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SOUPS
CANTONESE CHICKEN & CORN SOUP

     When I started living in Malaysia, I was overwhelmed by the variety of Noodles found in the market. Fresh ones, dried ones, Noodles made with Wheat, Rice, Mung Beans, Buck Wheat etc., & etc., I still spend some extra time while shopping for Noodles in the super market, pondering through the counters. I was awestruck when I saw people drying up Rice Noodles like how they dry up clothes in Vannarapettai (Laundry Land - hope my translation is good enough!!!😕). Likewise, my preconceptions about Chinese food & Chinese Cuisine went topsy-turvy with the initial scepticism for the food then slightly into, can bear with mode and then gradually... I'm loving it... mode. Now, I would say that's one best way of cooking technique, which retains the texture & nutrition of the ingredients and the mild seasonings is all that I love about Chinese cooking. Still to find what exactly it may taste it China.


    All my life, I thought, Fried Rice(a twist of Vegetable Pulao), Maggi Noodles, Chow Mein, Sweet Corn Chicken Soup, Chicken Manchurian & American Chop Suey(though with the name American) these food were Chayanese... I mean Chinese!. All seem to be some Indo-Chinese fusion cooking to appease the Indian Palate. Well, no complaints whatsoever... I love those recipes in their own way and cook the same with loads of sauces and with an Indian touch.


    Well, this recipe Cantonese Chicken & Corn Soup was one recipe which I tried from a cook Book - Soups, my hubby got fancied & bought, while I was pondering the book shop. Least I head towards the cooking book section. I can spend a whole day in the shop & my hubby is like when can I get ejected out of this place... But he keeps his patience when I shop for books which is the only place I take a long time to shop. When it comes to shopping, especially for clothing, jewellery, bags or sandals, even nail polishes, it is always like, my hubby chooses for me. He loves doing it & so no shopping time required for me.


    Have tried most of the Soups from the book which had numerous Soups from around the world. Starting from the ones which fancied me, I tried this Sweet Corn & Chicken Soup first and it was nothing like the one we usually order at restaurants back in India. In this recipe, we simmer shredded Chicken and Corn in a tasty broth made with traditional Chinese ingredients including ginger, spring onions, soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. This soup has a delicate golden colour and velvety smooth texture and is substantial enough to be eaten as a light meal.

 

Homemade/Store bought Ingredients

 

    And again, we can get easy with this soup by using canned creamed corn, which gets convenient when you want to whip up a quick meal with minimal preparation time. You can make this Soup in two ways. If you want to whip up the soup quickly, just head over to the grocery shop for a can of cream corn & a can of Chicken Stock. Alternatively, get your fresh Sweet Corn and prepare it from Scratch. Both ways the Soup taste fantastic.

 

   Though making it from scratch is a bit time consuming and if you can plan ahead then the job gets much easier. If you want to use home-made Chicken Stock like how I have used it in this recipe then make it ahead and store it in the refrigerator or freezer.

 

Shred the Chicken & Marinate

 

    Chicken and corn soup is best to make with Chicken breast meat. Some recipes suggest to mince the chicken meat, but I find that shredded Chicken pieces give a better texture & aesthetics to the soup. Whether you like to use minced meat or cut it into cubes or shred it, is your personal preference. And I prefer to marinate the Chicken, as we are using breast meat, it can get tough & tasteless once cooked. 

 

    Marinating helps to tenderize the meat and also helps the flavours get infused into it. So, I suggest marinating the Chicken breasts with Soy Sauce, White Pepper, Salt & Sugar & leave it aside for about 4-6 hours, preferably overnight. The chicken meat will taste better if you marinate it for a longer period.

 

For a detailed recipe on HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN STOCK, Click here...

Cuisine - Cantonese
Recipe Type - Soup
Spicy Level  - Low
Difficulty - Easy
Serves - 3- 4
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 10 - 15 Minutes
Cooking Time - 20 -30 Minutes

For more SOUP RECIPES, Click here...


HOW TO COOK CANTONESE  CHICKEN & CORN SOUP


SOUPS
CANTONESE CHICKEN & CORN SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

To Marinate the Chicken:

Chicken Pieces(boneless) - 250 Gms
Soy Sauce - 1 1/2 Tspn
White Pepper Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - a Pinch
 

To Cook Chicken & Sweet Corn:

Marinated Chicken Pieces(boneless) - 250 Gms
Sweet Corn - 1 Cob
Water - 1 Cup
Salt - To Taste


For Chicken & Corn Soup:

Sesame Oil - 1 Tbspn
Garlic - 1 Clove
Ginger - a small Piece
Homemade Chicken Stock - 2 Cups
Pepper Powder - 1 Tspn
Soy Sauce - 1 Tspn
Salt - To Taste


To Thicken the Soup:

Corn Flour - 1 Tbspn
Cold Water - 2 Tbspns

 

For Garnishing:

Spring Onions - few


METHOD:

 

To Marinate the Chicken:

 

  • Clean, wash and cut chicken pieces into thin strips.
  • Marinate the Chicken Pieces with Soy Sauce, White Pepper, Salt & Sugar and leave it aside for about 4-6 Hours/overnight.

 

To Cook Chicken & Sweet Corn:

  • Place the Corn Cob on a Cutting board upright and gently slice through the Corn Kernels with a sharp knife. 
  • Collect the Kernels and the Cob.
  • Place the Chicken Pieces, Corn Kernels and the Cob along with a dash of salt in a Saucepan or a Pressure Cooker.
  • Pour in enough water & Cook until the Chicken Pieces & the Kernels turn soft & tender.
  • Remove the Cob and discard it.
  • Once the chicken pieces are cooked, shred it up into small pieces.
  • Remove half the amount of cooked Kernels from the Saucepan and allow it to cool.
  • Once cooled, blend the corn kernels into a coarse paste and keep it aside.

 

For Chicken & Corn Soup:

  • Meanwhile, heat Sesame oil in a Pan & Saute finely chopped Garlic cloves and Ginger pieces on a very low flame.
  • Pour in the homemade Chicken Stock and allow it to boil.
  • Add the shredded Chicken Pieces, cooked Corn Kernels along with a dash of Salt & Pepper and give a quick stir.
  • Pour in a dash of Soy Sauce & give a quick stir.
  • Pour in the blended Corn Paste/Creamed Corn(from the can) to the above and mix well
  • Adjust the consistency of the Soup by adding Water.
  • Cook this on a low flame for about 5-10 minutes.
  • Mix Corn flour along with 2 Tbspns of Cold Water. Make sure there are no lumps.
  • Lower the flame & slowly pour in the Corn Flour mixture to the Chicken & Corn Soup.
  • While pouring the Corn Flour Mixture make sure to reduce the heat and stir the soup continuously.
  • Cook on a very low flame for few minutes or until you get the desired consistency.
  • Garnish the Cantonese Chicken & Corn Soup with finely chopped Spring Onions.
  • Serve hot.


SOUPS
CANTONESE CHICKEN & CORN SOUP

NOTES:

 

  • Increase the amount of Sweet Corn & Chicken Pieces if you prefer a strong flavour of the ingredients in the Soup.
  • Cooking and shredding the Chicken Pieces initially helps to get soft texture chicken pieces in the Soup.
  • Adding it directly into the soup can make it cling to each other and you may find it difficult to break it up and shred.
  • Once the cooked Chicken Pieces are added into the Soup base make sure to cook it on a low flame.
  • Vigorous boiling can toughen the chicken meat. 
  • If you want to have a very smooth soup, do not cut the corn too close to the cob and blend the corn for at least 2 minutes.
  • I have used Sesame Oil in this recipe, can substitute it with any other Vegetable Oil of your choice.
  • Adjust the amount of Salt and Pepper depending on your personal preference.
  • Store-bought Chicken Stock may have added Salt & Seasoning in it. Adjust accordingly.
  • Adjust the consistency of the Soup to suit your preference.
  • While adding the Corn Flour mixture to the soup make sure the flame is at low and stir the soup continuously for a silky even texture.




STIR FRY
CHINESE CABBAGE & SAUSAGE STIR FRY

    When it comes to Stir-fries, I love the Chinese technique which uses a quick-cooking method with mild seasonings, which brings out the overall taste, flavour & keeps the very nature & texture of the vegetable added. Using a Wok, high temperature, quick-cooking & mild seasonings is all about Chinese style simple Stir-fries.

 

    Though I make several stir-fries inspired from the Veggies I eat at restaurants, this Cabbage & sausage Stir fry is an all-new recipe which I tried out recently. What caught my attention with this recipe was the combination of Cabbages & Sausages & adding simply hand-torn Cabbage Leaves fancied me a lot. No cutting, slicing or mincing - the Cabbage Leaves are hand-torn for this recipe. I am not sure whether it yields any extra texture, but the idea fancied me. What I felt after I dished out this stir fry was that the torn cabbage leaves were aesthetically appealing, and each piece remained separated. Which could not be yielded when cut by a knife(layers of cabbage tend to stay together, right?) And it is a quick stir fry which is cooked within 2 minutes, so if you add the centre ribs of the Cabbage Leaves, it may not get cooked within this time. 

 

    I usually use a variety known as Taiwanese Flat Cabbage, a variety locally available for this recipe. These Cabbages are oblate -shaped with loosely packed leaves. The regular ones(Green, white/purple Cabbages) have densely packed layers. Even Napa Cabbages or the Sweetheart Cabbages can also be used for this recipe. What we need is tender & thin Cabbage Leaves, which is easy to be cooked through. And mainly it should stay tender, crispy & sweet once cooked. And this quick-cooking method retains the nutrients too.

 

Few points to remember while cooking Cabbage & Sausage stir Fry:

 

  • Use Taiwanese Flat Cabbage/Napa Cabbage/Sweetheart Cabbage for the recipe.

  • Tear the Cabbage Leaves into irregular pieces( no need to cut it with a knife).

  • Hot wok, cold oil - allow the wok to smoke off before pouring the oil.

  • High flame & quick cooking

  • Stir constantly & don't overcook.

 

    As the cooking technique uses a high temperature, the small-sized ingredients like garlic, ginger & spices may burn off easily. So, make sure to stir continuously throughout the process to ensure even heating & also it helps to avoid burning of the ingredients. And above all, don't overcook. Overcooking can make the cabbage soggy & will lose its crunchy texture.

 

For more STIR-FRY RECIPES, Click here....

 

Cuisine - Chinese, Southeast Asian
Course - Side Dish
Spice Level - Low - Medium
Difficulty - Easy
Serves - 2-3
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 5 - 10 Minutes
Cooking Time - 3 - 5 Minutes


For more SOUTHEAST ASIAN RECIPES, Click here...

 

 

 

HOW TO COOK CHINESE CABBAGE & SAUSAGE STIR FRY 


STIR FRY
CHINESE CABBAGE & SAUSAGE STIR FRY

INGREDIENTS:

 

Oil - 1 Tbspn

Sausages - 3 Nos. 

Garlic - 3 Cloves

Ginger - 3 Slices

Dry Red Chillies - 5-6 Nos.

Cabbage - 250 Gms

Carrots - 100 Gms

Dark Soy Sauce/Oyster Sauce - 1/2 Tspn

Light Soy Sauce - 1/2 Tspn

Rice Wine Vinegar - 1/4 Tspn

Salt - To Taste

Sugar - a Pinch

Spring Onions - 1 Stalk 

 

STIR FRY
CHINESE CABBAGE & SAUSAGE STIR FRY

PREPARATION:

 

  • Clean, Wash & Hand tear the Cabbage Leaves & keep them aside.
  • Clean, peel & wash the Carrots and cut them into 1" slices.
  • Cut the Sausages into thin slices and keep them aside.
  • Clean, Wash & cut Ginger into thin slices/strips.
  • Peel & wash the Garlic and mince it. 
  • Chop Spring Onions and keep them aside.

 

METHOD:

 

  • Heat the wok until it lightly smokes off. 
  • Then pour in the Oil.
  • Snap off the Dry Red Chillies into 3-4 pieces, add it into the oil & give a quick stir.
  • Immediately, add sliced Sausages along with Ginger & Garlic.
  • Fry the sausages until it curls up a little.
  • Now stir in the Cabbage, Carrots & the Spring Onions.
  • When the Cabbage wilts, add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, Rice Wine Vinegar, Salt & Sugar. 
  • Stir fry the ingredients for about 15-20 minutes or so on a high flame.
  • Switch off the flame and serve this Cabbage & Sausage stir fry hot.

 

STIR FRY
CHINESE CABBAGE & SAUSAGE STIR FRY

NOTES:

 

  • I have used Taiwanese Flat Cabbages in this recipe. Can be substituted with Sweet Heart Cabbages/Napa Cabbages.
  • The original recipe uses Chinese Sausages or Pork Belly. I have cooked this recipe with normal Chicken Sausages instead.
  • Adjust the Red Chillies to suit your spice level. 

 




STIR FRY
SPICY SNAKE GOURD & EGG STIR FRY


 

   Malaysian Curry Houses or Mamak restaurants flaunt a wide variety of dishes. I love to have lunch in these restaurants especially, for the wide range of Veggies, a local lingo used for Stir-fries & Poriyals. The curries, gravies, fries with chicken, mutton, beef, egg, fish, squid, prawns, tofu, salted eggs & a whole lot of dishes with veggies. All these dishes would be lined up in serving trays & displayed within a glass case, from which we can choose our preferred curries & side dishes which would be served into our plate. I would mostly end up with more Veggies in my plate rather than any non-vegetarian side dishes. And mainly I would be sure to take a serving of deep-fried bitter gourds.

   

    Well, this spicy Snake Gourd & Egg Stir Fry is one dish I got into my cooking repertoire. Inspired & replicated from the lunch arenas in Malaysian Curry Houses. This recipe was a different version, from what I had eaten before. A spicy stir fry made with Snake Gourds cut differently into a U shape or can we say C Shaped? We can find two versions of the same, sometimes without Eggs in it. This dish can be found in almost all Indian Curry Houses and Mamak Shops in Malaysia.

     

   Though an Indian dish prepared to suit the local palate has given this dish a new dimension. This recipe is a spicy and dry version compared to the ones available in eateries. This spicy stir-fry goes well with Fragrant Rice or Fried Rice. It can also be eaten as a side dish along with rice and curry.

 

For more MALAYSIAN RECIPES, Click here...

 

 Cuisine - Malaysian Mamak Style

 Recipe Type - Stir Fry

 Spice Level - Medium - High

 Difficulty - Easy

 Serves - 2- 3 

 Author - SM

 

 Preparation Time - 10 - 12 Minutes 

 Cooking Time - 10 - 15 Minutes

 

For more STIR FRY RECIPES, Click here...

 

 

HOW TO COOK SPICY SNAKE GOURD & EGG STIR FRY


STIR FRY
SPICY SNAKE GOURD & EGG STIR FRY

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

For Spicy Snake Gourd & Egg Stir Fry: 

 

Snake Gourd - 1 Medium Sized

Egg - 2 Nos.

Salt - 1 Tspn

Sugar - 2 Tspn

Oil - 1 Tbspn


For the Spice Paste:

 

Shallots - 4-5 Nos.

Garlic - 2 Cloves

Fresh Turmeric - 1 Small Piece

Dry Red Chillies - 2-3 Nos.

Red Bird's Eye Chillies (Chilli Padi) - 2-3 Nos.


 

METHOD:

 

  • Trim both the ends and Scrape the whitish layer on the Snake Gourd with a knife.
  • Cut it into two halves lengthwise and scoop out the white pulp with seeds.
  • Cut Snake Gourd into 4-5mm thick strips and leave it aside.
  • Soak Dried Red Chillies in hot water for 10 minutes.
  • Grind it along with other ingredients mentioned under 'for the Spice Paste' into a fine paste.
  • Heat oil in a pan and saute the Spice Paste on a low flame until oil separates from the mix and it turns aromatic for about 5-7 minutes.
  • Add Snake Gourd, Salt and Sugar to the spice paste and mix well.
  • At this stage, sprinkle some water if necessary.
  • Saute it until the vegetable is cooked, and spice paste turns fragrant & dry.
  • Meanwhile, Crack open the Eggs, beat it lightly along with a dash of Salt and Turmeric Powder.
  • Push the Snake Gourd to one side of the pan. 
  • Pour the beaten egg into the Pan & Scramble it on a medium flame until cooked.
  • Now mix both the Snake Gourd and the scrambled eggs. 
  • Serve it along with Fragrant Rice or any other dish of your choice.


STIR FRY
SPICY SNAKE GOURD & EGG STIR FRY

 

 

NOTES:

 

  • Adjust the amount of Dry Chillies and Red Bird's Eye Chillies to suit your spice level.
  • Adding sugar is optional, but it helps to retain the colour of the vegetable. 
  • Can add Turmeric powder instead of Fresh Turmeric.
  • Do not overcook the Snake Gourd.
  • Cooking on a high flame yields crunchy and sweet-tasting Snake Gourd.
  • Snake Gourd should not be overcooked or turn soggy.
  • Pushing off the cooked Snake Gourds to one side of the pan and then pour the Eggs & scramble it up.
  • This way, the eggs can be scrambled well until cooked and doesn't get coated to the Snake Gourd.
  • If you pour the eggs over to the Snake Gourd, it gets coated to the vegetable and doesn't get cooked well, which may result in an eggy smelling stir fry. 
  • The same recipe can be prepared without Eggs too.  For Spicy Snake Gourd Stir Fry, click here...



 

HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE
HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE


    Sticky Rice is a particular variety of rice grown in the South East and East Asia. Though, commonly called as Sweet Rice & Glutinous Rice(not because they contain any gluten, but for the reason, they are sticky). This round-grained Sticky Rice tends to become Sticky and Translucent once cooked. The reason behind its stickiness is the absence of the starch amylose, which makes it extra starchy. The trick of getting perfectly cooked Sticky Rice is to Soak them before cooking, and my foolproof method is to Steam Cook. 

 

  Sticky Rice/Glutinous Rice is a versatile ingredient used in many forms of Asian cooking. Sticky Rice is used in both savoury & sweet recipes. Sticky Rice Flour is used in a wide range of dishes & kuihs locally, and I use it while making Onde Onde. And one popular Dessert - Thai Mango Sticky Rice is the dish which made me try Sticky Rice. Went with the cooking trials to get perfectly textured Sticky Rice for the Dessert. Trying to cook in a Saucepan initially, then in a rice cooker, pressure cooker. I couldn't get the perfect texture whatsoever, the rice was sticky, and it turned out to be like one big lump when cooled. 

WHITE GLUTINOUS RICE / STICKY RICE

HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE
WHITE GLUTINOUS RICE / STICKY RICE

    Again, getting help from Google God. Tried the traditional method of Steam cooking the Sticky Rice in a regular steamer, and with a few trial & errors perfected the Microwave Method. When Steam Cooking Sticky Rice, you do not need water to be poured into the rice. So no Rice Water ratio required to be followed in this method. What you need is to soak the Sticky Rice for about 6-8 hours/overnight. Drain it up and the line it up in a steamer cloth & Steam cook. This way the Sticky Rice come out perfectly every time, & each rice kernels stays separate. No more mushy, soggy or under cooked /overcooked Sticky Rice.  

 

    Well, when it comes to the cooking utensil, traditionally Sticky Rice is cooked in a Bamboo Steamer. I still have to acquire one. If you have a regular/electric Steamer, it is good enough. Rather, it is what you would actually need. No steamer, no worries. All you need is a large, deep pot with a lid, a trivet     (even an empty can, serves good), & a heatproof bowl/plate/dish.

 

 
Cuisine - South East Asian
Course - Dessert
Difficulty - Medium
Serves -2-3
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 10 - 15 Minutes
Soaking Time - 6-8 hours/Overnight
Cooking Time - 30-45 Minutes

HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE

HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE
HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE

 

Points to remember when cooking Sticky Rice:

 

  • Soak the Sticky Rice for at least 6-8 hours/overnight.
  • Steam Cooking is the best way to cook Sticky Rice.
  • Line up the Steaming Plate/dish with a parchment paper or a clean kitchen cloth or a steamer liner.
  • Cooked Sticky Rice is really sticky! 
  • One simple trick I learnt accidentally (very recently) is to wet the serving tools & your hands to prevent sticking.
  • Once cooked, Sticky Rice tends to dry-up & hardens quickly @ room temperature.
  • Keep it covered all the time & make sure it's still warm before adding it into any recipe.
  • If serving as such, it is better to serve it hot.
  • Cold & hardened cooked sticky rice can be hard to digest.



TWO IMPORTANT POINTS 

  1. SOAK 

  2. STEAM COOK 

    HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE
    SOAK
    HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE
    STEAM COOK

     


So, here I go with TWO Fool Proof method of cooking Sticky Rice, which can be used in various dishes & desserts. The STEAMER METHOD & MICRO-WAVE METHOD.



IN STEAMER - TRADITIONAL METHOD

HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE
HOW TO COOK STICKY RICE/GLUTINOUS RICE

INGREDIENTS:

Sticky Rice - 1 Cup
Water in the Steamer - 5-6 Cups

 

METHOD:

  • Wash the Sticky Rice for two-three times, or until the water runs clear.
  • Soak the Sticky Rice in ample of water for about 6-8 Hours or Overnight.
  • Once soaked, drain the sticky rice and discard the water.
  • Pour 5-6 Cups of Water at the bottom of the steamer pot.
  • Carefully place the steamer plate and line it up with a clean Muslin/Cheesecloth.
  • Spread the Sticky Rice over the Muslin/Cheesecloth and cover the steamer pot with the lid.
  • Cook the Sticky Rice on high flame for about 5-8 minutes.
  • Lower the flame to medium and cook for another 15-20 minutes.
  • Once cooked, the Sticky Rice would turn translucent.
  • Switch off the flame and leave it aside for about 8-10 minutes.
  • Remove the lid of the steamer pot and fluff up the rice with a chopstick/fork.
  • Transfer the cooked Sticky Rice into a bowl. 
  • Keep the sticky rice in the steamer or covered to prevent drying out until you serve it or use it in a recipe. 


MICROWAVE METHOD:

INGREDIENTS:

Sticky Rice - 1 Cup
Water - 1 Cup

 

METHOD:

  • Soak the Sticky Rice in Warm Water for 10-15 minutes.
  • Drain the Sticky Rice and discard the water,
  • Add the Sticky Rice and Water in a microwave safe bowl big enough to hold rice and water.
  • For 1 Cup of Sticky Rice, I used 1 Cup of Water.(Rice Water Ratio = 1:1).
  • Cover the bowl and cook on high power for 3 Minutes.
  • Carefully remove the bowl and stir the ingredients well.
  • Cook for another 3 Minutes.
  • Once cooked, the Sticky Rice would turn translucent.
  • Remove the bowl and give a quick stir.
  • If the Sticky Rice has not cooked, cook for another few minutes.
  • The timing to cook the Sticky Rice depends on the type of Microwave.
  • For every 2-3 minutes, remove the bowl from the Microwave and mix it well.
  • This way, you can ensure that the Sticky Rice is evenly cooked.



NOTES:

  • Soak the Sticky Rice before cooking. 
  • Line up the Steaming Plate/dish with a parchment paper or a clean kitchen cloth or a steamer liner.
  • Once cooked, Sticky Rice tends to dry-up & hardens quickly @ room temperature. 
  • If serving as such, it's better to serve it hot. 
  • Keep it covered all the time & let the Sticky Rice be warm when you add it into any recipe.
  • This way, it is easy to handle.
  • Cooked Sticky Rice is really sticky! One simple trick I learnt accidentally (very recently) is to wet the serving tools & your hands to prevent sticking. 
  • Cold & hardened cooked sticky rice can be hard to digest.
  • When making a larger batch, steam it in two batches or adjust the cooking time.
  • You can check the rice and increase the steaming time if necessary. 


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Essence of Life - Food is all about daily cooking with a simple sense of taste and health. It is all about food. Not a day goes by without eating for most of us, so what we eat matters on the whole. Food in the mode of goodness increases the duration of life, purifies one's existence, and gives strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Above all ingredients, the most vital one in my kitchen is love.

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