalai	Kothmeer
Pudina	Mint		Pudhina
Tej Patta	Bay leaf		Biryani aaku
Nuts
Hindi	English	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada
Akhrot	Walnuts
Badam	Almonds	Badam	Badam	Badam
Kismis	Raisins		Kismis
Kaju	Cashewnuts	Mundhiri Parupu	Jeedi Pappu	Geru Beena
Moongphali	Ground nuts	Vaer Kadalai	Palli
Flours
Hindi	English	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada
Atta	Wheat flour	Godhumai Maavu	Godhuma Pindi	Godhi hittu
Besan	Chick pea flour	Kadalai Maavu	Senaga Pindi	Kadale hittu
Maida	All Purpose Flour	Maida Maavi	Maida Pindi	Godhi hittu
Pulses and Grains
Hindi	English	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada
Bajra	Millet
Channa	Chick peas	Kodai Kadalai	Cenagalu
Channa dal	Split chick peas	Kadalai Paruppu	Cenagapappu
Chawal	Rice	Arrisi	Bhiyam	Akki
Dal	Pulses	Paruppu	Pappu	bele
Gehun	Wheat	Godhumai	Godhumapindi
Jowar	Barley		Jonna
Kabuli Chana	White Chick Peas	Kondai Kadalai	Kabuli cenagalu
Masoor dal	Red lentils
Moong dal	Green Gram	Paasi Paruppu	Pesara Pappu	Hesar Bele
Rajma	Red Kidney beans
Toor dal	Pigeon peas	Thoovaram Paruppu	Kandipappu
Urad dal	Black gram	Ulundhu Paruppu	Minappa Pappu	Udina bele
Dairy Products
Hindi	English	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada
Chaas	ButterMilk	More	Majjiga
Dahi	Yoghurt	Thayir	Perugu
Doodh	Milk	Paal	Paalu
Ghee	Clarified butter	Nyei	Neyyi
Malai	Cream	Paal Aadai	Meegada
Makhan	Butter	Vaenai	Venna
Mawa	Thickened Milk	Paal kova
Paneer	Cottage cheese
Miscellaneous
Hindi	English	Tamil	Telugu	Kannada
Achar	Pickles	Oorugaai	Oragaya/ pachadi
Chini	Sugar	Sarkarai	Panchadhara
Gur	Jaggery/Brown Sugar	Karumbu Sarkarai	Bellam
Imli	Tamarind	Puli	Chintapandu
Madhu	Honey	Thaen	Thena
Masala	Spices
Namak	Salt	Uppu	Uppu
Sooji	Semolina	Ravai	Rawa	Rawa
Tel	Oil	Ennai	Nooni