Aayi’s Recipes Konkan/Konkani food blog, Indian culinary treasures

About

Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
-George Bernard Shaw

From time immemorial, culinary has remained an important skill which has been passed on from one person to another and most of the times from mother to daughter. The word ‘skill’ itself speaks something which can be learnt over a period of time provided one has certain degree of inspiration, interest and perseverance. This certain or rather I must admit most part of inspiration has come to me from my mother or as I fondly call ‘Aayi‘ in my mother tongue Konkani. Hence is name, Aayi’s recipes. Coming to interest part of it, I assume I have it enough without which I would not have had enough patience to prepare these dishes and draft the recipes. The last but not least, perseverance, I would leave it for you to understand. Only thing I can assure is this site will keep getting updated with my almost every visit.

The style of recipes would be Konkani homemade, originated in and around North Kanara district of Karnataka. May be even down South in Mangalore or up North in Goa, or may be even they match Maharashtrian food. But its individualistic taste stands apart from the rest.

I will also share some of the recipes which are non Konkani traditional food. I have learnt them from different people, books, watching different TV programs, internet etc due to my interest in cooking and the guidance from my Aayi & Pachi.

As mentioned earlier, my Aayi is the person from whom I learnt cooking. My mother’s sister Pachi is also a good cook, albeit all her preparations are simple ones. So these two sisters, by and large provided basic ‘ingredients’ for this site. My father and brother though by profession are doctor and engineer respectively, they are good cooks too. Their caustic comments added much essential ’spice’ to this site. My husband, who is also a software engineer, is responsible for look and feel of this site. In other words he is responsible for ‘garnishing’ of Aayi’s recipes site. Last, but not the least, my sis-in-law, who has the entire hard copy of this site, mostly does the proof reading of every new posting. These are the people whom I owe a lot for this site becoming a reality. Above all, some one needs to be there to relish as well and I anticipate you would do that job for me. Please come up with your thoughts. Whether good or bad, I will oblige your responses.

Finally, something about myself, I am a software engineer by profession. Born and brought up at a tranquil place called Kodkani on banks of river Aghanashini. This is a tiny place in North Kanara district of Karnataka state on West coast of India. I did my engineering from Belgaum and worked in Bangalore for nearly 4 years as a software engineer. Currently I am living in Kansas, USA with my husband. Apart from this, I don’t have much to say about myself, perhaps someday I may have or may be this site will do the job on my behalf.

I am dedicating this blog to my father and mother. Above is their picture infront of my home at native.

Come… Savor the delicacy.

- Shilpa

344 Responses to “About”

  1. Hi,

    Got to know about this site from your cousin Maneesh. Both of us work in the same company. You’ve really done a great job by seeting up this website. I am from karnataka myself and love home cooked food. Me and my roommates started a kitchen yesterday night itself… Now will take one recipe everyday and start experimenting…

    Keep up the good work,
    Bye,
    Take Care,

    Regards,
    Varun Giridhara
    Mumbai

  2. Hey Shilpa,

    A big hi to a fellow amchigelle.

    Your new site is superb. Great to see a site with so many konkani recipes. My hubby is very fond of cooking and he too has a site on recipes. Currently its on hiatus, will let you know once. Do visit it and let us know your comments.

    regards,
    shraddha

  3. Varun, Try out the recipes and let me know if you like them :) . All the best.

    Shraddha, I was waiting for you site. I read in some group where you had mentioned you are working on the site. So I even serched in google, but could not find one. Pls let me know when it is ready. I will love to visit it.

  4. Hey Shilpa,
    My grandma’s place is Kumta and I have visited Kodkani a few times.Good site.Keep up the good work.I will share a couple of my mamama’s recipes with you.
    Chaya

  5. Hey Shilpa,
    I am from NK. Good site. Keep up the good work.I will share a couple of my recipes with you.

  6. Thanks Gowri. I will wait for your recipes :D .

  7. Subhash Gaitonde says:

    Hello,

    Came across your site while googling.
    Thanks for this wonderful site, helping me and my wife rediscover our ayi’s cooking,

    Thanks,
    Subhash

  8. Thanks a lot for adding me link here.
    Its a great site for all the foodies like me.

  9. Dear Shilpa,

    Its a great site for all the foodies like me.
    Also, thanks a lot for adding my link here.

    Keep in touch!!

  10. aruna pai says:

    Hi Shilpa

    Since i know you about a month back after we both arrived in the States. But now, when i switch on the PC every morning, my first site to open is aayirecipes.com and see what new shilpa has posted so that i can make something new. I love cooking and my hubby too is fond of good food. Thanks for the good site….. Good Job Shilpa.

  11. Thanks a lot for those kind words Aruna. Its such comments from all of you that encourages me to post more and more :D .

  12. seema pai says:

    Dear shilpa,

    Came across your site when i was searching for some reciepe.
    i should say that your site is really good and is of great help to me.. thanks to you.
    i am just a begginer in this field and like trying out new recipes everytime. got married a few months back and now in the US without any cooking experience.
    tried out a few of your reciepes, turned out well.
    thanks once again and keep up your good work.

  13. As I said before Shilpa great site, where are you based?

  14. Thanks Seema.
    Thanks Pam, I have linked you. I am currently in Kansas City, USA.

  15. Hey Shilpa,
    The George Bernard Shaw quote is a fantastic intro to your website. I am very fond of Manglorean food. Mangalorean stew and neer dosai are my favourites! Like you, I too share a penchant for age old time tested recipes, which are truly unmatched in taste and flavour compared to the ready to eat fast food dishes oft eaten today. Your sev bhaji recipe sounds wonderfully appetizing. I’m sure a chat freak like me would truly relish it!
    Meenakshi at PRITYA

  16. Hi,

    Came across your website by chance and I just love it. My Mother comes from Kumta and she has always made the same dishes. I was longing to see a website which would have all those dleicious recipes and the same Konkani names and talk.
    Keep up the good work.

    Samyukta

  17. Thanks Meenakshi. I visited the Pritya site. I think it is a great job you guys are doing. There is nothing comparable to authentic recipes :) .
    Samyukta, Thanks for dropping by. I hope you will keep visiting here :) .

  18. Hi shilpa,
    Amazing food blog. U have lots of interesting categories that will definitely make food lovers come again to visit ur site..
    Iam a newbie. http://premascookbook.blogspot.com/
    visit me when u are free. I found ur site interesting and added u to my blog list. Do add mine if u like it.
    Thanks
    prema

  19. Hi Shilpa,
    Got the link to this website from my brother Varun at Mumbai!!I am at Dallas and love to cook. Please let me know if I can also contribute some recipes??And how??
    -Chaitra

  20. Prema, I have added you to my blogroll :) .
    Chaitra, yes you could mail me the recipes. I would try my best to post them here (it would take some time though..because I never post anything without trying it myself). Thanks for your interest :) . Looking forward for your recipes…

  21. Hi,
    I found your website while getting nostalgic about grandma’s cooking and childhood Ganesh chaturthi memories, googling saraswat recipes. Enjoyed the recipes and will be spending the rest of my evening getting homesick…sigh.:-)

    Sharmila

  22. This site is simply put mind blowing. I am from Mumbai but my mom’s from North Kanara.The recipes remind me of the time I spent my summer holidays in my grandmom’s place. Each time I visit this site I am transported to North Karnataka. Incidentally this site was referred to me by my mother’s cousin. As the McDonalds’ ad goes ‘ I am lovin’ it.

  23. Sharmila, you can cook some of these recipes and feel at home :) .
    Pranay, Thanks a lot for the lovely words. Keep visiting.

  24. Dear Shilpa……I got to know about this site from Mangaloreworld.com. Doc Baab had posted a recipe in his site and dedicated to you and asked us to check it out. em happy I visted it. Great site and lovely recipes…I have a passion for cookin so its gud for me. Keep up the gud work, lookin forward to more recipes. I love the authentic traditonal recipes of North and south Kanara. Thanks you once again……..Have a nice day

    Shilpa: Welcome to aayisrecipes Reshma. I have read your recipes on MW.com. You have a great collection. I am happy to know you liked my site. Keep visiting. 

  25. Great site. I accidentally found my self into this site (fortunate accident). This is mimd blowing stuff. My mother is from north kanara (mavinkurve) and this reminds me of the stuff she used to make at home when I was kid. Thanks for the loads of info you provide on food and also for the memories this site brings back.
    Shilpa: Thanks Navin for the kind words :) .

  26. Dear Shilpa,

    I just browse thru ur site whenever i get the time. But I must say…ur hard work definitely reflects to every reader. Your site is truly helpful to all the konkani community around the globe. As U are in the US…i’m sure u must be aware of the North American Konkani Association existing there. They have a news letter being circulated called “Khabbar”. Although i reside in Kuwait i’m well accquainted about the events in US as the editor to the News letter is my maternal uncle (Mr. Vasanth Bhat). Do try and get your link associated with them….. It will do a lot good to the Konkani community who are not aware of ur site…and U never know …Fame wud be knocking your door soon!…Good Luck /Cheerz

    Shilpa: Seema, I have no idea how to reach them :( . Will try to find out.Thanks for your kind words.

  27. Hi Shilpa,

    Came across you site through some other blogs and I must say…….. its truely worth archieving…….. hope to see more veg food on your site…. haha… being a bit selfish there…… ;)

    Shilpa: Rooma, there are more vegetarian dishes here compared to non veg. I will try to post more of veg dishes in future. 

  28. Wonderful site! Makes me want to learn about your country. Keep up the good work…

    SF
    belgium

    Siew: Thanks for visiting my site. Please keep visiting.

  29. Hi,

    I came across your website from nandayala and wow I was thrilled to see konkani recipes.
    Thnaks to your blog, I dont have to call my amma back in India for ghashi and ambat recipes!!! All I gotto do is log in and even tomato saaru is here!!

    I love your website….pls post more konkani recipes.

    Smitha
    London

    Shilpa: Even I was calling my mom always for recipes. So I started this blog where I could post them all. I am happy to see you  liked my site.

  30. the recepies r wonderful im from mysore but now im in canada settled happliy with a baby i was missing our dishes but now i keep trying your recepies and enjoy thanks a lot
    anitha

    Shilpa: Thanks for visiting Anitha.

  31. Roopa mahale says:

    Hi,

    This site is really amazing.. my parents are from North kanara (we stay in mumbai now ) and I have my relatives in kodkani. Yes this site has made me nostalgic too…
    Keep up the gud work.

    Roopa

    Shilpa: Thanks Roopa

  32. Hi!
    Loved all the receipes that I tried from your website. Like your updated receipes and felt very much at home reading all the Amchi names talasani etc.
    Sonali

    Shilpa: Thanks Sonali.

  33. IFTIKHAR SHAIKH says:

    Dear Shilpa,
    It heartening website with tempting recipes, I am from Kumta, presently residing in Riyadh. Upon going thru your recipes it gave me feel of home. I request all visitors on this site from NK to post recipes from your homeland and let grow this site and let to know each other.
    Regards,
    ifthy

    Shilpa: Iftikar, thanks a lot for the lovely words. Good to see you here.

  34. Hi Shilpa,
    I came across this website while I was Googling for Konkani Recipes. I was so glad to have discovered this website. You have done an amazing job. I recently got married and moved to USA and everytime I wanted to cook some konkani dish, I would have to call my Mom. But now I can first try this website before troubling her.
    I have a request. Could you please post recipes to more Konkani Diwali Khaan like teekshe tukadi etc.

    Shilpa: Pareen, thanks for your words. I have posted some Diwali dishes. Please browse through the site (look in festival food).

  35. hello
    I live in India (Pune). i saw your blog some 2 mths back. i like the name of your blog. you have a nice blog. i tried your ragi idli. it came out well. when i visited your blog today (06-11-16), it has changed. i did not see the link of other blogs and other recipe sites you had. you have removed them ?
    regards
    vaishali

    Shilpa: Vaishali, the links are still there on the site. You just have to scroll down.

  36. Hey Shilpa,

    My father is from Kumta (baad Kagal). I too went to Engineering College in Belgaum. Your recipes remind me of food I tasted at my close friends’ houses and my mother trying out from her konkani friends. I grew up partly in Ankola. Did you go to Janata Vidyalaya Mirjan-Kodkani?

    Shilpa: Pratibha, yeah I went to Janata Vidyalaya Mirjan-Kodkani for high school. Nice to see someone from Kumta.  

  37. Shilpa,

    Welcome to Janata Vidyalya alumni. I went to PM Highschool in Ankola and JV Dandeli. Did you go to GIT also?

    Pratibha

  38. Awesome site. Now I can finally get my fave food! Thanks!

  39. Dear Shilpa,
    First of all, thank you & your hubby for taking so much effort to put up this website with such yummy recipes.
    We share some common things like, I was born in Mangalore (Belathangadi). I studied in Bangalore and am now in US (Maryland). I am a Software Engineer too. I love food. I enjoy cooking. My mother tongue is Konkani.
    I like the look of this website. It is clean, easy to search for items and everything is easily accessible. Thank you and God bless you for this wonderful work :)

  40. Hi

    this is a great site….Keep up the good work. Do you have any great Mutton ( baby Goat ) reeipes?

    cheers
    Gol

  41. Hi!

    I came across this website while I was Googling for Konkani Recipes during Diwali. I was so glad to have discovered this website. We have recently moved to USA. The recepies r wonderful. i was missing our dishes but now i keep trying your recepies and enjoy .
    We, me my husband and our daughter love the authentic traditonal recipes of North and South Kanara especially Fish. Please post some more interesting Fish curry recipes.

    Thanks you ……..Have a nice day.

    Shilpa: Sucheta, just check the “Fish” category on this site. You will find many Konkani fish recipes there. I will see if I can find anymore. 

  42. Shilpa

    This is a great site and I have been researching about this site for some time for some mouthwaterig receipes. I was able to find some good receipes about some and non vegeterian dishes. Surprisingly , i could not find any receipes about lamb or Mutton.. But thank you for all these dishes. I am in a process of trying some a fe ewmore.

    Cheers
    Gol

    Shilpa: Gollu, I don’t eat or cook mutton or lamb. I don’t post  anything on this site unless I cook it myself. So there is no mutton category on this site.

  43. Hi Shilpa..
    This is a great site..can u please tell me where i can buy Maharastrian nath(nose ring) ..i stay in US…i have this fancy dress comptition ….it would be great help if some one help me

  44. Hi Shilpa,

    This is a great site.Kudos to you.
    I am a GSB residing in Bahrain.
    I love our food.Can you pls give me the recipe for “Sukrunde” – sweet dish & “Vaala Bendi”.
    Once again hats off to you! Great work.

    Shilpa: Sangeeta, Vali Bendi is called vali ambat/randayi at my home. We add a handful of toor daal to give it thickness(in vali bendi version, it might not be there). See vali ambat and vali randayi

  45. Shilpa,

    Nicely done. The site came out very nice. All the Best.

    Started trying out the recipes one by one……keep you updated later.

    - Bala

  46. Hi shilpa,
    I am a GSB born in Kumta myself and am presently living in NJ. I also miss a lot of my aayis cooking. Its very heartening to see good konkani recipes on your website and they bring a fragrance of home to mind. I had a lot of craving for the bland haldi paan kheer during my pregnancy. If you ever come to know where you might find these leaves please let me know
    Rashmi

  47. Wow! What a site. I savoured some of your recipes right now. It was a real feast for my eyes. I am really happy because you have shared all the good old GSB recipes. Looking forward for many more future additions.

  48. GLYNIS GARETH ZEPHYRINUS CORREIA DSILVA says:

    Hey I make it a point to visit this site on a daily basis and really enjoy trying out the variety of receipes posted by you…I am also v happy to suddenly get hold of ur site….when i was looking for the term in Google ‘kid lunchbox’

    All the very best to you.

  49. your website is so wonderful. .lot of konkini recipes… I am also staying in overland park Kansas.. love to talk to you more..
    Bye

  50. wonderful recipes

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