"Kooka Song" - A Konkani delicacy or Chinese Potatoes in Spicy coconut gravy

"Kook" as the konkani's call it , is also known as Chinese Potatoes in English or "Sambrani gadde" in Kannada.

It is a smaller version of potato that grows mostly in Northern Kerala and parts of Coastal Karnataka in India. Karkala is famous for "Kook" and we get the best "Kook" from Karkala in the Autumn months till late February. It takes some time for a novice to get used to the muddy smell of "Kook"!

These potatoes are widely grown all over China and mostly used in Chinese salads.

This "Kook" is loved by the konkani community, and this dish is one of the most famous of the "Kook" dishes. "Kook" is also used in many coconut based gravy dishes along with different kinds of beans/lentils.

Mirchi ka Salan - A Hyderabadi delicacy

"Mirchi Ka Salan" is a traditional hyderabadi side-dish mostly served with biryani or any type of rice.
Normally this dish is made using long green chillies but incase you do not find them you can make this dish using capsicum too.
My grandmom used to make this dish, but since it has lot of ingredients I never attempted this dish, for the fear of not getting it right.
But today when I was going thru my grandmom's cookbook, I thought of giving this dish a try.
One of my friends recently told me about this amazing "Arbi ka salan" which had in a restaurant in Mumbai, and for a second I thought of using Arbi/Colocasia bulbs, but since the most famous of the Salan dishes is the "Mirchi ka Salan", I decided to make this today, and it did taste yummy!
So blogging this dish rightaway, since these days, since its winter, all around in the markets you get to see these long green chillies, so if you happen to spot them just buy them and try this dish... Am sure you'll love it!
All these years, I thought the best way to use these long green chillies was by making "Stuffed Green chillies" or "Chilly fritters", but today I realized that this dish is worth the effort..!!

Mutter Paneer (Green Peas with Cottage Cheese)

Mutter Paneer or Green Peas with Cottage cheese, a North Indian delicacy and a big favourite at home.
The best mutter paneer I've had till now was in a Dhaba or Roadside Shack, while driving from Patna to Darjeeling. We accidentally stopped by this place, cause the gas station guy filled "petrol" in our "diesel" car and had to be repaired. Yet the journey was very good, thanks to the lovely weather and the lovely Mutter Paneer.
The Mutter paneer was so delicious with freshly made phulkas (Indian bread), I can never forget the taste.