Aayi's Recipes

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

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370 Responses to “About”

  1. Hi,

    This is really a great site,I am a Konkana who is from Kerala and I am in Karnataka for past 8 years ,even i have stayed in Mangalore I am a big fan of your site,trust me I have got to know lot of Konkani recipess.

    I made slight change to heat cucumber dosa ,instead of jaggery i added greechillies and salt and coriander leaves,since i dont like much sweets ,its great.

  2. Dear Shilpa,
    This is a beautiful site.
    Like you, I also love cooking.Can we send some receipes to you.?
    i came across your site through google.
    Wonderful receipes, and ghar ka khana
    Regards

    Shilpa: Pooja, thanks for your kind words. Please mail me the recipes and I will try them here and then post them on the site.

  3. Prathima Rodrigues says:

    Dear Shilpa,
    I love your enthusiasm for food and for allowing us to recreate some of this magic in our own kitchens.
    Just super!
    Prathima.

  4. Sheetal says:

    Hey Shilpa,
    I came across your website when I was net surfing.When I saw familiar words like “Aayi” and “Karnataka” I clicked on the “about me” section.Glad to know you went to an Engineering College in Belgaum. Belgaum is my hometown and I have done my Engg from GIT.
    I love your “taste of home” recipes. Good job girl!!
    I would love to hear from you.
    Thanks,
    Sheetal

  5. Hi Shilpa,
    Kashi Assa?
    Have been a grad student in the US for 3 years now and looking at all the konkani recipies reminds me of my amma’s cooking. Thanks for the web-site, now I can give my room-mates a taste of amchi cuisine.

    Niraj

  6. WOW, what a find,

    I am an Aamchi, working in Hotels now in working in Japan at the Hilton-my background is cooking from the Taj Days, I currently live in Australia.
    THIS SITE IS AWESOME.

    Well done

  7. Hi Shilpa,
    I have been living in US for last 34 years.I still love to eat and cook typical konkani dishes.I was introduced to this web site by a dear friend of mine.The recipes are mouthwatering with easy to follow instructions and pictures.You have done a great job of creating this web site for our konkani community(especially for the younger generation of konkani’s here).Thank you and God Bless you!
    Seema.

  8. Shilpa,

    Great to read about ur aayi and ur background. Why you upload ur pic as well so we all can c u :)

  9. Archana K says:

    Hi Shilpa,

    I am a konkani too.I am not a person who enjoys cooking. But after going through your blog I have started enjoying cooking..

    BTW did you finish your 12th in Ankola (GC college) by any chance?…(just curious if my classmate who used to come from Mirjan by name Shilpa is same..)

    Any way one more popular Konkani dish you can post is Jeere-Mire Kadi..

    keep up the good work..

    Archana

    Shilpa: Thanks Archana. No, I didn’t study in Ankola. Jeer-mirya kadi recipe is already there on the site.

  10. Preeti Nayak says:

    Hi shilpa,i am preeti..n i am from gokarna(which is very near to ur native),i am so hapy to see your blog.
    I too luv cooking,I have already tried Enagaayi,bindimasala..etc
    Great work…
    I luv the way u represent dishes,Its too good..
    Keep up the good work..
    Happy Cooking..
    God Bless

  11. Hey Shilpa,
    I was googling for something and found this site. Its an awesome site and really well done and presented. I am a mangalorean recently moved to Canada. I am a gourmet and love cooking. Yeah, thats my hobby. I try out a lot of stuff at home. Kudos to you!

    cheers,
    Ashwin

  12. Hey shilpa,

    I accidently bumped into this site today, & what a pleasant accident it has been. Some days back I prepared ‘masoor suhke’(almost similar to the one on ur website), and was wondering how to make it even more tasty thats when I bumped into this collection. Congrats!! grt job! I myself have a keen interest in cooking(thanx to aayi & Mom), reading cookery books, and enless written notes of recipes shown on TV ;-) & often had this brainwave that I would come up with a website some day – but i think its not required, as I see most of my recipes here :-) . I am a Goan,married to a Bengali & now residing in Delhi. My mother tongue is Konkani & we call my grandmother “aayi” so the very word on ur website made my heart feel warm, bringing memories of back home – Goa, where my parents & grandparents reside.Our “aayi” lives with us , & I have learnt my cooking from her.
    Though I have yet to explore the website I know there are a feast of recipes out there. Thanx for making me feel at home!!

    Best wishes,
    Rups

  13. Hi Shilpa,
    Came across ur site while googling for ragi flour recipes, but you have many more tempting recipes. More than anything your photos are very tempting. Good work, no where have I seen so many photos. I really liked ur site very very much and shall definitely browse it very regularly. I am basically from Andhra and hope you post some Andhra dishes too if possible.
    Thanks
    Anu

  14. Hi Shilpa,
    I am a regular visitor to your blog these days.I have tried many of your recipes and have left comments too after trying them.All your recipes turn out to be really good.I am from Karnataka also,and I like the kind of recipes you blog.It reminds me of home and mom’s food(esp the coconut-based recipes) and I really get tempted to try them out.All in all a great site with great recipes and I love the way you introduce us to the recipes citing your experiences.

    Though I have visited your blog many times this is the first time I read the About page.It’s really nice to know that your whole family shows interest and helps you with your blogging.Do post in a pic of yours if possible.Would definitely like to see the cook behind all the delicious recipes.
    -Sk

    Shilpa: Thanks a lot for all the kind words SK :) .

  15. Hi Shilpa,
    Iam a regular ghost visitor to your site. Have tried and tested some of the recipes today thought I’d take a moment to let you know that I really appreciate your patience, time and effort… your passion for cooking can be seen in your blog and that is what makes your blog so interesting for us.
    Keep up the Great Work and as always will be visiting your site.

    Shobha

  16. Hi Shilpa

    It was so wonderful to see a fellow amchigeli on the net with all my familiar recipes and amchi atmosphere. I will try out some of your recipes- many of them are of course slightly different from what Amma and my Pacchi makes. It will be fun to try out your versions and tell them about it!

    Keep up the good work, Shilpa!! :)

    Am in Boston and it’s great to know there are so many fellow Konkanis out there. :) Anyone in Boston area?

    Arathi

  17. Hi Shilpa,
    I am really impressed with the recipe’s you’ve posted here. I am a GSB from Goa (South – Margao) and loved Veg food.

    Keep posting more authentic recipes like so many you’ve!! Reminds me of my Granny and her ways of cooking!!

  18. Hi Shilpa,

    I have stumbled on this BEAUTIFUL site while I was looking around for the recipe for
    pomfret masala and Aayisrecipes and great pictures accompanying them really made my day…
    Aayisrecipes.com is a treasure trove for me, a Konkan and I wish I had known about it sooner.
    KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
    I am off to try out the pomfret masala.
    Kaycee

  19. Hi Shilpa,
    Love your receipes & site & writing style. It shows so much love for cooking, family, hobbies . Great work. I saw your parent’s picture how about putting your own with all the people helping you with this site.

    thanks
    Sushmita

  20. Hi Shilpa,
    I married few months back, as i am working women, i dont know much cooking, i recently got into your site,i have got some interesting and easy cooking. i am trying your recipes, they are turning out well. Thankyou so much. Keep going.
    bye
    Jyotsna

  21. Hi Shilpa,

    Good site…was Googling and found this…good one…planning to try some recipe today

    Keep going..

    will pass u some recipe which my sister-in-law gave me.

    Regards,
    Uma

  22. Dear Shilpa,
    First of all, I sincerely thank you and your family members for taking so much efforts to put up this website.This website is a complete winner.

    Now to summarise why I liked this website even more and felt connected with it :
    I am a SK – GSB Manglorean based out of Mumbai. I am married to a NK Family settled in Mumbai itself. My Inlaws are from Ankola. My husband and I are both software engineers.As I am mostly working, I have very poor culinary skills. So this site is really a GodSend to me.

    Specially your presentations of the recipies are marvellous and so detailed, that I feel that an amateur can also prepare the dish rightaway.

    Hence Please keep up the good work. Thanks once again.

    Regards,
    Lilly

  23. Geetha Rajendra Prasad.M says:

    Dear sister Shilpa,
    Thank you for the recipies. I always look forward for some new recipies and try. Your presentation is marvelous. Convey my sincere thanks to all who are supporting you in this effort. Looking for many authentic Kanara receipies.

    Regards.

    Geetha Prasad.M

  24. HI I LIKE UR RECIPES NOW I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE PANEER TEEKA PLS TELL ME

    THANKS ALOT

    Shilpa: Manju, substitute chicken with paneer in chicken tikka recipe for paneer tikka.

  25. hi shilpa
    how r u i m looking for veggie pizza pls send me recipes

    thanks

  26. Hi Shilpa,

    First of all many thanks for the recipes.

    I come from Honnavar. I didn’t have much experience in cooking as I was mostly away from home for studies and then later work. After I got married I had a whole chance to cook and my husband encourages and joins me in cooking. He has bought me many books. Many times I callup my mother, mother-in-law, my aunt, my husband’s aunt to get new recipes. I also had the habit of searching on net for recipes. When I was searching for Ganesha Chaturthi recipes I came across your website. I was surprised to note that all the recipes were typical to North Kanara. And I was extremely impressed to see the step by step procedure and the pictures at each stage. It is simply mind blowing. Now I am a regular visitor of your website and love to go through it and ofcourse I am trying it.

    Infact I have introduced about your site to many of them in my family. Everybody is mesmerised to see the way it is posted.

    Shilpa, really a GREAT WORK. Hats Off to you. I am also shocked to hear that you are maintaining such a beautiful site and at the same time working as a software engineer. Me being a software engineer I know that finding time everyday for hobbies or other things is not possible always. But still you are managing to do everything. Really great. I appreciate it very much.

    Thanks once again.

    ~Malini

  27. Alisha Colaco says:

    hi,

    just came across your site throughthe powers of fate and google. :D im 21, from goa and almost never cook.. yes im a blacksheep in the kitchen. only when it comes to creating the food though. not consuming it.

    im glad i found your site. its really nice that you are sharing these recipes with everyone. yet to go through most of the content on this site and i want to try making some.
    :D rambled enough now

    bbye

    Alisha

  28. Hi Shilpa, so nice to learn a little more about you and your family, and see your lovely parents and the home that you speak of so often :)

    Congratulations on your milestone of 500 posts. I have always admired your passion for cooking and your dedication to preserving the traditional recipes you know… thank you for sharing it! :)

  29. Hi may i know the person who writes these recipes. Where does she live in united states. I am curious to know.

    Shilpa: Ragini, the basic intention of starting this blog is to save my mother’s recipes. She is a great cook. I live in Kansas.

  30. Oh great. I am a kannada brahmin living in albuquerque.People around my appartment are always talking about ayiiis recipe.All the kannadigas here seem to know ayiis recipe very well.

  31. shilpa it is very nice to know that you ahve mulltiple skills like u are an engineer. u know painting, cooking. Thats really great.Keep it up.

  32. ur house looks very fine at this distance,neverhad hands on cooking till i graduated and i gotmarried
    now we are currently settled in abu dhbai am from chennai,I had been to south kanara to udipi dharmasthala manglore kollur thalakavery area silent valley subramanya.i enjoyed ma trip.here the lebanese food is in much demand they have their arabi bread muthabal(made of burnt egg plant) homos(paste made of chick peas) they r m ore healthy than spicy burgers and pizzas.the arab and lebanese eat less spicy food, to the max it is jus green chillies raw soaked in vinegar

  33. Ashok Shenoi says:

    Hi Shilpa,

    Got to know your site thru good ol’ Google..!! I’m a GSB though currently out of touch with the community as well as the food, your site brought back memories of my childhood and ‘amma’s’ cooking.
    Have taken great pleasure in looking at various recipes ( and I must say, looking at the photographs were a great add-on ) over the last week. Though I can, I do not cook regularly, but am compelled to restart very soon having visited your site.
    Thankyou very much for investing so much time and patience in making this site memorable.

  34. Prabha Madhavan says:

    Shilpa,

    I have enjoyed going through your recipes and health related tips. You have done and are still doing a great job! Keep it up.

    On an unrelated topic:
    As a matter of curiosity, did your mother too study in Belgaum? If yes, which school did she go to and during what years? I did my schooling (Saint Joseph’s) and college (R.L. Science Institute)in Belgaum. I have not been to Belgaum in 40 years! I am constantly looking for someone from there who went to school/college with me. I currently live in Virginia.

    If you would rather reply to me privately to my email address that would be fine.

    Thank you in advance.

    Prabha Madhavan (nee Rajgopal)

    Shilpa: Thanks for your kind words :) . No my mom is not from Belgaum, sorry :( . Few of my relatives live in Balgaum, but they all moved there pretty recently.

  35. Prabha Madhavan says:

    Thanks for the response Shilpa.
    Wish you well in your work on this site.
    As I said before, you are doing a great job.

    Prabha

  36. Vipul Gandhi says:

    What is Avrekelu ?

    Shilpa: Vipul, please click the link for avrekalu mentioned in the post.

  37. hi, i just came across ur site n i think i’ve found what i’ve been looking for all these days. most other sites seem to feature recipes which call for a thousand ingredients and are quite different from d actual thing. they also tend to be north indian. ur recipes seem to be just like my mum’s! ur site rocks! keep up d excellent work!:D

  38. Shilpa
    You have done a wonderful job with this site. And your recipes are wonderful. I am a konkani from Bombay married to a Kannadiga from Bangalore. It is often difficult to get the names of the ingredients right amongst us – as he knows the english/kannada names and I know the hindi/marathi/konkani names. Life can be so much fun with the confusion. Your site gives me Kannada and Konkani ( which i truly miss). I know i will be stealing your recipes with pride as i feed my family!

  39. Shripad Ankolekar says:

    Hi Shilpa,

    Nice to see all those mouth watering recipe’s, I am in Boston, MA now, but am a native of Karwar. I am missing talking to people in Konkani, Konkani food and Konkani leisure.

    let me know if there are any Konkani speaking people in Boston?

    Shripad

  40. Hi!
    Well, I am from Dhrawar. I am working in Bangalore for the past two years. I get to eat my moms cooking only once a month, which is quiet a longgggggggg time!! So I decided to take things in my hand and cook the typical Dharwar delicacies myself!! Your website is of great help!
    Thanks!!!

  41. Hi Shilpa,

    Its good to know about your life. Anyway, I born and brought up in bombay, hence I am very familiar with konkani, goans and maharastrian recipe. Konkani and goans food are great in taste particularly non-veg. Though I am brahamin i love to eat their non-veg.

  42. hi shilpa nice website i stumbled on it by accident and baked the date and cahew cake turned out pretty good my dad is from north kanara too kumta and so i can identify wiht your recipees keep up the good work

  43. Hey

    No doubt this is Amchi VinKAmthls copy right.
    Gr8 design and creativity

  44. Kumud Kamath says:

    Hi I was googling to find out links for karathe randai and came across this site…will be trying out one by one :)

    I currently live in riyadh.Though this query is unrelated I Would appreciate somebody helping me out..am interested to know whether paneer is available here and if yes where ??

    Thanks

  45. Hi Shilpa….

    I have fallen in love with ur site.Gr8 work.
    The way u have presented each recipe is too good.Amazing………I have sent the link to many of my friends.

  46. I am so proud of you!!!
    This web site is really good!!!Earlier i would call my friend Mithil or her mum in Udupi to get konkani recipes.I just happened to discover this site.I love udupi food and most of all konkani food.
    I have sent this link to all my friends.
    Thank U….

  47. Hey Shilpa,

    Very happy to see your recipe blog.Very helpful and tasty too ;-)
    Good to know that you too from Belgaum!! I did my engineering from GIT..recently married and me-n-my-wife are using your Aayisrecipe blog as our kitchen guide in US!Food items in your blog remind me of my mother’s home-made food.My mother is also a very good cook.My wife too is doing good in kitchen now.Thanks to your blog!!
    Kudos to you.Keep serving good stuff!!!!

    Regards,
    Basavaraj D K
    Belgaum\Los Angeles

  48. Hello Shilpa,
    I just googled the word ‘Kadi’ since I wanted to cook some. My search led to your site and thank God I found many of my favorite dishes (non-veg especially). It made me remeber my native and then from your profile i came to know u r from Kodakni! I know the place as I m from Hiregutti. Hope u know the place. Anyways, thanks for this amazing website..its really handy for me n my wife (recently married!) currently living in Australia and miss home receipes.
    Cheers!
    Ganesh

  49. Hi Shilpa,

    I happenned to find this site while googling for Karela achaar. The recipe looks really good. I will try it this weekend.
    But hey! your site is fan-tas-tic. The style of presenting each recipe with fotos is wonderful. It makes it so interesting.
    Thankyou for such a great site.
    -Rabia

  50. Hi Shilpa,
    I was searching for some recepies and i got your site, its really good. I am from north of karnataka and i love your recepies. I love to cook new dishes and i will try your receipes.

    Thanks a lot…!!!!

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