# https://themindfulveggie.com

> A blog about healthy eating and living.  Mostly Indian, all vegetarian


## Posts

- [Mughlai, Dallas](https://themindfulveggie.com/mughlai-dallas/): I had heard about this place from several people, with fairly mixed reviews since it opened in Dallas about two [&hellip;]
- [Punjabi Samosa](https://themindfulveggie.com/punjabi-samosa/): Growing up in Dehradun, Punjabi samosas were a familiar treat during monsoon and winter weekends. One person who remains especially [&hellip;]
- [Healthy Paneer Butter Masala (Indian Cottage Cheese in Tomato-Cashew Gravy)](https://themindfulveggie.com/healthy-paneer-butter-masala-indian-cottage-cheese-in-tomato-cashew-gravy/): Paneer Butter Masala usually brings to mind a rich, butter-laden gravy with generous amounts of cream and equally indulgent chunks [&hellip;]
- [Grilled Corn with Cilantro-Chili-Lemon](https://themindfulveggie.com/cilantro-chili-lemon-grilled-corn/): Celebrating the Fourth has become an annual tradition for us, at least for three of the five years we’ve lived [&hellip;]
- [This post is spicy hot....](https://themindfulveggie.com/this-post-is-spicy-hot/): And no, this isn’t some cheap trick to get you to read this post. I’m talking about the spiciest pepper [&hellip;]
- [Chayote Squash Chutney (Chow Chow Chutney)](https://themindfulveggie.com/chayote-squash-chutney-chow-chow-chutney/): Chayote squash, or chow chow as it is known in South India, is a surprisingly versatile vegetable. South Indian kitchens [&hellip;]
- [Notes from a dreamy and yes, a gastronomical vacation...](https://themindfulveggie.com/a-semi-gastronomic-vacation/): We just returned from a 7 day cruise in the Western Mediterranean&#8230;7 days of blue and sunny skies,  sun-kissed sands, gourmet [&hellip;]
- [Mother's Day Brunch @ Sutra in Dallas](https://themindfulveggie.com/mothers-day-brunch-sutra-in-dallas/): A very happy (slightly belated) Mother’s Day to all the wonderful, loving mothers out there. I hope you were able [&hellip;]
- [Achaari Karela (Tangy Spicy Bitter melon)](https://themindfulveggie.com/aachari-karela-tangy-spicy-bitter-melon/): As I typed out the English translation for Achaari Karela, it struck me that this dish packs in almost every [&hellip;]
- [Bombay Halwa](https://themindfulveggie.com/bombay-halwa/): I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of making Indian sweets. I absolutely love baking and tend to [&hellip;]
- [Indian Cooking Challenge - Gujarati Dal](https://themindfulveggie.com/indian-cooking-challenge-gujarati-dal/): I’ve been slacking again, and honestly, nothing particularly inspiring had come along for a while. I tried a few dishes [&hellip;]
- [Purple Cabbage and Green Apple Salad](https://themindfulveggie.com/purple-cabbage-and-green-apple-salad/): Do you ever have one of those grocery trips where you walk into a health food store like Whole Foods [&hellip;]
- [Beerakkaya Ullikaaram (Ridged Gourd with Onion-Tomato Relish)](https://themindfulveggie.com/beerakkaya-ullikaaram-ridged-gourd-with-onion-tomato-relish/): This recipe was shared with me by my friend Padma — yes, the same Padma of Kothmir Kaaram fame. That [&hellip;]
- [Hot Bread Tikkas](https://themindfulveggie.com/hot-bread-tikkas/): It’s snow day #2 in Plano, Texas. Seventeen degrees with a wind chill that feels like “minus whatever,” nearly two [&hellip;]
- [Travel Bites - Mumbai Spice, Houston](https://themindfulveggie.com/travel-bites-mumbai-spice-houston/): Houston has no shortage of Indian restaurants — Kiran’s (reviewed earlier), Udipi, Bombay Brasserie, Mughal, Nirvana, and Mumbai Spice, to [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Peanut Sesame Noodles](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-peanut-sesame-noodles/): I love technology. I truly do. I love the fact that lunchbox and recipe ideas are now literally at my [&hellip;]
- [Venn Pongal - Traditional South Indian Rice Porridge](https://themindfulveggie.com/venn-pongal-traditional-south-indian-rice-porridge/): A very happy Pongal to all. For those unfamiliar with the festival, Thai Pongal is a harvest celebration observed in [&hellip;]
- [Aviyal (Vegetable Stew in Coconut Chili Gravy)](https://themindfulveggie.com/aviyal-vegetable-stew-in-coconut-chili-sauce/): This is one of Amma’s most well-known recipes. I may have mentioned this before, but among her close friends and [&hellip;]
- [Breakfast Smoothie - Banana Blueberry with Granola](https://themindfulveggie.com/breakfast-smoothie-banana-blueberry-with-granola/): Things seem to be going well lately—I’m on a bit of a roll. I’ve mentioned before that I’m not particularly [&hellip;]
- [Banana Bread French Toast](https://themindfulveggie.com/banana-bread-french-toast/): I know… surprise, surprise. Two posts in two days. Three, if you count the fact that I finally clicked “publish” [&hellip;]
- [Oatmeal South Indian Style](https://themindfulveggie.com/oatmeal-south-indian-style/): A creative take on a breakfast staple, this South Indian–style oatmeal comes straight from Anusuya’s kitchen. In our home, it’s [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Kothu Parotta (Scrambled Spicy Tortilla/Parotta)](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-kothu-parotta-scrambled-spicy-indian-tortillaparotta/): A very happy (albeit belated) New Year to everyone. Like most of my recent posts, this one comes a little [&hellip;]
- [Tantra - Indian food with a Latin twist?](https://themindfulveggie.com/indian-food-with-a-latin-twist/): It had barely been two days since we returned from a short four-day vacation in St. Kitts—four lovely days of [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Indian Style Egg Salad](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-indian-style-egg-salad/): Nupur from One Hot Stove was my inspiration to try this version for today’s Lunchbox Series. Since Nikhil isn’t a [&hellip;]
- [Brunch - Pondicherry Masala Dosai](https://themindfulveggie.com/brunch-pondicherry-masala-dosai/): I had dosai batter coming out of my ears this weekend, thanks entirely to my mom’s foresight and planning. That [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Tofu Sandwich](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-tofu-sandwich/): I first made this sandwich over the summer when Nikhil was heading off to camp, and it has since earned [&hellip;]
- [Kiran's in Houston](https://themindfulveggie.com/kirans-in-houston/): I’ve taken a much longer hiatus from RKK than I originally intended. I thought Nikhil’s Upanayanam ceremony in May would [&hellip;]
- [Pachadis (Chutneys) - Part 1](https://themindfulveggie.com/pachadis-chutneys-part-1/): Pachadis or Chutneys, especially the ones that are made in Andhra, the fiery hot ones with various vegetables, tomato, ginger, [&hellip;]
- [Cottage Cheese Salad](https://themindfulveggie.com/cottage-cheese-salad/): I should probably call this Ram Uncle’s Cottage Cheese Salad, because this is truly one of his signature dishes. Ram [&hellip;]
- [Daring Baker's Challenge - Orange Tian](https://themindfulveggie.com/daring-bakers-challenge-for-march-10-orange-tian/): To be completely honest, I had never heard of a tian before this challenge. That, I suppose, is the beauty [&hellip;]
- [Fruit Pizza](https://themindfulveggie.com/fruit-pizza/): This is a dessert and potluck recipe I received from an old friend during my time as a graduate assistant [&hellip;]
- [Vella Adai (Steamed Jaggery Doughnuts)](https://themindfulveggie.com/vella-adai-steamed-jaggery-doughnuts/): It’s time to spring forward as daylight savings time begins. Not my favorite time of year, especially when it comes [&hellip;]
- [Daring Cook's Mezze Challenge - Pita Bread & Hummus](https://themindfulveggie.com/daring-cooks-mezze-challenge-pita-bread-hummus/): &nbsp; &nbsp; As if I didn’t already have enough challenges when it came to cooking and blogging, I decided to [&hellip;]
- [Wild Blueberry and Banana Muffins](https://themindfulveggie.com/wild-blueberry-and-banana-muffins/): This is one of those recipes that comes from a place of comfort baking—simple ingredients, minimal effort, and results that [&hellip;]
- ["Maharashtrian Dal" (Lentil Soup - Maharashtrian style)](https://themindfulveggie.com/maharashtrian-dal-lentil-soup-maharashtrian-style/): An easy yet healthy entry from Anusuya’s kitchen, as always. She insisted that I not call this Maharashtrian Dal, since [&hellip;]
- [Thai Vegetable Fried Rice](https://themindfulveggie.com/thai-vegetable-fried-rice/): Thai Food. This was the theme at the Christmas get together at my friend, Mona&#8217;s home this past year. I [&hellip;]
- [Chocolate Banana Cake (and it's eggless too)](https://themindfulveggie.com/chocolate-banana-cake-and-its-eggless-too/): Happy 2010 to all! May this year brings you everything you wish for. May you stick with all the resolutions [&hellip;]
- [Bisi Bele Bhath Huli Quinoa (Spiced lentil and quinoa Gumbo)](https://themindfulveggie.com/bisi-bele-bhath-huli-quinoa-spiced-lentil-and-quinoa-gumbo/): A friend of ours recently introduced us to quinoa and all its benefits. Quinoa or KEEN-WAH as it is pronounced,  is 100% [&hellip;]
- [Vanilla Cupcake](https://themindfulveggie.com/vanilla-cupcakes/): I haven&#8217;t been baking much this year aside from the ones already posted here, the banana bread and the pistachio [&hellip;]
- [Apple Raisin Bread](https://themindfulveggie.com/apple-raisin-bread/): &nbsp; I suppose I have an expensive hobby. Cooking and blog writing isn&#8217;t really expensive I know but in my [&hellip;]
- [Ambat Bhaaji - India Trip Food Round-up](https://themindfulveggie.com/india-trip-food-round-up-chennai-part-2/): You&#8217;re correct in the assumption that of the 12 days I spent in India, more than 8 were at restaurants. [&hellip;]
- [India Trip Food Round Up - Chennai](https://themindfulveggie.com/india-trip-food-round-up-chennai/): My 2 day trip to Chennai was dotted with some saree shopping, jewelry shopping (the fashion and the junk jewelry [&hellip;]
- [India Visit Food Round-up - New Delhi](https://themindfulveggie.com/india-visit-food-round-up-part-1/): Once again, I&#8217;m back after a long pause. This time, I have a valid (well, sort of!) reason for the [&hellip;]
- [Punjabi Chhole (Garbanzo Beans in Dry Curry Sauce)](https://themindfulveggie.com/punjabi-chole/): This is probably quite a common recipe that you&#8217;ll find in many sites, but that&#8217;s exactly the specialty of this [&hellip;]
- [Roasted Red Pepper Spread Sandwich](https://themindfulveggie.com/roasted-red-pepper-spread-sandwich/): This is a follow up to the recipe from yesterday on the Asparagus Soup. I served this sandwich along with [&hellip;]
- [Asparagus Soup](https://themindfulveggie.com/asparagus-soup/): The last few weeks have been crazy..a rollercoaster of emotions, ups and downs..(mostly up thankfully!) amidst quite a bit of travelling. [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - "Subway" Style Veggie Sandwich](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-subway-style-veggie-sandwich/): This is another of Nikhil&#8217;s lunch favs. This recipe was given to me by another gourmet cook friend of mine. [&hellip;]
- ["Nana's" Banana Bread](https://themindfulveggie.com/nanas-banana-bread/): Got this nice note from Sheela, my dear friend from Hyderabad who also happens to be a regular RKK reader [&hellip;]
- [Vatral Kuzhambu (Tamarind Stew/Soup with sundried vegetables)](https://themindfulveggie.com/vatral-kuzhambu-tamarind-stewsoup-with-sundried-vegetables/): This one is a toughie to translate into plain English. Once again, an authentic Tamil dish, Kuzhambu, which means a [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Veggie Burger](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-veggie-burger/): I’ve tried almost every frozen vegetable burger available in grocery stores here—Morningstar Farms, Boca, Amy’s—but none of them come close [&hellip;]
- [Aappam (Rice Pancakes) with Vegetable Stew](https://themindfulveggie.com/aappam-rice-pancakes-with-vegetable-stew/): You would think that 2 whole weeks of being at home during the winter holidays would have resulted in many [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - "Chipotle" Burrito](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-chipotle-burrito/): No..I don&#8217;t really have any excuses for my long silence. Call it a mix of emotions, the elation after the [&hellip;]
- [Cookies, Cookies and more cookies!](https://themindfulveggie.com/cookies-cookies-and-more-cookies/): It’s not the holidays yet, you say? I say the season has already begun. For us Indians living in the [&hellip;]
- [Egg Curry (Kerala style)](https://themindfulveggie.com/egg-curry-kerala-style/): Yes, I know&#8230;Travel Bites needs to travel a little more, after that one sole post from Girish. The reality is [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series (Grilled potato and sprouts sandwich)](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-grilled-potato-and-sprouts-sandwich/): When my son started public school, I discovered something about myself that I didn&#8217;t know before. I actually enjoyed packing [&hellip;]
- [Bread Upma (Scrambled Bread)](https://themindfulveggie.com/bread-upma-scrambled-bread/): Another staple Amma&#8217;s recipe. This dish brings back memories of school, when Amma would make this piping hot for breakfast [&hellip;]
- [Tomato Paratha (Tomato spiced flatbread)](https://themindfulveggie.com/tomato-paratha-tomato-spiced-flatbread/): Making chapathis or rotis have not been my forte and I usually rely on the Indian store bought rotis and parathas that [&hellip;]
- [Sprouts n Salsa](https://themindfulveggie.com/sprouts-n-salsa/): I haven&#8217;t mustered the courage (call it timeliness) to submit any of my entries to a food blog event&#8230;but it&#8217;s always nice [&hellip;]
- [Poblano Chile-Cheese Enchiladas](https://themindfulveggie.com/poblano-chile-cheese-enchiladas/): The latest issue of Vegetarian Times magazine did the needful to get me back in the groove of cooking and [&hellip;]
- [Rajdhani (Artesia, LA)](https://themindfulveggie.com/rajdhani-artesia-la/): Having spent 3 days every week on the road for the last 10 years, my Roz Ka Khana is typically [&hellip;]
- [Cauliflower and Bell Pepper Chutney (Pachadi)](https://themindfulveggie.com/cauliflower-and-bell-pepper-chutney-pachadi/): Having spent half of my formative years in Hyderabad, I&#8217;m what you may call a Tamil Born (not) Confused Hyderabadi [&hellip;]
- [Carrot Coconut Squares](https://themindfulveggie.com/carrot-coconut-squares/): Thanks for all the comments on the recent blog makeover. Being new to blogging, it&#8217;s always encouraging to get a [&hellip;]
- [Sweet Corn Soup](https://themindfulveggie.com/sweet-corn-soup/): I do realize I haven’t populated the comfort food section in a while. Well, I haven’t blogged in a while [&hellip;]
- [Spinach with Soy Granules (Soya Palak Ki Sabzi)](https://themindfulveggie.com/spinach-with-soy-granules-soya-palak-ki-sabzi/): You’ve probably heard of writer’s block, but is there such a thing as a cooking block? No, not the kind [&hellip;]
- [Karuvepilai Kozhambu (Curry Leaves Soup)](https://themindfulveggie.com/karuvepilai-kuzhambu/): &nbsp; It’s often said that people who truly appreciate good food also make great cooks. Or perhaps it works the [&hellip;]
- [Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins](https://themindfulveggie.com/whole-wheat-banana-nut-muffins/): Another healthful and delicious entry from Anusuya&#8217;s kitchen. I have never had luck with eggless baking so far, and the [&hellip;]
- [Vazhakkai Podimas (Green banana/plantain Crumble)](https://themindfulveggie.com/vazhakkai-podimas-green-bananaplantain-crumble/): I credit this recipe to my dear friend Uma. I have always thought that she  was good at adding the &#8220;Kerala touch&#8221; [&hellip;]
- [Chili Cheese Sandwich](https://themindfulveggie.com/chili-cheese-sandwich/): Despite the gazillion varieties of cheese that we find in the grocery stores here in the US, my favorite has [&hellip;]
- [Vankaya Kothmir Kaaram (Eggplant with cilantro chutney)](https://themindfulveggie.com/vankaya-kothmir-kaaram-eggplant-with-cilantro-chutney/): &nbsp; As I mentioned earlier, this blog is all about recipes old, borrowed and inspired, and umm..some original ones in [&hellip;]
- [THE Sambar (Lentil Soup)](https://themindfulveggie.com/the-sambar/): Yes. I know this is quite an unusual title for something as commonplace as sambar, but I have a reason [&hellip;]
- [Sabudana Khichdi (Sago Stir Fry)](https://themindfulveggie.com/sabudana-khichdi/): Sabudana is the Hindi/Marathi/Bengali/Oriya word for pearl sago. Sabudana grains look like tapioca and are small (about 2 mm diameter) [&hellip;]
- [Ridged Gourd Dal (Peerkangai Paruppu)](https://themindfulveggie.com/ridged-gourd-dal-peerkangai-paruppu/): This ridged gourd dal dish or Peerkangai Paruppu is one that I learnt from my mil. The lemon juice and [&hellip;]
- [Red Potato with Spring Onion (Alu Hare Pyaaz ki Subzi)](https://themindfulveggie.com/red-potato-with-spring-onion-alu-hare-pyaaz-ki-subzi/): This was just a very slight variation from the usual potato fry or alu pyaaz sabzi. Just that I didn’t [&hellip;]
- [Cauliflower Fry](https://themindfulveggie.com/cauliflower-fry/): This is a favorite accompaniment to the tomato paruppu rasam in my home. In many South Indian (Tamil) homes, cauliflower [&hellip;]
- [Easy Masala Baked Potatoes](https://themindfulveggie.com/easy-masala-baked-potatoes/): It’s often said that people who truly appreciate good food also make great cooks. Or perhaps it works the other [&hellip;]
- [Gujarati Khichdi-Kadhi](https://themindfulveggie.com/gujarati-khichdi-kadhi/): The second in our choice of comfort foods, there are many versions to the khichdi. Maharashtrian, Rajasthani, South Indian cuisines [&hellip;]
- [Tomato Paruppu Rasam (Tomato and Lentil Soup)](https://themindfulveggie.com/tomato-paruppu-rasam/): It’s like I pay my obeisance to this dish….as an almost “auspicious” start to this blog about all things food. [&hellip;]
- [Easy Eggless Protein Banana Bread Recipe](https://themindfulveggie.com/easy-eggless-protein-banana-bread/): Have you noticed the protein boom lately—especially in vegetarian and vegan circles? When your social media feed is filled with “protein this” and “protein that,” it’s a sign: protein is having its moment. But as with all health trends, the key is balance. Sure, pairing protein with carbs can help stabilize insulin levels, and yes, eating roughly your body weight (in kilograms) in protein grams per day has benefits. But more important than any rule? Tuning in to your body’s needs. The good news? This protein awareness has helped many of us rethink our diets—especially as vegetarians. Personally, I’ve become [&hellip;]
- [The Navaratri Planner - 9 Recipes for 9 Days](https://themindfulveggie.com/the-navaratri-planner-9-recipes-for-9-days/): Navaratri is one of my favorite festivals—vibrant, spiritual, and full of culinary joy. I look forward to it every year, especially for the variety of recipes and prasadams I prepare to offer Devi. There’s a palpable energy during this time—the Divine Feminine or Shakti, in all her forms, is invoked both within and around us. You can truly feel her presence. A Unique Navaratri Experience Navaratri 2020 brought a shift in how many of us celebrated. With fewer social gatherings, golu hopping, and community feasts, the focus turned inward. I missed the joyful chaos—the gifts, laughter, garba nights, and festive [&hellip;]
- [Why Rasam Is the Ultimate Broth | Recipe for Kandathippili Rasam](https://themindfulveggie.com/why-rasam-is-the-ultimate-broth/): Contributed by Sumathi Vaidyanathan for Sumathi&#8217;s Medley. A broth for all seasons and reasons—rasam’s versatility is second to none. This tangy, soul-soothing staple of South Indian vegetarian cuisine has found renewed relevance in recent times, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. While its exact effectiveness against the virus may remain unclear, there’s no denying the immune-boosting reputation of rasam’s core ingredients—black pepper, turmeric, and tamarind. More Than Just Medicine Rasam is more than just therapeutic. It’s deeply nourishing, familiar, and comfortingly adaptable. In my South Indian vegetarian household, it wasn’t just the second course—it was healing food, gently mixed with mashed [&hellip;]
- [Easy Nankhatai Recipe | How to Make Nankhatai](https://themindfulveggie.com/easy-nankhatai-recipe-how-to-make-nankhatai/): This Mother’s Day is going to be different in many ways. I’m one of those people (call me a cynic) who has always felt that days like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are “Hallmark days”—created by companies for their own benefit—and that every day should be dedicated to moms and dads. But interestingly, in a time like this—when every day feels the same and we’re losing track of the calendar—these so-called Hallmark days suddenly take on a deeper meaning. They help us keep track of time, for one, and they remind us not just to celebrate the reason they were [&hellip;]
- [Pomegranate Rasam](https://themindfulveggie.com/pomegranate-rasam/): We are serious rasam lovers in our home. Tomato Paruppu Rasam is, of course, an all-time favorite, but we—especially Girish, who is truly THE rasam aficionado—love experimenting with different garnishes, mix-ins, and even the main ingredients themselves. Garlic rasam, ginger rasam, lemon rasam, pineapple rasam—these are all fairly common variations. One of the beautiful things about rasam is how easily it adapts to seasonal produce, as long as the ingredient has some tang and can either complement tamarind or replace that sour note altogether. Think raw blueberries, gooseberry (amla), raw mango. At its core, rasam is a light, soupy broth [&hellip;]
- [South Indian Curd Rice Sushi - Thachi Mammu Sushi](https://themindfulveggie.com/south-indian-curd-rice-sushi-thachi-mammu-sushi/): How do you say “Thachi Mammu” (yoghurt rice or curd rice, for the uninitiated) in Japanese? 😉 Blasphemous for some, I know—but this idea was actually mentioned to me by my brother-in-law several years ago. He had tried it at someone’s home (so no, this isn’t an original concept), and I’ve been meaning to try it ever since. Much like blogging, there’s often an inertia that settles in between wanting to try something and actually making it happen. To be fair, I had already bought a sushi rolling mat, sushi rice, nori sheets, and even pickled ginger—which eventually went bad [&hellip;]
- [Instant Pot Vegan Butternut Squash Soup](https://themindfulveggie.com/instant-pot-vegan-butternut-squash-soup/): An easy, quick vegan Instant Pot soup. I joined the Instant Pot bandwagon last Thanksgiving when the 6QT IP DUO went on sale for Black Friday. Credit also goes to my kitchen-gadget-loving “partner in crime,” friend, mentor, and aunt (yes, she is all of the above) who got me completely hooked. I’m talking about Anusuya of Anusuya’s Kitchen fame, someone I’ve always admired for her no-fail traditional recipes, versatile cooking, and practical kitchen tips. Of course, anyone who knows me well knows I have a serious kitchen gadget obsession, so all she really had to do was exhale and the [&hellip;]
- [Punjabi Style Aloo Gobhi](https://themindfulveggie.com/punjabi-style-aloo-gobhi/): As some of you know, I recently started my own company—MantraM Digital Media (yes, an anagram of sorts). It’s been just over a year since I began working for myself. I help small to mid-sized businesses with digital marketing and social media strategy. I’m still very much a solopreneur and growing, but it has been an incredible learning experience and an opportunity to grow from the inside out—working on focus, productivity, and discipline, while learning something new in the digital space every single day. It’s a testament to the adage: you are always learning. I’m still scratching the surface when [&hellip;]
- [Honey and Walnut Baklava - A Traditional Middle Eastern Dessert](https://themindfulveggie.com/honey-walnut-baklava-traditional-middle-eastern-dessert/): This is one of those recipes I had mentally filed under “Must try, but sounds complicated”—in other words, saved for later. That changed when I tasted it at a dear friend’s party. I asked where she had catered the baklava from, and very casually, she said she made it herself. All 120 pieces. This was my friend Uma’s sister-in-law (you can read Uma’s recipes here), and of course, Uma makes baklava at home too. So, on a cold, sleety afternoon—yes, Texas has those too—we decided to turn it into a cozy winter cooking project. This is one of those recipes [&hellip;]
- [Navaratri Day 10 - Vijayadasami - #DeviPrasadam](https://themindfulveggie.com/navaratri-day-10-vijayadasami-deviprasadam/): And here we are, at the end of the Nine Nights of Navaratri. On the tenth day, we celebrate Dasami, also known as VijayaDasami—the victory of good over evil, of the Self over duality, and the balancing of the gunas or inner traits. These nine days have been deeply fulfilling, offering a chance to discover and honor the feminine qualities within us, while consciously turning inward. I also realized that while it hasn’t been easy to stay committed to a daily post—which was my original intent when I began blogging years ago—it has helped me remain focused and disciplined, qualities [&hellip;]
- [Navaratri Day 9 Recipes - #DeviPrasadam](https://themindfulveggie.com/navaratri-day-9-recipes-deviprasadam/): Siddhidatri is the ninth and final form of Goddess Durga. Siddhi signifies supernatural power or meditative ability, while Dhatri means giver or bestower. Seated on a lotus and depicted with four arms, Siddhidatri grants siddhis—spiritual and meditative powers—to those who worship and invoke her with devotion. #DeviPrasadam for Day 9 Akkara Adisal Maanga Saadam (Mango Rice) Moong Dal Sundal Recipe for One Pot One Shot (OPOS) Akkara Adisal IMG_3374 Ingredients Jaggery – 1 cup Water – ¾ cup Raw rice – ½ cup Moong dal – ⅛ cup Cardamom – ¼ tsp Milk – 2 cups Ghee – ¼ cup [&hellip;]
- [Navaratri Day 8 Recipes - #DeviPrasadam](https://themindfulveggie.com/navaratri-day-8-recipes-deviprasadam/): On the eighth day of Navaratri, we worship Devi Mahagauri. In her lower right hand, she holds a trident, while her upper right hand is shown in a gesture that dispels fear and reassures her devotees. Radiant, graceful, and deeply compassionate, Maa Mahagauri is often depicted clad in white and riding a bull. She represents the opposite extreme of Kalaratri, whose form is fierce and devastating. Mahagauri, in contrast, is the most serene manifestation of the Mother Divine and the very embodiment of purity and beauty. She blesses her devotees by fulfilling their wishes and desires and brings a calming, [&hellip;]
- [Navaratri Day 7 Recipes - #DeviPrasadam](https://themindfulveggie.com/navaratri-day-7-recipes-deviprasadam/): I read this today on a blog by the Isha Yoga Center on Navaratri, and it truly resonated with me: “To approach these nine days, and every other aspect of life in a celebratory way is most important. If you approach everything in a celebratory way, you learn to be non-serious about life but yet absolutely involved. The problem with us human beings right now is if we think something is important, we get serious about it. If we think it is not so important, we become lax about it—we don’t show the necessary involvement. The secret of life is [&hellip;]
- [Navaratri Day 6 Recipes - Devi Prasadam](https://themindfulveggie.com/navaratri-day-6-recipes-devi-prasadam/): On the sixth day of Navaratri, Goddess Katyayini is worshipped. A powerful warrior Goddess, she represents the fierce form of Shakti or Durga. She is often depicted holding a shining Chandrahasa (sword) and accompanied by a majestic lion, destroying demons with skill and the force of her third eye. These demons symbolize the negative traits within us. The essence of Goddess Katyayini is the destruction of inner conflicts and negativities that hold us back, allowing us to grow, evolve, and move closer to understanding our true self. Devi Prasadam for Day 6 Lemon Rice Wheat Rava or Daliya Payasam Kabuli [&hellip;]
- [#DeviPrasadam - Day 5 Navaratri Recipes](https://themindfulveggie.com/deviprasadam-day-5-navaratri-recipes/): We&#8217;re now halfway through the beautiful nine nights of Navaratri, and I have to say—I could get used to this routine. In these intense and uncertain times, starting the day early in the kitchen with Amma, preparing prasadam, brings a sense of grounding and joy. The early morning hustle, followed by daily pujas, fills the home with energy and positivity. It’s heartwarming to hear the laughter and lively conversations in the evenings when friends come over for haldi-kumkum, sing devotional songs, exchange gifts, and share festive snacks. The spirit of celebration is alive and well—something we all deeply need right [&hellip;]
- [Navaratri Recipes Day 4](https://themindfulveggie.com/navaratri-recipes-day-4/): This is my fourth year celebrating Navaratri with Bomma Golu, also known as the “Court of Dolls”, where dolls and figurines depicting court life, everyday scenes, and divine settings are displayed in the presence of the Goddesses. In South India, a special set of dolls called Marapacchi Bommai is traditionally gifted by parents to a newly married bride as part of her wedding trousseau. This marks the beginning of the annual Navaratri Golu tradition in her new home. These wooden dolls are presented as a couple dressed in wedding attire, symbolizing prosperity, fertility, and the start of the bride’s Golu [&hellip;]
- [Day 3 Navaratri Recipes - Devi Prasadam](https://themindfulveggie.com/day-3-navaratri-recipes-devi-prasadam/): On Day 3 of Navaratri, we worship Chandraghanta, the goddess known as “one who bears a half-moon shaped like a bell.” Her third eye is always open, symbolizing vigilance, and she embodies grace, bravery, and courage—qualities we seek to invoke during this sacred time. We honor Devi not only through prayer but also through intention and presence. One beautiful way to engage more deeply is through daily meditative practices—such as coloring a Yantra. A dear friend and fellow blogger has started the #21ShaktiYantra Project, where a new Yantra coloring page is posted daily on her blog. It&#8217;s a thoughtful way [&hellip;]
- [Navaratri Recipes Day 2 - Prasadam](https://themindfulveggie.com/navaratri-recipes-day-2-prasadam/): When you truly pause to understand why we follow certain traditions and how our customs originated, you begin to see the incredible logic behind how our ancestors celebrated festivals and approached worship. We may only be scratching the surface of the deeper significance, but even that glimpse reveals thoughtful intent and meaning. At the heart of Navaratri is the idea of honoring the feminine within us—the qualities of compassion, benevolence, patience, tolerance, and grace—while also acknowledging and working through our inner conflicts of arrogance, ego, jealousy, and similar tendencies that surface from time to time. The stories of the Divine [&hellip;]
- [Planning for Navaratri - Daily Menu and Navaratri Recipes](https://themindfulveggie.com/planning-navaratri-daily-menu-recipes/): I’ve clearly been in a bit of a blogging rut lately. As I mentioned in a post a couple of years ago, it’s fascinating how changes in seasons, moon cycles, and the surrounding environment have such a profound effect on our bodies and minds. When you really take the time to understand why we honor certain festivals and prepare specific foods, you begin to see the deep logic behind these traditions and customs. Seasonal transitions influence not only how we feel physically and mentally, but also the kinds of foods we are drawn to. I’ve previously written about why we [&hellip;]
- [6 minute Homemade Paneer](https://themindfulveggie.com/homemade-paneer/): While we didn’t travel much last year, we wrapped up 2016 with a food and culture deep-dive in India—so there was no shortage of cooking and eating! With Amma home, the kitchen has been buzzing non-stop with her classic recipes. Naturally, there’s a lot to write about. But between that and everything else, I may have bitten off more than I can chew (again). Juggling two—almost three—part-time gigs has me gasping for air between school runs, teaching, strategy sessions, and project management. Is it worth it? I’m not sure yet. Everything feels like a blur, and I suspect I’ll need [&hellip;]
- [#3 Day Detox - Recap and Recipes for Day 1](https://themindfulveggie.com/3-day-detox-recap-and-recipes-for-day-1/): I completed a 3-day “detox” last week that was long overdue. I’ll be honest—I’m not a fan of fasts, extreme diets, or juice-only cleanses where you drink nothing but juices or smoothies all day for several days in a row. Many people swear by them, and they claim it helps flush out the “sludge” in the system. I say to each their own. Try different approaches if you want—but ultimately, do what works for you, and most importantly: listen to your body. Over the past few years, I’ve made several lifestyle changes: daily green smoothies, green juices, quitting caffeine, cutting [&hellip;]
- [Celebrating the Flavors of Life - A bit of sweet, sour, salt, tang and spice. Mango Neem Chutney (Maanga Vepambu Pachadi)](https://themindfulveggie.com/maanga-vepambu-pachadi/): I know this has been the longest hiatus I&#8217;ve taken from writing. To go through the New Year without a post feels almost blasphemous! My last update was in December, and since then, life has catapulted forward at full speed. Between a teaching stint, a part-time gig, and a few entrepreneurial ventures, I’ve been running all over town. Thankfully, it&#8217;s all exciting and engaging—there’s a sense of purposeful motion rather than burnout. Sure, I feel physically exhausted at times, but mentally, I’m all in. I’ve come to realize that how we experience things depends on how we frame them. You [&hellip;]
- [Snappy Salads - Kale Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Apples, Pistachios with Warm Crusted Goat Cheese](https://themindfulveggie.com/kale-salad/): &nbsp; Continuing the salad series from the last post. I’ve been making a conscious effort to eat clean at least once a day, usually for lunch. My mornings typically start with a green smoothie or juice, followed by a small breakfast of oatmeal or granola with coconut milk. A hearty soup and or salad for lunch has been a great way to get through at least half the day feeling nourished. In hindsight, I probably need to experiment with a heavier lunch and a lighter dinner and switch things around a bit. Two consecutive days of having just a salad [&hellip;]
- [Snappy Salads - Roasted chickpea, sweet potato and beet salad](https://themindfulveggie.com/chickpea-sweet-potato-beet-salad/): After all the festival food and carb and sugar binges, it felt like the right time to shift back to some clean eating and simpler recipes. This chickpea and sweet potato salad was a tip from my cousin, who in turn tried it from the Minimalist Baker blog. She described it as a super satisfying salad—and she was absolutely right. This salad hits that perfect balance: hearty, zesty, not too salty, not too sweet, and yet incredibly satisfying. I added roasted beets to the original recipe, and I think it only enhanced the overall flavor—especially fitting for the season. I [&hellip;]
- [Change is the only constant - Navaratri - 9 Days of Celebrating Change](https://themindfulveggie.com/change-is-the-only-constant-navaratri-9-days-of-celebrating-change/): And here we are—back in the States. A full circle? Perhaps. It really depends on where that circle began. When we moved to Singapore three years ago, it felt like a return to our roots, a homecoming of sorts. Our lives began in India, and there we were, back in Asia. Yet the U.S. has also been home. After several moves, we’ve come to understand something profound: home is where the heart is. So when it was time to move back to the U.S., we were filled with mixed emotions. But isn’t that always the case with change? Just as [&hellip;]
- [Vietnamese Vegetarian Pho](https://themindfulveggie.com/vietnamese-vegetarian-pho/): It’s a bit ironic that I’m writing this amidst the recent controversy around a brand that first introduced me to the idea of noodle soup in my childhood—Maggi, anyone? A steaming bowl of “2-minute Maggi noodles” was what I once thought Chinese noodle soup was (for lack of a better, more informed term). It was only later that I learned noodle soups went by many names—ramen, instant noodles, cup noodles. And it wasn’t until I traveled outside India that I realized how limited my view of the world and its fascinating cuisines truly was, and how noodle soup went far [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Mung "Kachumber" Salad](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-mung-kachumber-salad/): Tried this protein-packed recipe for our lunchbox today. I call this a “kachumber” since it includes the classic onion–tomato–cucumber combination. However, unlike a traditional raw kachumber salad, I lightly stir-fried the ingredients to help bring all the flavors together. That said, you can absolutely make this as a raw salad too—just skip the oil and seasoning. I packed this as a side to a mixed salad filled with all the colors of the rainbow, paired with a creamy mustard dressing (recipe below). Mung Sprouts salad Mung Kachumber Ingredients 100 grams or 1 bowl moong sprouts ½ onion, finely chopped 3–4 [&hellip;]
- [New Identity, New Look](https://themindfulveggie.com/new-identity-new-look/): After almost five years of battling indecisiveness (which, by the way, comes quite naturally to me), I finally did it. I rebranded my blog. Roz Ka Khana is now The Mindful Veggie. If I had to explain why I made this change after all these years in just a few words—it simply wasn’t me anymore. Looking back at the years I’ve spent blogging, I can clearly see that I’ve gone through a transformation of my own, and that evolution has naturally reflected in the content of the blog. When I first started Roz Ka Khana in February 2008, my intention [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Buckwheat Soba Noodles with Tofu in Spicy Miso Sauce and Mung sprouts salad](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-buckwheat-soba-noodles-with-tofu-in-spicy-miso-sauce-and-mung-sprouts-salad/): (Roz Ka Khana has moved to a new site with a fresh look and a new name. More details on the why and how coming soon. Please be patient as the site migrates and we work through the remaining kinks. For those who followed me on Roz Ka Khana, this is a repeat post from March 16. Email subscribers and WordPress followers from www.rozkakhana.com will be automatically transferred to the new site. WordPress followers should also visit the new site and click “subscribe” to continue receiving updates. Apologies for the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience as we move [&hellip;]
- [Black-Eyed Beans (Lobiya) with Tomatoes](https://themindfulveggie.com/black-eyed-beans-with-tomatoes-lobhia-curry/): This comforting dish has broad, universal appeal—thanks to its simple technique and the ability to blend seamlessly into a variety of cuisines. Whether you serve it with a crusty batard, a soft flatbread, or a warm bowl of steamed rice, it hits all the right notes. And with just a handful of ingredients, it&#8217;s incredibly easy to put together. The only part that requires a bit of planning is cooking the dried black-eyed beans (known as lobiya in Hindi). You’ll need to soak them ahead of time and allow for some cooking—but if you&#8217;re short on time, canned black-eyed beans [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Day Two - Mediterranean Salad with Creamy Garlic Cilantro Parsley Dressing](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-day-two-mediterranean-salad-with-creamy-garlic-cilantro-parsley-dressing/): It’s been a busy few days, so pardon the slight delays in the “daily posts.” For one, I’ve restarted the 1-green-smoothie-a-day series—this time for 21 days. February often feels like the month when New Year motivation starts to fade, so I figured this would be a good way to keep that momentum going. I’ve been smoothie-ing consistently for the past year and a half, and I honestly can’t emphasize enough how beneficial it has been for me. I’ve also received quite a few requests to share the daily recipes, so I’ve started posting them here and on Facebook in case [&hellip;]
- [21 Days of Green Smoothies](https://themindfulveggie.com/21-days-of-green-smoothies/): And here we are again. It’s been over a year and a half since the last 30-day challenge, but that experience alone was enough to inspire me to start my day with a green smoothie—every single day. I know it’s done the same for many of you as well. I’ve received a few requests from friends to restart the daily reminders and recipes, so this time around, I’m hoping it’ll be even easier to follow along. As a quick refresher, here are a few important things to keep in mind as you begin this challenge. Getting Started with the Challenge [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - A Week of Protein Packed Lunches - Day One - Rainbow Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-a-week-of-protein-packed-lunches-day-one-rainbow-salad-with-lemon-vinaigrette/): I just realized this is my first post of the new year—a little late, but there’s no better way to start than with a series of wholesome lunchbox recipes. It’s heartening to see the whole family finally get on a health kick with me. For the longest time, I’ve been a solo adventurer, experimenting with “healthy” single-serve meals, often dairy-free, gluten-free, or grain-free—not because anyone else wanted them, but just to test how these eliminations affected my body. Over time, I’ve tried cutting out milk, caffeine, white flour, rice, and sugar. Once a month, I go gluten-free if possible. I’ve [&hellip;]
- [Thai Vegetarian - Steamed tofu in garlicky lemon sauce (Tao Huu Neung Manao)](https://themindfulveggie.com/thai-vegetarian-steamed-tofu-in-garlicky-lemon-sauce-tao-huu-neung-manao/): This is one of those unforgettable dishes that lingers in your memory long after the first bite—months, even years later. We first stumbled upon it during an early visit to Singapore, well before we moved there. It was a spontaneous stop at a restaurant called Sabai Thai, tucked inside a busy Orchard Road mall. To our surprise, the restaurant offered a unique vegetarian-only menu, distinct from the usual suspects like Thai Green Curry or Pad Thai. One dish stood out: Steamed Tofu in Garlicky Lemon Sauce. It wasn’t just new—it was revelatory. I hadn’t tasted anything like it at any [&hellip;]
- [Snappy Salads - Lemony Kale Salad](https://themindfulveggie.com/snappy-salads-lemony-kale-salad/): This catchy title from MindBodyGreen immediately caught my attention: “A Salad That Makes Even the Skeptics Fall in Love With Kale.” And just like that, I had my next salad inspiration. I took this for lunch last week, and I’m not being clichéd when I say—I licked this salad clean. Yes. This is hands down the best kale salad I’ve tried so far. And in the process of making it, I also discovered just how beautifully kale’s natural flavors can be brought forward. The secret to making the perfect kale salad is simple: massage the kale. Use your bare hands. [&hellip;]
- [Snappy Salads - Cucumber, Tomato and Feta, a Watercress Slaw , Home Made Dressings and more](https://themindfulveggie.com/snappy-salads-cucumber-tomato-and-feta-a-watercress-slaw-home-made-dressings-and-more/): After a week of dessert binges, festival food, and endless family gatherings for Diwali—following a whirlwind trip to India—I knew I needed to get back on the real-food wagon, and fast. Between sweets and savories, jaggery-laden manoharams, murukkus, gulab jamuns, food-coma naps paired with jet lag, and a slightly insane road trip, I returned home feeling like I needed another vacation just to recover. It’s amazing how clearly your body communicates—especially when you actually listen—when you’ve fallen off the wagon and what it needs to get back on track. For the ten days that I was eating whatever was placed [&hellip;]
- [Eating in the Raw -- Rasam week - Pachi Pulusu (Raw Spiced Tamarind broth)](https://themindfulveggie.com/eating-in-the-raw-rasam-week-pachi-pulusu-raw-tamarind-broth/): In keeping with Rasam Week, I wanted to finally try something I’ve been meaning to make for years—ever since I tasted it for the first time almost a decade ago at my friend Harini’s home. This is a traditional Telangana dish that she once prepared for us for dinner, and its bold, unforgettable flavor stayed with me all these years. Simple as it is to make, I somehow never got around to trying it in my own kitchen until this week. This pulusu, or broth, is completely raw and requires no boiling or cooking. The magic lies in the tadka [&hellip;]
- [A Week of Rasams -  Recipes for Garlic Rasam and Lemon Rasam](https://themindfulveggie.com/a-week-of-rasams-recipes-for-garlic-rasam-and-lemon-rasam/): After a bustling festive season, it’s officially Rasam Week at our home. As I mentioned in my very first post, rasam is one of our ultimate comfort foods. It’s what we turn to when we crave a home-cooked meal, what we make when we want to “detox,” and what we cook as an accompaniment for traditional South Indian occasions. Rasam is truly ubiquitous and deeply loved. Typically a clear, spiced broth, rasam literally translates to juice—or perhaps the very essence of South Indian food. It was Girish’s turn to plan the weekly menu since he’s home for a full week [&hellip;]
- [Easy Tomato Gothsu (Tomato Stew) - without onion or garlic](https://themindfulveggie.com/easy-tomato-gothsu-tomato-stew-without-onion-or-garlic/): It’s Navaratri—the vibrant Festival of Nine Nights. During this auspicious time, the menu at home takes a sattvik turn: light, wholesome meals and daily offerings of jaggery-laced sweets and protein-packed sundals (legume-based savory dishes) to the Goddess. The essence of Navaratri food lies in its purity—it’s meant to promote clarity, calm, and balance of mind, aligning with the sattwa guna. While the roots of this approach trace back to Ayurvedic traditions and the diets of ancient yogis, the logic still invites reflection. The prescribed sattvik foods include fresh greens, fruits, grains, nuts, legumes, ghee, raw honey, and even dairy (from [&hellip;]
- [Quick Snack - Spicy Sprouts chaat on Toast](https://themindfulveggie.com/quick-snack-spicy-sprouts-chaat-on-toast/): This is perfect for one of those muggy, rainy days when you’re craving something spicy to go with a hot cup of chai or green tea 🙂 It also works beautifully as a quick breakfast if you plan ahead and have sprouts ready by Day 2. To sprout mung beans: soak them in water overnight, drain the next day, then transfer the beans to a moist cloth. Keep them covered for a day until you begin to see the sprouts emerge. Ingredients Sprouted mung beans – 1 cup Whole wheat, multigrain, or gluten-free bread – 2 slices Olive oil – [&hellip;]
- [Vegetarian (Thai) Green Curry](https://themindfulveggie.com/vegetarian-thai-green-curry/): This is perfect for one of those muggy, rainy days when you’re craving something spicy to go with a hot cup of chai or green tea. It also works beautifully as a quick breakfast if you plan ahead and have sprouts ready by Day 2. To sprout mung beans: soak them in water overnight, drain the next day, then transfer the beans to a moist cloth. Keep them covered for a day until you begin to see the sprouts emerge. Ingredients Sprouted mung beans – 1 cup Whole wheat, multigrain, or gluten-free bread – 2 slices Olive oil – 1 [&hellip;]
- [Pulut Hitam - Sticky Black Rice Pudding](https://themindfulveggie.com/pulut-hitam-sticky-black-rice-pudding/): Desserts made with sticky black rice are a specialty across Southeast Asia. This unpolished, short-grain rice is often labeled glutinous rice—a reference to its sticky consistency when cooked, and not to its gluten content. The rice itself isn’t truly black either, which becomes apparent the moment you wash it. The grains release a deep wine-colored pigment, and once cooked, they turn a rich shade of purple. It wasn’t until I began researching black rice more closely that I discovered its impressive health benefits. Its dark pigment comes from anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants also found in purple fruits and vegetables like beetroot, [&hellip;]
- ["The Rajma" - Indian Spiced Vegetarian Chili](https://themindfulveggie.com/the-rajma-indian-spiced-vegetarian-chili/): This is my all-time favorite comfort food. Coming from a Tambrahm family, rajma (red kidney bean curry) wasn’t exactly a regular on our table. In fact, my dad would wrinkle his nose and ask, “What kind of dish is called Rajammal?” So I didn’t actually taste rajma until I was four years old—and the fact that I remember it so vividly says a lot. We were living in Srinagar at the time (yes, that Srinagar in Jammu &amp; Kashmir), which is about as far back as my childhood memories go. Our next-door neighbors were a warm, kind-hearted Punjabi family, and [&hellip;]
- [Snappy Salads - Taco Salad in a Jar](https://themindfulveggie.com/snappy-salads-taco-salad-in-a-jar/): Salads in a jar may be a Pinterest favorite, but it was actually a Huffington Post article that caught my attention this week. The piece focused on colorful salads and fruits that make for a not-so-sad desk lunch—couldn’t have been more timely, especially since I was back on a gluten-free, clean-eating phase after all the “junk” devoured over the past week and weekend. My hurried iPhone clicks while assembling this salad didn’t quite capture the vibrant colors shown in the original article, but it was a decent first attempt—and more importantly, enough motivation to eat healthier at work and cut [&hellip;]
- [(Fusion) Spaghetti Aglio Olio - with green chilies, cilantro and spinach](https://themindfulveggie.com/fusion-spaghetti-aglio-olio-with-green-chilies-cilantro-and-spinach/): Ever have one of those moments when you taste something at a fancy restaurant and think, “Why didn’t I think of that?” So simple, yet so incredibly flavorful. Naturally, it gets tucked away into your mental “I’ll cook this someday” stash. But the taste lingers—almost haunting you—in that “I can practically taste it” kind of way. Well, that day finally arrived last night. I dusted off the cooking rut I’d been stuck in and made this for dinner. There were no measurements, no written recipe—just a memory of the flavor. And I have to say, I was quite proud of [&hellip;]
- [Ginger and palm sugar punch (Panakam), Spiced Buttermilk (Neer Mor) and Lentil green mango salad (Kosumalli)](https://themindfulveggie.com/ginger-and-palm-sugar-punch-panakam-spiced-buttermilk-neer-mor-and-lentil-green-mango-salad-kosumalli/): This post is a little late for Rama Navami, but as with all festival recipes, I’m recording it here for posterity. I’m sure it will come in handy in the years to come—either for me or for another reader—so better late than never. As always with the festival recipes on this blog, these are Amma’s recipes. Panakam and Neer Mor are not exclusive to Rama Navami. While legend says these drinks were served during Sita and Rama’s wedding and during Rama’s birth, the tradition has continued and they are still commonly served after celebrations at traditional South Indian Hindu weddings [&hellip;]
- [Fresh, Raw Summer Rolls with Chili-Peanut dipping sauce](https://themindfulveggie.com/fresh-raw-summer-rolls-with-chili-peanut-dipping-sauce/): This was actually a Pinterest recipe that caught my eye first—and then, like so many others, I promptly forgot about it after adding it to one of my many recipe boards. Which brings me to a question for all you social-media-consuming foodie geeks out there: how do you keep track of and organize the endless recipes you pin, tag, Instagram, StumbleUpon, save to Pocket, Evernote, and whatever else you use these days? I just scrolled through my pins and bookmarks recently and realized I have enough recipes to menu-plan for an entire year without repeating a single one. And yet, [&hellip;]
- [Snappy Salads - Baby Spinach, Red Onion, Orange and Feta Salad with a Sweet Citrus Dressing.](https://themindfulveggie.com/snappy-salads-baby-spinach-red-onion-orange-and-feta-salad-with-a-sweet-citrus-dressing/): This is a quick post for a snappy salad that I packed for lunch this morning. It’s officially fridge clean-out week after days of entertaining and multiple grocery runs. Let me also add that it’s a “clean eating” week for much the same reasons. That said, clean eating becomes a real test when you’re staring at leftover pints of ice cream, chocolates, and wine in the fridge—but I was determined to try. This week’s resolve was simple: pack my lunch as often as possible. This salad turned out to be the easiest option I could throw together using the clean-er [&hellip;]
- [Andhra Vegetarian Pulao](https://themindfulveggie.com/andhra-vegetarian-pulao/): This is a much-awaited recipe contribution from Radhika, a fabulous cook and a very dear friend. I had promised to post a few special recipes collected during my recent visits back home—Dallas home, that is. And yes, I realize how the word home truly is where the heart is. During one of our visits, Radhika invited us over for lunch one weekend afternoon. I had nagged her endlessly for this particular recipe, so she finally decided to do a live demo of her Godavari-style vegetarian pulao—even though it was well after all the guests had arrived. (I was running late [&hellip;]
- [Anusuya's Kitchen - Kuzhi Paniyaram](https://themindfulveggie.com/anusuyas-kitchen-kuzhi-paniyaram/): This recipe comes straight from Anusuya’s kitchen, remotely that is. I’ve missed visiting and sharing posts from her kitchen over the past two years since our move, but our winter visit to Dallas was a perfect reminder to bring this series back and savor her simple, comforting, and delicious recipes once again. I originally noted this recipe down in 2010 when Anusuya was in the mood to share some of her quick and easy snack favorites. I’m not even sure she remembers sharing this little gem, but it came in very handy this week when I ran out of lunchbox [&hellip;]
- [To a Happy and Scrumptious 2014!](https://themindfulveggie.com/to-a-happy-and-scrumptious-2014/): It’s been an eventful year for sure — at least on the food front. If you’ve been following along, you may have noticed that Roz Ka Khana has gradually shifted toward a stronger focus on healthy living and mindful eating.  Snappy Salads, 30 day green smoothie challenges, juicing, detoxing, and cleansing were some of the highlights of 2013. Of course, the year was also dotted with baked treats from the We Knead to Bake challenges, a few “healthy” desserts, and several festival round-ups. Despite the inevitable lulls and highs that come with cooking and blogging, I’m genuinely proud of what [&hellip;]
- ["Best" Brownies from scratch](https://themindfulveggie.com/best-brownies-from-scratch/): I was on the hunt for a truly fudgy brownie recipe this weekend. Strangely enough, I’ve never quite managed to get that perfect brownie at home – moist, dense, and fudgy, with that delicate crusty top. The only times I’ve really succeeded were with boxed mixes. Every attempt I made from scratch somehow ended up tasting more like chocolate cake, which, as we all know, is just not the same. A brownie is a brownie, and a cake is a cake. And while a boxed brownie is different from one made entirely from scratch, I probably wouldn’t have said that [&hellip;]
- [Snappy Salads - Suja's "Everything" Salad](https://themindfulveggie.com/snappy-salads-sujas-everything-salad/): It’s strange how time flies here—or at least feels like it does. Before you know it, it’s fall and winter in other parts of the world, while in Singapore it’s the same heat and humidity, year after year. I’ve been in one of those familiar ruts lately, much like the weather itself. Post green-smoothie and Diwali sweet coma, you could say. Or maybe I’ll just blame it on season-less Singapore. After all the sugar and fried indulgences of Diwali, I briefly considered doing a full “cleanse.” I even bought the 21-day cleanse from Simple Green Smoothies along with two friends, [&hellip;]
- [Navaratri Recipes - Cous Cous Payasam, Easy Sundals, and Quick Ladoos](https://themindfulveggie.com/festival-recipes-cous-cous-payasam-easy-sundals-and-quick-ladoos/): This post is exactly a week late, so let’s call it a post-Navaratri roundup. That said, these recipes work beautifully for most Indian festivals, so I’m classifying them as classic Tambrahm (Tamil Brahmin) festival recipes. Between the green smoothie frenzy, golu (doll) displays, and an actual Navaratri schedule, things weren’t just busy. They were chaotic. This was my first year celebrating Navaratri in a traditional way, and to be honest, I had no idea where to begin. For those unfamiliar, Navaratri literally means nine nights and celebrates Goddess Amba, the embodiment of power. Over nine days and nights, nine forms [&hellip;]
- [Shopping list for Week 3](https://themindfulveggie.com/shopping-list-for-week-3/): YES!! We’re almost two weeks into the green smoothie challenge and officially halfway there. If you’ve been following along, great job. You’ve been doing amazing so far, and I hope you’re feeling just as good as this challenge is meant to make you feel. Below is the shopping list for Week 3 from Simple Green Smoothies, shared early so you can plan your grocery run over the weekend. Fruits 4 apples 4 Medjool dates, pitted 6 pears 1 pineapple 6 bananas 1 bag of grapes Veggies 1 bag fresh spinach (10 oz) 1 bag fresh romaine lettuce (or one head [&hellip;]
- [Eggless Snickerdoodles - for an October birthday](https://themindfulveggie.com/eggless-snickerdoodles-for-an-october-birthday/): This recipe is my foodie son’s own creation, born from his growing love for baking and experimentation in the kitchen. These cookies were made for his 12th birthday. He baked a version with eggs a few days earlier, and they turned out chewy and perfectly textured. When he tried them again without eggs, we honestly couldn’t tell the difference. So here it is, the eggless version, made by the birthday boy himself for his friends. When did he grow up enough to bake his own birthday cookies? A tiny part of me wishes I could still bake something special for [&hellip;]
- [How to Make Easy Gulab Jamuns](https://themindfulveggie.com/sumathis-medley-easy-gulab-jamuns/): I was introduced to this recipe more than 30 years ago by good friends in Lagos, Nigeria. These women were not only exceptional cooks, they were also masters of substitution. They had to be. Dinner parties were the main form of entertainment, and while local markets offered plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, food stores were scarce and supplies were basic. During the eight years we lived in Lagos, I don’t think I ever once saw a packet of potato chips. If you craved chips of any kind, you made them yourself. Looking back now, it feels like we were [&hellip;]
- [The 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge begins October 1!](https://themindfulveggie.com/the-30-day-green-smoothie-challenge-begins-october-1/): I mentioned earlier that green smoothies have been truly life-changing for me. Since I started juicing and blending daily, I’ve noticed some remarkable improvements in my overall health. Despite limited counter space, my Vitamix blender and Hurom juicer have become permanent fixtures in my kitchen. Keeping them at eye level has made a huge difference — they stay top of mind, and I now use them every single day, sometimes even more than once. I’ve drawn inspiration from several sources over the years, including Joe Cross’s Reboot, Pushita’s The Rawsome Life, Kimberly Snyder’s Beauty Detox, and more recently, Simple Green [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - "Bollywood" Burrito (Indian Rice and Beans Wrap)](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-bollywood-burrito-indian-rice-and-beans-wrap/): Yes, I know — it’s a clichéd name for a burrito. It honestly drives me a little nuts how anything remotely desi gets labeled “Bollywood” these days. That said, this was the actual name of the Indian-inspired burrito I recently had at a Doodle and Switch café in Singapore. For context, Doodle (a pasta bar) and Switch (a salad and wrap chain) have opened a joint outlet at a mall near my office. The menu includes a decent number of vegetarian options, which was reason enough for me to check it out over lunch. Their Bollywood burrito consisted of cilantro [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Weekly Menu/Calendar Round 2](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-weekly-menucalendar-round-2/): Thank you for all the feedback on the weekly menu and calendar. Many of you had great questions around time management, especially when it comes to preparing breakfast and lunch. I thought I’d share a few practical tips that have worked well for us. Most of these recipes are quick enough to assemble in the morning, but a little planning the night before can make a big difference. For smoothies, you can prep everything in advance. Add all the ingredients directly into the blender container and store it in the refrigerator. The next morning, simply attach the container to the [&hellip;]
- [Spicy Andhra Tomato Pachadi (Chutney)](https://themindfulveggie.com/spicy-andhra-tomato-pachadi-chutney/): This is a quick post and a contribution from my dear friend Neeraja. Pachadis, or chutneys as they’re commonly called, are a staple in our home, especially the spicy varieties. And since spice is almost synonymous with Andhra cuisine, I’m always on the lookout for traditional pachadi recipes like the ones shared here and here. This pachadi pairs beautifully with rice (both white and brown), as well as with hot dosas (savory crepes) and uthappams (thick, savory pancakes with spiced toppings). Below is the recipe in Neeraja’s own words. Her cooking is rooted in authentic Srikakulam-style cuisine from northeastern Andhra [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Weekly Menu/Calendar](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-weekly-menucalendar/): As I mentioned earlier, I’ve found that a little planning (about 20 minutes every Sunday evening) goes a long way in keeping our weeknights and mornings relatively stress- and yell-free. Well, at least the energy saved is now redirected toward last-minute scrambles at the bus stop when we realize something has been forgotten. It never really ends. I received a few requests to share our weekly menu calendar, so I’ll start posting them here beginning this week. I still haven’t found the perfect WordPress plugin to present this in a more polished format, so for now I’ll be sharing it [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Bombay Sandwich](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-bombay-sandwich/): I’ve been asked why the lunchbox series seemed to stall after our move to Singapore. I don’t think the move itself had much to do with it, nor the fact that Nikhil is now almost a tween. As I’ve mentioned before, he’s quite the foodie and still prefers his yummy and healthy home-packed lunches (even if I say so myself) over cafeteria food. The real issue, oddly enough, has been the lunchbox. I used to enjoy packing lunches in the “laptop lunch” style, with separate portions of fruit, vegetables, protein, and carbs. Those adorable compartmentalized containers made it easy to [&hellip;]
- [In honor of Krishna's Birthday - Nei Appam - An Indian Ebleskiver](https://themindfulveggie.com/in-honor-of-krishnas-birthday-nei-appam-an-indian-ebleskiver/): Yes, I’m talking about the lovable, lotus-eyed little Krishna, or Kutti Krishna — the Hindu god-child, prankster, divine hero, and so much more — whose birthday was celebrated yesterday and today around the world. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve never really been one to prepare elaborate dishes for festivals. Growing up, festivals were synonymous with good food, new clothes, and most importantly, a day off from school. Whether as a child, teenager, or college student, I always associated festivals with food, but not with cooking it. I was firmly on the receiving end. Amma would prepare the [&hellip;]
- [A different curry – Mango Pulissery](https://themindfulveggie.com/a-different-curry-mango-pulissery/): This is certainly a different kind of curry, but there’s more to this post than the dish itself. Roz Ka Khana has a new contributor, and that’s what makes this especially refreshing. Introducing Sumathi Vaidyanathan, a veteran journalist and editor who has worked with several high-profile publications and, most importantly, is an exceptional cook. Years of travel and experimentation with global cuisines have resulted in some wonderful creations in her kitchen, many of which I’ve been lucky enough to taste. And yes, she also happens to be my aunt. RKK now presents “Sumathi’s Medley”, a special collection of recipes curated, [&hellip;]
- [A Lebanese feast - Foul Mudamas, Hummus, Baba Ghanouj and Mohalabiya](https://themindfulveggie.com/a-lebanese-feast-foul-mudamas-hummus-baba-ghanouj-and-mohalabiya/): I’ve found myself in that familiar rut again. Weeks of travel, adventurous eating, and inevitable travel bellies (in that order) have resulted in an overwhelming backlog of posts and photos. Just looking at the volume leaves me wondering where to even begin. I’ve been here before, and this is usually how that vicious cycle starts and lingers. Over time, I’ve tried a few tactics to pull myself out of it. Food events and “We Knead to Bake” deadlines have helped in the past, but I can’t always rely on those as crutches. That wasn’t why I started blogging. The idea [&hellip;]
- [We Knead to Bake Project - Bialys with Caramelized Onions and Paneer](https://themindfulveggie.com/we-knead-to-bake-project-bialys-with-caramelized-onions-and-paneer/): This was a completely new bake for me. I hadn’t even heard of bialys before Aparna introduced them in this month’s We Knead to Bake project. A bialy is a Yiddish word, short for bialystoker kuchen, named after Białystok, a city in Poland. It’s a small roll that belongs to traditional Polish Ashkenazi cuisine. In the early 1900s, many Eastern Europeans, including the Polish, immigrated to the United States and settled in New York, bringing their bialy-making skills with them. That’s how the New York bialy came to be so well known. There you go — a mini history lesson [&hellip;]
- [Mango Coco Loco Smoothie](https://themindfulveggie.com/mango-coco-loco-smoothie/): This is a quick post and an easy way to use up all those juicy Alphonso mangoes piling up in my kitchen (and in our tummies) this season. There are countless mango dessert recipes I’m tempted to try, but honestly, nothing beats turning overripe mangoes into a hearty, nourishing smoothie. Made with coconut water, avocados, and oranges, this smoothie is packed with electrolytes, healthy fats, and vitamin C. It’s filling enough to stand in as breakfast on its own and keeps you energized for hours. And if you’re anything like me, don’t even bother chopping the mangoes. Just squeeze them [&hellip;]
- [Pachai Milagu Kuzhambu (Spicy Green Peppercorn Soup)](https://themindfulveggie.com/pachai-milagu-kuzhambu-spicy-green-peppercorn-soup/): After a bout of crazy baking — and yes, crazy is the right word when you’re waiting for bread dough to rise at midnight — it felt good to get Girish back into the kitchen making something traditional. If you’ve seen his earlier recipes, you’ll know he’s very much a “Kuzhambu King.” Karuveppalai Kuzhambu, Vetha Kuzhambu, and Kaara Kuzhambu are all regulars in his repertoire. While the names may sound like tongue twisters to the uninitiated, any lover of South Indian cuisine knows that each kuzhambu is distinctly different, rooted in specific regional traditions. Pachai Milagu Kuzhambu is similar to [&hellip;]
- [Hokkaido Milk Bread - We Knead to Bake Project March 2013](https://themindfulveggie.com/hokkaido-milk-bread-we-knead-to-bake-project-march-2013/): Despite all the talk about needing a push, the blog prompt, blah blah, I&#8217;m late..again. This post is exactly a month late for the &#8220;We Knead to Bake Project&#8221; for March . I didn&#8217;t get to make it by the 24th last month (the deadline for each monthly post) for all sorts of reasons. But I wasn&#8217;t going to miss baking it entirely too &#8211; I&#8217;d always wanted to try &#8220;soft, pillowy bread&#8221; as Aparna describes this. Keep in mind that though the milk bread is the traditional &#8220;white bread&#8221; made with AP flour or bread flour, this can be [&hellip;]
- [Paneer Tikka Masala Naanza](https://themindfulveggie.com/paneer-tikka-masala-naanza-naan-pizza/): I can almost imagine this dish showing up on an Indian version of the CopyKat Recipes website the kind that recreates popular dishes from well-known restaurants (even if I do say so myself). This recipe was inspired by a food-court style restaurant called Eatopia at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. We had just returned from a whirlwind yet memorable family trip to Rajasthan, Agra, and Delhi, in that order. Along with breathtaking sights and iconic monuments, the trip was also meant to be a food-focused adventure — a true gastronomic experience. While seven days wasn’t nearly enough to [&hellip;]
- [Lunchbox Series - Vegetarian Black Bean Burger](https://themindfulveggie.com/lunchbox-series-vegetarian-black-bean-burger/): This is another Vitamix recipe, though the burger mixture can just as easily be made in any food processor. I do tend to rave about the Vitamix’s versatility and put it through all kinds of tests — and it almost always wins me over. Yes, I know I gush about it a bit, and it’s probably silly. Sadly, it can’t actually shape the patties or sauté them, as a friend jokingly pointed out. Those are still a few things it can’t do — yet. If Vitamix is listening, maybe that innovation isn’t too far off. I packed this burger for [&hellip;]
- [Taste and Create - Eggless Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes](https://themindfulveggie.com/taste-and-create-eggless-fluffy-buttermilk-pancakes/): This is my first month participating in Taste and Create, a community that encourages sharing, tasting, and blogging. The concept is simple and fun: each month, bloggers are paired up, choose a recipe from each other’s blogs, cook it, taste it, and then share the experience. And yes, it happily adds another prompt to my ever-growing list of blogging ideas for the month. For the month of March, I was paired with 3sidesofCrazy. I absolutely loved this pairing because it gave me an excuse to browse a new food blog. She has a wonderful collection of recipes, so many that [&hellip;]
- [Guava Greens Juice](https://themindfulveggie.com/guava-greens-juice/): Guava Apple Spinach green juice in a Hurom slow juicer #juice #recipes #cooking. vine.co/v/bp1zF07PpP9 — rozkakhana (@rozkakhana) March 19, 2013 This is my first post using Vine, the short-form video app from Twitter. Vine lets you create quick 6-second videos that can be shared directly on Vine or through Twitter, as long as your Twitter account is connected. I find it to be a perfect medium for recipes and simple how-to clips. Naturally, the easiest recipes to showcase in this format are juices and smoothies, which is why I chose a juicing recipe for my very first Vine post. All [&hellip;]
- [Raw Almond Milk and Almond Meal recipe -- Date Almond Pooran Poli](https://themindfulveggie.com/raw-almond-milk-and-almond-meal-recipe-date-almond-pooran-poli/): I did mention my growing obsession with all things juicing, didn’t I? It’s become a daily ritual now — starting every morning with a fresh fruit and vegetable juice, followed by a late-morning smoothie. I even pack a mason jar of juice to take to work for that 3 p.m. “juice instead of tea” break. And it’s working. I no longer crave that cup of chai or coffee. A green juice or pomegranate juice does the job just as well. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I bought a store-bought carton of juice, and ordering a smoothie at [&hellip;]
- [Classic Croissants - We Knead to Bake Project February 2013](https://themindfulveggie.com/classic-croissants-we-knead-to-bake-project-february-2013/): I would probably call this challenge the ultimate in baking challenges, at least for me:). After the first pull apart bread, I was all set to turn in my entry to this challenge “on time”, only to discover that Aparna had truly made this a sequel to the “Daring Baker’s Challenge”:). For the uninitiated, that is another group of bakers and as the title suggests the recipes are quite challenging. The recipe for making these croissants is all of 3 pages long and the process takes 3 days. Intimidating and definitely not something I would&#8217;ve even bothered to give a [&hellip;]
- [Chinese New Year in Singapore and Spicy Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps](https://themindfulveggie.com/chinese-new-year-in-singapore-and-spicy-vegetarian-lettuce-wraps/): This is my first Chinese New Year in Singapore, and it feels only fitting to begin by wishing everyone Gong Xi Fa Cai (literally, “Congratulations and be prosperous”) and Xin Nian Kuai Le (“Happy New Year” in Mandarin). Steeped in centuries of traditions and beliefs, Chinese New Year is the most important of all traditional Chinese holidays. Also known as the Spring Festival, the celebrations span about 15 days, from the first day of the lunar calendar to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. Traditionally, this festival was a time to honor deities and ancestors. What struck me immediately [&hellip;]
- ["We Knead to Bake" Project - Green Chutney Chili and Cheese Pull-Apart Bread](https://themindfulveggie.com/we-knead-to-bake-project-green-chutney-chili-and-cheese-pull-apart-bread/): I’ve said before that I’m not big on resolutions, but if there’s one thing I really need to improve, it’s blogging more consistently. I don’t lack ideas or motivation in the kitchen — cooking new and interesting dishes is never the problem. It’s everything that follows: sorting through photos (I could probably write an entire post about the pictures that never made it to the blog), finding the right words, creating flow, and finally putting the recipe together. You know the drill. When I look at inspiring blogs like Panfusine, My Diverse Kitchen, and What’s for Lunch, Honey? — full [&hellip;]
- [Juicing my way into the New Year](https://themindfulveggie.com/juicing-my-way-into-the-new-year/): I know, I know — it’s probably a little late to still be talking about the “new year.” We’re already nearing the end of the first month, and yes, I’ve been slacking. I didn’t make any grand resolutions anyway. I’ve never really believed in them, mostly because they tend to last about a month, if that. The year began quietly after a fun, family-filled reunion at the end of December. For the first time in many years, we actually spent New Year’s Eve at home. No big plans, no crowds. And honestly, it felt deserved. Maybe even necessary. 2012 was [&hellip;]
- [Persimmon Orange Creamsicle Smoothie with Homemade "Kind" Bars](https://themindfulveggie.com/persimmon-orange-creamsicle-smoothie-with-homemade-kind-bars/): One of the best things about living in Singapore is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables (including many that feel wonderfully exotic). Most are imported from neighboring regions, and availability changes constantly. Persimmons, native to Asia (particularly Japan and China), are currently in season here. When I spotted non-astringent Fuyu persimmons on sale at the wholesale fruit and vegetable market last week, I grabbed a batch without really knowing what I planned to do with them. I’d eaten persimmons in the US mostly in salads and never found them to have a particularly strong flavor, aside from a gentle [&hellip;]
- [Chettinad Recipes -  Kaara Kuzhambu (Spicy Tamarind Soup) and Urulai (Potato) Roast](https://themindfulveggie.com/chettinad-recipes-kaara-kuzhambu-spicy-tamarind-soup-and-urulai-potato-roast/): Inspiration really does strike in the strangest ways. This one was strong enough to pull Girish back into the kitchen after months away. The trigger? A bottle of the famous Grand Sweets Kaara Kuzhambu paste that we picked up last Sunday at our local Indian store here in Singapore. Anyone familiar with Grand Sweets in Chennai will swear by their sweets and savories. I had only discovered their newer line of pickles and pastes during my last visit to Chennai, and this Kaara Kuzhambu paste instantly stood out. We were completely blown away by how authentic it tasted. That immediately [&hellip;]
- [In preparation for the Festival of Lights](https://themindfulveggie.com/in-preparation-for-the-festival-of-lights/): After an incredible, landslide victory for America, it feels especially fitting that Diwali, the Festival of Lights, follows so closely this year. A celebration marked by lights, lamps, and fireworks seems perfectly timed, don’t you think? The coincidence felt even more meaningful given that Diwali symbolizes the return of King Rama, making it one of the most widely celebrated and cherished festivals across India and many neighboring countries. Celebrating Diwali in Singapore this year has been a completely new experience. With its diverse population and a significant Indian community, it isn’t surprising that Diwali is an official public holiday here. [&hellip;]
- [Creepy Cupcakes for Halloween](https://themindfulveggie.com/creepy-cupcakes-for-halloween/): As you can probably tell, I’m deep in a cupcake frenzy. This time, the challenge was baking cupcakes for a Halloween party at school. I had come across a photo of Creepy Medusa Cupcakes in a magazine, and once I showed it to Nikhil, he was immediately on board. Of course, his “help” involved piling sour gummies not only onto the cupcakes, but also straight into his mouth. The first step was finding the perfect vanilla cupcake recipe. After a bit of searching, I landed on Glorious Treats, and I couldn’t help but smile. Not only is she clearly brilliant [&hellip;]
- [Red Velvet Cupcakes - A special October Birthday.](https://themindfulveggie.com/red-velvet-cupcakes-a-special-october-birthday/): October is a special month. We have quite a few friends and family members who are October babies, but this month holds a very special meaning for us. Eleven years ago — at exactly 11:25 p.m. — we welcomed our wide-eyed, curious, kicking (not screaming, but definitely sprightly) bundle of joy into this world. And eleven years later, he’s still wide-eyed, curious, and yes, still kicking (mostly in his sleep), now a wonderfully sprightly tween. He is, and will always be, the brightest moment in our lives. Happy Birthday, Nikhil!! I made these red velvet cupcakes last night at Nikhil’s [&hellip;]
- [Ode to Ganesha](https://themindfulveggie.com/ode-to-ganesha/): I often find myself marveling at the patience and forbearance our parents have shown in so many aspects of raising us. No, this isn’t another long bout of introspection — though it’s amusing that it has taken me so many years for this realization to truly sink in I say this as I try, somewhat tentatively, to recreate what my mom (Amma) would have done on this special day for the very endearing, elephant-headed deity, Ganesha. Growing up, Amma never missed marking an important festival. Every occasion was celebrated with the perfect altar, mouth-watering delicacies, carefully chosen clothes, and a [&hellip;]
- [Cooking or Coping?](https://themindfulveggie.com/cooking-or-coping/): The past week has been particularly stressful, to say the least. My mother-in-law had to undergo unexpected surgery, which threw all of us into a whirlwind of anxiety, emotions, and prayer. There isn’t much I can share about the feelings or what the family went through, but I felt the need to mention it here, especially since I had just spoken about her recipes in my previous post. She is, as a dear friend once described her, a tough cookie. Having endured multiple surgeries, complications, and countless personal trials, she has taught all of us an invaluable lesson through the [&hellip;]
- [Eating in the Raw - Pachai Mor Kuzhambu (Raw Buttermilk Stew)](https://themindfulveggie.com/eating-in-the-raw-pachai-mor-kuzhambu-raw-buttermilk-stew/): Okay, so I know this may not be what immediately comes to mind when you think of raw food. This isn’t your typical raw salad dressing, raw sauce, or nut milk recipe. Instead, it’s a traditional South Indian dish that is served raw, which technically places it under the definition of raw food: unprocessed foods that haven’t been heated above 115°F (46°C). As you and I both know, the original intent of this blog was to document traditional recipes — my mother’s, my mother-in-law’s, my grandmother’s, my sisters-in-law (both incredible cooks), and recipes from friends’ and family kitchens — that [&hellip;]
- [Bangkok Food and Travel vlog](https://themindfulveggie.com/bangkok-food-and-travelog-lets-call-it-a-vlog/): I mentioned earlier that I would write about our Bangkok trip in a separate post. Or maybe save it for a picture collage. I don’t know — I’m really behind. We traveled to Bangkok and then straight on to India, which means there are so many food stories, but I’m still trying to organize the pictures and events in my head in a way that makes sense. Oh well. That said, I’m incredibly proud of my son, Nikhil, who (with a fair amount of cajoling) managed to update his own blog about our trip on the way home. Don’t ask [&hellip;]
- [Vaghaar Idli](https://themindfulveggie.com/vaghaar-idli/): Two weeks of travel have definitely taken their toll; I’m behind on blog posts yet again. But they were two wonderful weeks, spent traveling through Bangkok and then India, and, unsurprisingly, filled with plenty of memorable food experiences. I’ll save the Bangkok food pictures for a separate post altogether — that one deserves its own full album. This past weekend marked our first full weekend back together at home as a family. Home in Singapore, that is. Someone recently asked me what “home” really means to me these days: India, where I grew up and spent my formative years; the [&hellip;]
- [Singapore Foodie and Newbie Meet Up](https://themindfulveggie.com/singapore-foodie-and-newbie-meet-up/): I can’t help but break into that (slightly annoying) Disney tune — It’s a small, small world! And it really is, especially when you’re thousands of miles away from what you once called “home” and end up meeting people through random coincidences who not only come from places you’ve lived, but also share similar interests and experiences. In this case: being a foodie and a newbie to Singapore. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my family and I have recently moved to Singapore. We’re what you’d call “expats,” a term this country is very familiar with, given how large [&hellip;]
- [Watermelon Green Apple and Celery Cooler](https://themindfulveggie.com/watermelon-celery-and-green-apple-cooler-makes/): This Watermelon, Celery, and Green Apple Cooler is a light, refreshing drink that’s perfect for hot days. It combines the natural sweetness of watermelon with the crisp freshness of green apples and celery, finished with mint for a cooling touch. Ingredients (Makes about 6 cups) Juice of 1 watermelon A handful of fresh mint leaves 4 green apples 4 celery stalks Method Juice the watermelon and mint leaves together in a juicer. Juice the celery and green apples together in a separate batch. To 1/2 cup of watermelon juice, add the celery and green apple juice and mix well. Taste [&hellip;]
- [Soup, Salad and Fresh Fruit Juice!](https://themindfulveggie.com/soup-salad-and-fresh-fruit-juice/): Singapore’s local farmer’s market in Pasir Panjang turned out to be a real treat. Rows and rows of fresh, local fruits and vegetables — and best of all, no “wet market” attached. For anyone vegetarian, the typical wet market ambience that borders many produce markets can be a bit of a turn-off, so this was a very pleasant surprise. There was a separate section for dried goods like dried fish, shrimp, and dry fruits, but instinctively these were kept away from the fresh veggie and fruit stalls. The result? We came home with enough produce to last us a good [&hellip;]
- [Chloe's Ginger Nutmeg Spice Cupcakes](https://themindfulveggie.com/chloes-ginger-nutmeg-spice-cupcakes/): I’ve never had consistently good luck with eggless baking, apart from a few occasional wins (like that Chocolate Banana Cake). So, I’ll admit, I approached these cupcakes with a bit of apprehension. I’ve been a long-time Facebook fan and Twitter follower of Chef Chloe Coscarelli and her vegan recipes (yes, that Chloe Coscarelli of Cupcake Wars fame). When her new book, Chloe’s Kitchen, was released last week, I couldn’t resist buying it. I downloaded the Kindle version on my iPad over the weekend and quickly found myself hooked, just browsing through the beautifully varied and thoughtfully put-together recipes. When I [&hellip;]
- [Chane Jaisalmer Ke (Black Chickpeas in Spiced Yoghurt gravy)](https://themindfulveggie.com/chane-jaisalmer-ke-black-chickpeas-in-spiced-yoghurt-gravy/): I’ve never been particularly good at planning weekly menus or cooking strictly based on a fridge-and-pantry list. That kind of organization feels like an art form. I’ve usually done the opposite—stocking up my pantry and refrigerator with the best intentions, only to rediscover forgotten items weeks or months later, expired and headed straight for the trash. The past few months have been a complete whirlwind: home repairs, packing, moving, unpacking, and cleaning, all squeezed into less than three months. That chaos finally forced me to confront my kitchen habits—quite literally. I started creating proper pantry and fridge lists and even [&hellip;]
- [Masala Egg "Half" Fry](https://themindfulveggie.com/masala-egg-half-fry/):   This is a recipe handed down to me by my dear friends, the Patels — the same amazing cooks who shared their Gujarati khichdi and kadhi recipes with us. I’m not entirely sure why it’s called a “half” fry, but I suppose it’s because you can choose to cook the egg fully or leave it slightly runny. It’s really a hybrid between a fried egg and an omelette. Either way, this dish has become a weekend staple in our home and is easily one of Nikhil’s and Girish’s favorite breakfast options. Ingredients (For one egg) Egg – 1 Finely [&hellip;]
- [Granola and Fruit Muesli](https://themindfulveggie.com/granola-and-fruit-muesli/): I was introduced to muesli — or at least the proper way to eat it — during our last vacation in Europe. I had bought store-brand muesli in the past, including the IKEA variety, but never really knew how it was meant to be enjoyed. I usually just added milk and ate it like regular cereal. Our more recent trip to Bali changed that completely. We ate muesli every morning for breakfast at the hotel, and it turned out to be a refreshing and welcome change from the usual options. That’s when I realized how easy it is to prepare [&hellip;]
- [Pongalo Pongal!](https://themindfulveggie.com/pongalo-pongal/): Growing up, Pongal was one of my favorite festivals. As with the many festivals we celebrate in India, I loved the fact that we got to stay home and eat amazing food, and binge on Sakkarai Pongal:). Pongal, as explained in my earlier post, is akin to Thanksgiving, marking the Harvest festival and obeisance to the Sun God. It is celebrated in South India as Sankranthi and in the North as Lohri. Sakkarai pongal is one of my all time favorite sweet dishes and I&#8217;ve been known to indulge in spoonfuls, um cupfuls of this dish laden with rice, sugar [&hellip;]
- [To 2012, travels and beyond...](https://themindfulveggie.com/to-2012-travels-and-beyond/): Yes, I’m a week late in realizing it, but I’m looking forward to many promising things this year. Better late than never.2011 was an eventful year (perhaps a little too eventful for my liking) so I’ll admit that, deep down, I’m quite ready to leave it behind. It’s interesting how WordPress sends out a year-end recap of your blogging activity. That recap surprised me in a good way. It showed that I blogged far more often than I had in previous years. That may not seem like much to some, especially considering my occasional long absences, but I’m genuinely proud [&hellip;]
- [Apple Pie in a Glass](https://themindfulveggie.com/apple-pie-in-a-glass/): I absolutely love my Vitamix. It’s one of those rare kitchen machines that truly earns its counter space. It juices, crushes, minces, chops, powders, grinds, and of course, blends. Cleanup is effortless, which is always a win. I know this probably sounds like a Vitamix infomercial, and if they happen to be listening, they might as well pay me for it. I’ve been making this smoothie on hectic mornings and as a post-workout pick-me-up, and it’s easily one of my all-time favorite smoothie recipes. The original version comes from the Vitamix website, with just a few small tweaks to suit [&hellip;]
- [Happy Diwali!](https://themindfulveggie.com/happy-diwali/): These are just some of our Diwali goodies from this morning (some homemade), some lovingly prepared by dear friends, and a few store-bought favorites. Top left: Kaara Sev Bottom left: Oma Podi Top right: Lavang Latika (made by my dear friend Uma — I will definitely be requesting this recipe soon) Center: My favorite South Indian sweet, Manoharam, from the famous Grand Sweets in Chennai Bottom right: Rava Ladoo made by my mom (Amma) To be honest, I expected this Diwali to feel a little quiet, maybe even slightly depressing, with just Nikhil and me juggling a hectic schedule while [&hellip;]

## Pages

- [All Recipes](https://themindfulveggie.com/all-recipes/): [vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; overlay_animated=&#8221;yes&#8221; overlay_animated_1_color=&#8221;color-dfgh&#8221; overlay_animated_2_color=&#8221;color-vyce&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;102156&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_animated_1_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_animated_2_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;264534&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-762333&#8243; text_size=&#8221;fontsize-244951&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;188591&#8243;]All Recipes[/vc_custom_heading][vc_wp_search live_search=&#8221;yes&#8221;][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;831395&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;135196&#8243;][uncode_index el_id=&#8221;index-194414&#8243; index_type=&#8221;css_grid&#8221; loop=&#8221;size:12|order_by:ID|post_type:post|taxonomy_count:10&#8243; screen_lg_items=&#8221;3&#8243; screen_lg_breakpoint=&#8221;1400&#8243; screen_md_items=&#8221;2&#8243; screen_md_breakpoint=&#8221;900&#8243; screen_sm_items=&#8221;1&#8243; screen_sm_breakpoint=&#8221;480&#8243; filtering=&#8221;ajax&#8221; ajax_filters_content_block_id=&#8221;5026&#8243; gutter_size_ajax_filters=&#8221;3&#8243; column_size_ajax_filters=&#8221;3&#8243; filter_typography=&#8221;inherit&#8221; filtering_uppercase=&#8221;yes&#8221; filter_all_opposite=&#8221;yes&#8221; active_filters=&#8221;left&#8221; clear_all=&#8221;show&#8221; show_woo_sorting_ajax=&#8221;right&#8221; show_woo_result_count_ajax=&#8221;short&#8221; woo_sorting_shadow_ajax=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; product_items=&#8221;title,media|featured|onpost|original|hide-sale|enhanced-atc|auto-w-atc|atc-typo-column|hide-atc,price|inline,variations|over|pa_color|all|hover|original_title|size_regular|mobile&#8221; infinite=&#8221;yes&#8221; infinite_button=&#8221;icon&#8221; single_back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; single_overlay_opacity=&#8221;50&#8243; single_overlay_anim=&#8221;no&#8221; single_image_magnetic=&#8221;yes&#8221; single_h_align=&#8221;center&#8221; single_padding=&#8221;1&#8243; single_title_family=&#8221;font-762333&#8243; single_title_dimension=&#8221;fontsize-552505&#8243; single_title_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; single_title_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; [&hellip;]
- [The Mindful Veggie](https://themindfulveggie.com/): [vc_row unlock_row=&#8221;&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;64&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; back_image=&#8221;5060&#8243; overlay_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;35&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;118308&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; align_medium=&#8221;align_center_tablet&#8221; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; align_mobile=&#8221;align_center_mobile&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;755163&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1/6&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;133057&#8243;][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;2/3&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;283917&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;p&#8221; text_font=&#8221;font-762333&#8243; text_size=&#8221;fontsize-111172&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;600&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; text_space=&#8221;fontspace-214471&#8243; badge_style=&#8221;yes&#8221; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;125729&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]The Mindful Veggie[/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-762333&#8243; text_size=&#8221;fontsize-413927&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;600&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;175583&#8243;]Traditional celebrations, everyday nutrition.[/vc_custom_heading][vc_button outline=&#8221;yes&#8221; border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fthemindfulveggie.com%2Fall-recipes%2F|title:All%20Recipes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;207979&#8243;]All Recipes[/vc_button][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/6&#8243;][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;558716&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;1&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221; [&hellip;]
- [Traditional Indian Recipes](https://themindfulveggie.com/traditional-indian-recipes/)
- [Healthy Vegetarian Recipes](https://themindfulveggie.com/healthy-vegetarian-recipes/)
- [Recipes](https://themindfulveggie.com/recipes-2/)
- [The Green Smoothie Challenge](https://themindfulveggie.com/the-30-day-green-smoothie-challenge/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/6&#8243;][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2/3&#8243;][vc_column_text] The Green Smoothie Challenge Learn more about how to prep for the 30 day green smoothie challenge here. Go here for day by day recipes and shopping lists. I mentioned earlier that green smoothies have been quite life changing for me. I&#8217;ve noticed some remarkable changes in my health even since I started to juice and blend every day. The Vitamix blender and the Hurom juicer are a countertop staple in my kitchen despite limited counter space. I have realized that having them at eye level keeps it top of mind &#8211; I now use them both every [&hellip;]
- [Copyright Policy](https://themindfulveggie.com/about/copyright-policy/):   Copyright 2007-2008 Roz Ka Khana. All Rights Reserved.  All the contents and photographs, unless otherwise declared, are the property of RozKaKhana.com. All materials contained on Rozkakhana.com website are protected by United States and International Copyright Laws, and should not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission. Reproduction, modification, display and distribution of Rozkakhana.com’s content is illegal and strictly prohibited. ————–        
- [About](https://themindfulveggie.com/about/): [vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1/6&#8243;][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-762333&#8243; text_size=&#8221;fontsize-210422&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;793270&#8243;]About[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text]I started this blog as I really began to take interest in food and cooking &#8211; it was a discovery years after literally being &#8220;spoon fed&#8221; by my mom and her amazing cooking. I don&#8217;t remember really cooking much while I spent my 23 years living at home (yes much to the shock of many teens today, that was and is probably quite the norm in India, where I grew up). I was surrounded by many foodies in the family though, who were all, in their own way, connoisseurs of the cooking and the tasting [&hellip;]

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