Pavakkai Thokku Recipe | Bittergourd Tomato Curry Recipe | Karela Curry Recipe

Pavakkai Thokku Recipe with Step by Step Photos. This pavakkai thokku is my Mom's favorite recipe. As my Mom was a diabetic patient with high glucose levels, she has to follow strict diet and her breakfast choice was mostly Godhumai Rava Upma Or Godhumai dosa.
I gave her a diet chart to enjoy diabetic recipes in a yummy and healthier way. But she prefers simple godhumai rava upma for breakfast, as upma are easy and quick to make. That too if, she has this thokku in hand, then her breakfast was mostly godhumai upma or godhumai dosa(another easy and simple recipe).

Paneer Sabzi Recipe | Quick Paneer Dry Curry Recipe | Easy Side Dish for Roti | Paneer Dry Curry Recipe

My kids like Rotis for lunch box more than rice varieties. So, I try to make easy and quick dry sabzis for rotis, because it is easy to fill in the roti and roll as as my kids prefer chapati Roll or wrap. This Paneer Sabzi is one quick and simple recipe that can be done in 15 minutes or less. You can serve as side dish for rotis along with some Raita or fill it in the roti, wrap it as Kathi Roll. Either way it tastes great and kids will love it for sure. The recipe as follows..

Andhra Ginger Chutney | Andhra Style Kara Chutney Recipe | Ginger Chutney Recipe | Spicy Ginger Chutney (With Tomato) Recipe

Wishing Everyone one a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays. today's recipe is a simple, tasty and spicy chutney, Andhra Style Ginger Chutney Recipe.  This ginger chutney is so easy to make, it is spicy, tangy and also has mild sweet taste and makes a perfect side for soft spongy idlis and dosa.

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies Recipe | Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy holidays. Today I am sharing an easy and simple cookies recipe that you can make for this Christmas and share it with your family and friends. These shortbread cookies are even perfect to pack as edible gifts to your loved ones. I make this shortbread cookies every year and this pictures were all taken during 2015 Christmas. Luckily, i found these pictures in my draft last week and happy that I could share at least a single recipe for this Christmas.

Channa Pepper Masala Recipe | Pepper Channa Recipe | Chickpeas Pepper Masala

Today's recipe is an easy, spicy, flavor rich and healthy side dish prepared using chickpeas/kabuli channa and freshly ground spices with lots of onion, in other words its a south Indian Style Channa Masala with Pepper Flavor. I make pepper chicken the same way and it is my kids favorite recipe. During Purattasi Month, when we skip chicken I used to make chicken recipes with vegetables or paneer or chickpeas or soya.  So, Next to Pepper Chicken, this Pepper Channa Masala is our favorite and we love to eat it with plain rice or as a side for Rasam & Rice.

Coriander Pulao Recipe | Kothamalli Pulao | Cilantro Pea Pulao | Coriander Leaves Rice - Easy Lunch Box Recipe

Here, weather is getting down and for the past week it was dull, gloomy and rainy days. I couldn't click any picture and that's the reason I did not post any recipe. After a week,  yesterday got some sun shine and managed to click few pictures of this Coriander Pulao which I prepared for kids lunch box. This recipe is an easy one pot meal and is perfect for lunch box.

Paneer Kathi Roll Recipe | Easy Paneer Roll Recipe

Paneer is my kids' most favorite ingredient next to potato. They love paneer in any form, even if it is spicy they don't mind and enjoy it.  Also, paneer is rich in protein and fat it is good for growing kids. Once in a week I cook any paneer recipe for them, last week made this Easy Paneer Kathi Roll for kids as an after school snack. Paneer Kathi Rolls are best when served warm.

Pori Upma Recipe | Puffed Rice Upma | Mumra(Rice Puffs) Upma | Churumuri Susla

Upma is a versatile recipe that can be served as a meal for breakfast/dinner, or as a snack or evening tiffin and there are tons of varieties too. Today, I am a popular Upma recipe from Kannadiga Cuisine, Karnataka special Churumuri Susla, nothing but a Pori Upma. This recipe was introduced to me by my friend Aishwarya's Mom. When i was talking about the kids after school snack recipes, she suggested me to try this tasty Pori Upma.

Tawa Naan Recipe | No Yeast Stove Top Garlic Naan Recipe | Easy Tawa Garlic Naan Recipe

Today's recipe is Naan/leavened flat bread without yeast, No oven and an easy Stove Top Method.  I have already shared a healthy Naan using Multi grain Flour. This Tawa Naan is almost the same recipe with All Purpose Flour. Just simple kneading and a lot of resting time is more than enough to get a super soft and yummy Naan on stove top itself. Now off to the recipe...

Rajma Sundal Recipe | Red Kidney Beans Sundal Recipe - Healthy Tea Time Snack

V and kids like to eat Sundal and I try to make any Sundal Variety atleast weekly once a week for our snack time. Sundals are not only healthy and filling to eat, these are very simple to cook and can be made in many variations. Masala Sundal, Varuthu Aracha Sundal, No Onion Prasadam Sundal, Paruppu Sundal, Chaat Sundal and so on. Today's sundal variety is a simple one with onions in it. The crunch taste from the onion adds lovely taste and flavor to the sundal.

Akki Roti Recipe | Karnataka Special Akki Roti | Eay Rice Flour Roti (Vegan & Gluten Free)

Akki Roti is a popular Breakfast recipe in Kannadiga Cuisine, Akki Roti is made out of rice flour, a flavor rich tasty rotis just like Ragi Adai/Roti. This recipe was introduced to me by my neighbor sister in India from whom I learnt to make Restaurant Style Aloo Gobi, Channa Masala, Potato Curry etc. She did graduation in Home Science and very much interested in cooking multi cuisine recipes. I make this Akki Roti often at home and thought I have shared this recipe during my initial blogging days but I didn't. So, Few months back when I cooked this for our weekend breakfast quickly took some pictures and finally today writing this post :)

Paneer Curry Masala Recipe | Paneer Methi Curry Masala | Spicy Paneer Curry Recipe

I always make Paneer a mild, non-spicy recipes like Paneer Butter Masala, Palak Paneer, Paneer Bhurji but for a change tried a spicy curry just like my Mom's Chicken Curry recipe. This curry gets it full flavor and taste from fresh ground clove and cinnamon. I did not expect that paneer would turn out so good with spices and it was really a treat for us to enjoy some nice flavorful curry with Paneer druing Purattasi Month without chicken. Kids did not mind about chicken or Eggs since i made this paneer curry masala often during purattasi month.

Vermicelli Upma Recipe | Semiya Upma Recipe

Vermicelli Upma Recipe With step by step Photos. After cooking varieties of Diwali Sweets & Snacks that ended up with lot of cleaning, I was damn tired and even had a kind of aversion towards food and kitchen. But, When I got an appreciation message from all my friends and neighbors for the tasty and delicious sweets/snacks, I felt so happy and all my pain was gone. After all the effort and hard work you put in, all you need to is a small appreciation right.

Milk Powder Burfi Recipe | White Burfi Recipe | Milk Powder Recipe In 10 Minutes - Easy Diwali Sweet Recipe

Easy Milk Powder Recipe with step by step photos. I love Milk sweets more than other sweets variety. Doodh Peda & White colored burfis are my favorite milk sweets. I always wanted to try White Burfis from Sweet Shops and when I saw this recipe few months back I immediately bookmarked it and decided to share it here as Diwali special Recipes. It is almost similar to that of Kesar Mawa Burfi Recipe except this is prepared using Milk Powder and also without Kesar flavor & color.

Chocolate Peda Recipe | Chocolate Condensed Milk Peda | Milk Powder Choco Peda - Quick Diwali Sweet Recipe

Today's recipe is also an easy, quick and delicious sweet recipe that can be prepared in no time. I have already shared Doodh Peda, Microwave Peda, Malai Peda, Coconut Mawa Peda recipes and now sharing Chocolate Peda Recipe. Except the shaping time, it only requires 5 minutes to make this sweet, as it is has chocolate flavor kids will love this for sure. These Chocolate Pedas are so simple to make and only needs 3 ingredients and perfect for any occasion or party. Hope you try this sweet for Diwali and if you try please don't forget to share your feedback here.

Ulundhu Murukku Recipe | Diwali Murukku Recipe 2 | How To Make Ulundhu Murukku

Ulundhu Murukku / Murukku using Urad Flour is another interesting and tasty murukku recipe. The Urad flour adds nice flavor and taste to the murukku, this murukku almost similar to Thenkuzhal. Ulundhu/Urad dal is highly nutritious and is good for the health of growing kids. Of all the other deep fried snack, you can make this Ulundhu Murukku for kids, it is healthy and yummy snack too. My kids love all our Indian savory snacks like Murukku, Thattai, Pakoda, Vadai etc.  My kids are enjoying all the snacks I make for Diwali special blog posts :)

Rose Coconut Ladoo Recipe | Rose Nariyal Ke Ladoo | Rose Coconut Ladoo Using Condensed Milk - Easy Diwali Sweet Recipe In 10 Minutes or Less

One of my friend called me Yesterday and appreciated me about my come back and said she loved all my Diwali recipes. She also mentioned that though all recipes sounds tempting and easy she can't do deep fry or do paneer from scratch. As my friend is working and she don't get enough time and patience to make sweets or snacks from scratch. So she requested to post any quick or almost Instant sweets & snack recipe, so that she can try for her family & friends this Diwali Occasion and thus I end up with this Rose Coconut Ladoo Post.

Kala Jamun Recipe | Kala Jamun Easy Diwali Sweet Recipe | Kala Jamun Using Paneer & Mawa

Today's recipe is Kala Jamun, Kala Jamun is almost similar to Gulab Jamun except the color of the Jamun is bit fried dark, tend to be blacking brown that's why it named 'Kala' means Black in Hindi. You can make Kala Jamun with or without filling(using nuts). I made both stuffed Kala Jamun & Plain Kala Jamun but forgot to take the pictures of the filled jamuns.
Kala Jamun is also easy to prepare and I used Milk Mawa Powder, mawa powder is nothing but a dried and powdered version of mawa/Khoa. If you love Gulab Jamuns then you will love this Kala Jamuns too, its very simple and requires few ingredients. Please try this for Diwali and enjoy with your family and friends.

Puzhungal Arisi Murukku | Idli Rice Murukku | Murukku Using Idli Rice | Diwali Murukku Recipe

Murukku is one of the must snack Menu in our house for Diwali festival. My mom & Grandma mostly makes Thenkuzhal & Rice Murukku/Mullu Murukku for Diwali and these both murukku are prepared using rice flour (homemade or store bought flour) and very rarely make this Idli Rice Murukku.  Last weekend when I was talking to my Mil I told about the Jalapeno Murukku recipe which kids liked it very much and that time she told me to try murukku using Idli Rice & Dry red chilli for this Diwali. Without any second thought I tried it today and it came out so good. 

Thattai Recipe | Thattai With Pottukadalai | Ginger Flavored Thattai

Thattai is a popular south Indian snack that is prepared using rice flour. I have already shared the regular version of Thattai & Ragi Thattai recipe. Today's thattai recipe is little different and I used more roasted gram dal flour/Pottukadalai maavu which gives perfect crunchy and crispy thattai. I also added ginger and onion for flavor.

Komola Bhog Recipe | Orange Rasgulla Recipe | Orange Flavor Rasgulla Recipe

Komola Bhog | Bengali Komola Bhog Recipe with step by step pictures. Komola Bhog is nothing but a Orange Flavored Rasgulla. This recipe was in my to do list for long time and finally tried today and they came out so soft, juicy and delicious Rasgulla with nice Orange flavor. The recipe and method is almost same to the regular Rasgulla except the addition of fresh Orange Juice. To enhance the orange flavor I also added the Orange Zest to the Sugar syrup. Everything turned out so good except I added extra food color by mistake. The bright Orange color was not pleasing for the pictures otherwise it doesn't alter the sweet taste. Now off to the recipe...

Jalapeno Murukku | Jalapeno Rice Murukku Recipe | Spicy Rice Flour Murukku Recipe | Rice flour Chakli Recipe

I am feeling good to be back after almost 6 months break. I don't know why I took such long time, March month was bit busy with kids school project and final quarter work. Then end of may summer vacation started and thought to start once kids back to school. And after school has started every week one or the other work was there and couldn't get time to sit and write recipe. But I used to cook and click few recipes now and then.

Kolkata Egg Roll Recipe | Egg Roll Recipe

Egg Paratha are my kids favorite dish and I make it often for their breakfast. It is a simple dish but quite filling and delicious. Egg Roll is nothing but egg paratha wrapped with some fresh vegetables, sauces and chaat masala. This Egg Roll is one of the popular street food of North India. Very simple and easy to make kids friendly recipe, not only kids this is perfect for adults too.

Blueberry Shrikhand Recipe | Shrikhand(Sweetened Yogurt)With Blueberry - Easy Kids Friendly Indian Dessert

 Past two weeks weather got dropped down, 20s/30s range and from Sunday night its snowing and going to have 6-8 inches by tonight. This cold weather making me dull and sick and hoping to get better soon. I haven't cooked anything interesting to blog and last only made this Blueberry Shrikhand for kids as after school snack/dessert.

Bread Roll Recipe | Bread Potato Rolls | Bread Rolls Stuffed With Potato - Easy After School Snack For Kids

Bread Roll | Bread Potato Roll is an easy and delicious kids friendly snack recipe. Any snack with potato are my kids' favorite and if it is with bread then its a double treat for them. Few days back made this bread roll for my kids after school snack and they enjoyed it. I had a mind set that anything deep fried with bread slices will be oily and greasy and I often bake the bread roll and I have already shared Baked Soya Bread Roll Recipe Here. But after trying this roll I came to know that my thought wasn't true, thanks to my friend Shweta for suggesting this recipe. I had some left over aloo/potato masala and few bread slices in hand, then remembered about her fried version of bread roll and tried immediately. To be on safer side I just rest the shaped bread rolls in paper towel for 5 minutes so that the excess moisture will be absorbed by the paper towel. The fried bread rolls were so crispy and delicious and they are not oily/greasy and also didn't consume much oil. So once in a while you can serve kids the deep fried bread roll with their desired vegetable or meat filling.

Punjabi Fruit Chaat Recipe | Indian Fruit Chaat Recipe | Mixed Fruit Chaat - Street Food Recipe

Today's recipe is an interesting, healthy and delicious Mixed Fruit Chaat that is popular in Punjab, India. I came to know about this tangy, spicy and refreshing chaat from my Neighbor Aunt. During summer holidays time I often take my kids to Aunt's home to play their with Aunt's  grand kids. Once we were there Aunt made this chaat for us as Mid day snack. This chaat was new to me since I haven't tasted fruit and potato together and also never tried with Chaat Chutney/Tamarind Sweet Chutney. She used Sweet Potato for the chaat, but she also said that regular potato/aloo can also included in the fruit chaat but usually they are deep fried than boiled. Also the sweet potatoes pairs well with tamarind sweet chutney. .For this chaat, i used Dates Tamarind Chutney but you can also use plain Tamarind Sweet Chutney (without dates)This fruit chaat is healthy, filling and delicious. Do try this fruit chaat for a change and I am sure you will love it.

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread Recipe | Banana Bread In Toaster Oven Recipe

Banana Bread is one of the easiest way to use the over ripe bananas. Banana bread are perfect for kids breakfast along with a glass of milk. I have already shared an Eggless Banana Almond Bread recipe and this time baked with some chocolate chips. This banana bread is lighter than the eggless banana bread. I saved this recipe from a magazine, only I reduced the sugar quantity(used only 1/2 cup) and butter, as I don't have sufficient butter I replaced it with oil.  Banana Bread turned out good, baked this banana chocolate chip bread in my toaster oven/counter top convection oven.

Baked Masala Peanuts Recipe | Masala Peanuts Recipe In Oven | Roasted Masala Peanuts In Toaster Oven | Masala Peanuts-Easy Tea Time Snack

Baked Masala Peanuts / Masala Peanuts in Oven recipe with step by step photos. Masala Peanuts is a spicy, crunchy snack that is prepared using peanuts, gram flour and spices. Originally, masala peanuts are deep fried but it can also be baked in oven/toaster oven or using microwave with little oil. The low fat version of masala peanuts are equally tasty, crunchy and addictive. If you like peanuts then this is a must try guilt free snack recipe.

Vendhaya Keerai Puli Kuzhambu Recipe | Methi Leaves Puli Kuzhambu | Methi Tamarind Curry | Keerai Puli Kulambu(without coconut) Recipe

Once in a week I make puli kuzhambu without coconut & vegetables and if it is with veggies, it will be Vendakkai Puli  Kuzhambu with coconut. My favorite is Puli kuzhambu without coconut with lots of pearl onions(chinna vengayam) & garlic. Puli Kuzhambu tastes best with sesame oil and homemade kuzhambu milagai thool & coriander powder. I always prefer Sesame oil(nalla ennai) for all south Indian kuzhambu recipes except for Masal Kuzhambu.

Tawa Pulao Recipe | Mumbai Tawa Pulao Recipe | Tawa Pulao - Popular Mumbai Street Food Recipe

Today's recipe is a popular Mumbai special, Tawa Pulao. This is a simple, easy to make mildly tangy, spicy rice with nice aroma. I have already shared a healthy version of Tawa Pulao with Brown Rice & Mixed vegetables , this is a kids friendly version with less vegetables and nice flavor. I often pack this for my kids lunch box along with Onion Raita or Potato Fry.

Avocado Black Bean Salad Recipe | Avocado Bean Salad Recipe | Avocado Bean Salad With Lime Vinaigrette

Today's recipe is a simple, quick and healthy salad prepared with Avocado & Black Beans combo. This salad has a wonderful taste and flavor with tangy and refreshing lime vinaigrette dressing and also a protein & fiber rich recipe, a perfect diet menu too. Avocado in this bean salad makes it a super filling and delicious salad, I sometimes eat this salad alone for lunch or dinner as a meal. We like this kind of legume salad with or without avocado and with black eye beans or chickpeas or mixed beans combo.
Lime vinaigrette is so refreshing and perfect to balance the creamy taste of avocado. Here, i used garlic powder for dressing but you can also use freshly grated or finely chopped garlic. Now off to the wholesome and delicious avocado black bean salad..

Oats Dosa Recipe | Instant Oats Dosa Recipe

I like oats any kind quick cooking oats, thickrolled, steel cut oats in any form from porridge, dosa, pongal, overnight oats etc but V doesn't like oats and don't even have heart to try it for once, so have to sneak oats in his favorite dosa or adai like Oats Pesarattu, Oats Adai, Oats Paniyaram. As I wanted him to have oats 3 or 4 days a week, I cook Adai or this Instant Oats Dosa for our breakfast or dinner. For him I even need to add some more toppings to this oats dosa like Onion Oats dosa(check notes) or Podi garlic Oats Dosa(with Idli podi and fresh grated garlic topping) or Keerai Oats dosa(batter mixed with fresh Drumstick leaves, pic in last collage).

Mutton Biryani Recipe | South Indian Style Mutton Biryani | Mutton Biryani Using Seeraga Samba Rice | Pressure Cooker Mutton Biryani

After almost six months I cooked Non-Veg Recipes as today we had few friends visiting our place and V wanted me to cook Non-veg recipes as they love non-vegetarian more than veg recipes. So I made Mutton Biryani, Chicken Chukka Varuval, Chicken Gravy, Onion Raita, Plain Rice & Rasam for our Sunday Special Lunch. This recipe is also my Mom's special Mutton Biryani recipe that I wanted to share here for long time, Every time when she make this Mutton Biryani she used to tell me that the biryani turned out so good and flavorful and also she made it perfectly with separate grains using seeraga samba rice.  She said the she will make it when we all visit India till that time she insisted me to try it by myself. But, I never tried it before as we don't prefer mutton recipes more and today when I made it for guest, I recollected those words she said and I missed/miss her badly.

Beetroot Halwa Recipe | Easy Beetroot Halwa Recipe | Beetroot Halwa Without Khoya

Again I am here with an easy, delicious and healthy sweet, Beetroot Halwa recipe to celebrate my blog baby's 6th Birthday, yes.,Spicy Treats turned 6 last weekend, I couldn't believe that Spicy Treats is six years old now, time flies fast. I started this blog on a Thai Pongal day, 2011 with Vazhaipoo Vadai recipe as my first post, I started it because I needed a diversion or to try something new which I love to control my depression. I knew I love cooking and even before starting blog I used to capture my cooking with mobile just to share with my mom & sis. Later, I used that mobile captures to post recipes in my blog under the title 'sangeethaskitchen'. With the warm welcome and encouragement from my dear friends and few co-bloggers really motivated me to continue my work in an even better way with good pictures and presentation. Then, gradually improved myself and moved from blogspot to own domain www.spicytreats.net in August 2012. Also, V gifted me Nikon DSLR camera the same year and then got new interest on food photography and still learning to present a recipe with simple and appetizing pictures.

Saamai Paal Payasam | Little Millet Kheer | Millet Kheer Recipe | Easy Millet Payasam Recipe

Happy New Year Wishes to all my readers and fellow bloggers. After a short break I am back to blogging and feeling good to start my blog post. I got emails, messages and comments from some of my readers about my absence,  we had to go to India for visa related issues and everything went well and we came back here last week. It was a short unplanned trip to India, I am so happy to meet my family after almost 8 years and my kids had great time with their grandparents, uncles and aunt. They mingled well with everyone and enjoyed each and every day. Its really a new and fun filled experience for them and now they wanted to visit India every 2 or 3 yrs once :)