The appeal of comfort food stems from its potential to transport us to happier and more familiar times. It conjures up images of home-cooked meals, family get-togethers, and holiday traditions. Especially during tough or stressful times, comfort food has a way of helping us feel good and delivering a sense of warmth and stability. The scents and textures of comfort food are extremely delicious, giving one a feeling of indulgence and pleasure.


"Comfort food is the foundation of memories. When things are bad, a good meal shared with loved ones may provide a lifetime of peace and warmth." Indulge in the warm and familiar flavors that will bring you back to your happiest memories with these recipes by Amal Tamara.


Pumpkin Ada:




Ingredients:



  • Semolina – ½ cup

  • Pumpkin – 200grm

  • Salt – to taste

  • Cardamom powder -1/2 teaspoon

  • Jaggery syrup – 1 cup

  • Grated coconut – 200 gm

  • Cumin powder -1 pinch 

  • Ghee – 2 tablespoons


Direction:



  • Peel and grate pumpkin and keep aside

  • Pour ghee into a hot pan and add the grated pumpkin, sauté well

  • Then add grated coconut, cardamom, and cumin powder 

  • Add jaggery syrup and mix well

  • Add dry roasted semolina and make it into a smooth dough 

  • Place a small piece of dough in the center of the banana leaf, flatten it using a hand

  • Fold the leaf into half, tuck the ends of the leaf

  • Grill the ada on a pan and serve hot


Banana flower cutlet:




Ingredients:



  • Chopped Banana flower – 1 cup

  • Colocasia – 100 gm

  • Rock Salt – to taste

  • Green chili, curry leaf, coriander leaf, ginger, garlic - ½ Teaspoons each

  • Turmeric powder – 1 or 2 pinch

  • Chili powder – 1 pinch

  • Cumin powder -1 pinch 

  • Coriander powder- 1 pinch

  • Fennel powder – ½ tsp 

  • Coconut oil – 3 tablespoons

  • Brown rice puttu podi- To dip

  • Shallots – 50 gm


Direction:



  • Finely chop banana flowers and keep them in turmeric water 

  • Boil the Colocasia, mash it and keep it aside

  • Into a hot pan add coconut oil, ginger, garlic, curry leaf, and shallots, and sauté for a while 

  • Add all the powdered masalas and sauté well

  • Once masalas are cooked, add the chopped banana flower after squeezing all the water out and cook well

  • Once it cooks add well-mashed colocasia and chopped coriander leaves

  • Switch off the flame and make the mixture into cutlet patties coat the pattie with brown rice powder and grill it on a tawa and serve hot


Spinach Clear Soup:




  Ingredients



  • Spinach -200gm

  • Chopped carrot & Zucchini- 25gm

  • Vegetable stock-

  • Salt to taste

  • Crushed pepper- one pinch

  • Cumin powder – one pinch


Direction



  • Finely chop the spinach and vegetables

  • In a pan add the finely chopped spinach and vegetables and boil in vegetable stock

  • Add salt, pepper, and cumin powder and cook well

  • Serve hot