Kozhakattai or Modakam: Lord Ganesha’s Favourite Ladoos from Tamil Nadu

South Indian desserts are revered and loved around the country, especially during festivities. The unique flavours and the prerequisite use of coconut give the essence of an authentic South Indian sweet. One of the most popular and traditional desserts from Tamil Nadu is Kozhakattai, Modakam or Modagam, which is also similar to that of Maharashtrian Modaks. Modakams were adored by Lord Ganesha and is believed to be a symbol of his earnestness and wisdom, a prize obtained from his parents. Kozhakattai is prepared as a prasadam on Ganesh Chaturthi to invoke…

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Surprise, Surprise! 8 Vegetables That Are Actually Fruits

Think you know your fruits from your vegetables? You’ll be surprised. There are many fruits in the plant kingdom that are often mistaken as vegetables. Now, this simply means that some foods may be classified as fruits biologically but are often used as vegetables in savoury dishes and hence the confusion. In botanical terms, a fruit is basically a seed-bearing part of a plant that develops from the ovary of a flowering plant, whereas vegetables are all the other parts of a plant such as its roots, leaves and the stems. Therefore, it is…

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Lotan Chole Kulche: An Old Delhi Delicacy Cherished by Street Food Lovers

Chola-Kulcha is a very popular street food item in Delhi that is relished by everyone. From school kids to office goers, everyone seems to enjoy this masaledaar street food snack that is more like a meal in itself. This combination of boiled chickpeas (chole) and a soft white flour bread (kulcha) is served garnished with chopped onions, juicy tomatoes, powdered spices and a generous squeeze of lime. With everyone having a recipe of their own, this dish usually tastes different depending on the street vendor you choose. Set in the interiors of Old Delhi in the labyrinth of…

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Is there a consommé at the Nobel banquet this year? Well, Chef Mark Phoenix lets us into the culinary side of the Prize

Come December 10, the 45-member kitchen at the Stockholm City Hall will be buzzing with last-minute preparations. A contingent of 200 servers will serve 1,350 guests trying to best the previous record of fastest serving at the Nobel Banquet – 6 minutes and 50 seconds. Now, we are not quite sure whether 2016’s most controversial Nobel laureate Bob Dylan would be one of those dining or not (given the mystery that has continued ever since the award was announced on October 16), but 10 other laureates with their families, around…

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Savour Indo-British fusion food at Hilton Chennai

A fusion food festival is being hosted at the Ayna restaurant in Hilton Chennai that intends to invite Chennaiites for an Indo-British experience and indulge in the amalgamation of the two. Chef de Cuisine Paul Joe and his team will present classic dishes as well as innovative and popular preparations like desserts and ice creams fused with some British elements. “We haven’t tinkered with the core taste and philosophy of the food. The plating was in the British style — that is, all the items on a single plate and not served…

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Avocado extract in food may prevent bacterial illness

The researchers found that the extracts from avocado seeds could be effective in controlling microbes that cause Listeria, a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious for pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems. In the study, the researchers from Tecnologico de Monterrey, in Mexico compared enriched acetogenin extract (EAE) from avocado seeds with two name-brand synthetic antimicrobials. They found that the EAE presented similar listeria-properties and chemical profiles to the synthetic antimicrobials. The EAE was effective at 37 degrees celsius and at a refrigeration temperature of four…

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