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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369 Responses to “About”

  1. HI Shilpa
    its really a very interesting site, my brother sent me this link and I have enjoyed a lot of recipes from here. I love to browse and try new recipes. I am from Hubli and love cooking and trying healthy recipes for my family. I love raw food.
    Thank you so much. Keep up the work.

    Regards/
    Nivedita

  2. Maithily Talotta says:

    I love your site. I am Happy that i finally found a pretty extensive site with many recipes that i love. I can keep making the traditional foods that i love and pass it on to my kids one day. I look forward to visiting this site often! Thank you once again for a great site.

  3. hi shilpa,

    i was regularly browsing through your site until march this year. i used to take printouts regularly of all your posts. due to medical reasons i could not browse and now i find it difficult to catch up with the old postings. earlier i could retrace your postings month wise but now i have lost track. i dont want to miss even a single recipe which you have posted. is it possible to still retrieve them month wise.

    Shilpa: Priya, Hope you are doing better now. I will try to get back the Archive section, I removed it because I thought no one uses it.

  4. hi shilpa

    earlier i was able to retrieve your postings month wise. is it still possible to do so. i have taken print outs of all your postings until march this year. due to medical reasons i was not able to stay in touch with your site. i find that was much easier.

  5. Anu Kamath says:

    Hi Shilpa,
    I came across your site from a link on my old classmates’s blog (Madhuli)and have been visiting it religiously everyday ever since for almost a year.
    I do not usually leave comments but finally ventured to.
    Your recipes are good and what I like most is the prelude to each recipe (your stories).Also your painting and cake decoration tells me that you have a drive in you to achieve!!
    You seem to be very young having come to US just last year, so I always imagine you as a girl with 2 plaits and glasses.
    I request you to put a picture of your self so that we can associate a face to person who cooks such fabulous meals.
    Thanks again from a fellow amchigele.

    Anu

    Shilpa: Thanks Anu for kind words. I am glad you decided to leave the comment.
    I neither have 2 plaits nor I wear glasses :) .

  6. hi shilpa,

    wish you and your family a very happy, prosperous new year.

    thanks a lot for bringing back the monthly archives into ur page. feels great to have it back again.

    i should say i learnt and am still learning konkani recipes through your site. i follow it word by word. your site was very helpful when i got married. i walked into the wedlock raw hand without any idea about cooking. my mom used to always warn me and was worried about the fact that i knew nonthing about cooking. in the very beginning i had to call amma every day and ask her the method and methodolgies for ghashis etc ., get her scolding for not learning them during my maiden days. but then i was lucky to get introduced to our traditional cooking through your site. thanks to you and your wonderful recipes. both my husband and i have relished the ghashis and other dishes.

    please continue such good hard work. will be very useful for people like me.

  7. Deepa Mohankumar says:

    Hi Shilpa

    Ur site is good and ur recipes r excellent. I’m basically from Bangalore. I live with my hubby and kid in Overland park, Kansas. Where do u live in Kansas ? Keep up the good work.
    Happy New Year.
    Take cre.

    Shilpa: Thanks Deepa. I am sending you a mail.

  8. RAJESH M BHAT says:

    Namaskaru Mai
    What is your full name?
    (I know that your name is Mrs. Shilpa but not the SUFFIX Part
    This question to you is out of curosity)
    Thanks
    Yours faithfully
    Rajesh

  9. Hi! Shilpa,
    Though i am from North India , currently in Singapore, and not familiar with the names of your recipes but still i love them and the best part is the way in which you have described each step.
    I love the cakes and sweets.
    ALL THE BEST.
    SWETA

  10. Shilpa, your site is amazing. You are so talented with art, cooking and software skills. You are really an inspiration. I read many of your posts now and through your blog read sree’s too. Congratz to u & keep up the good work. I will come again for more recipes. I am really a pathetic cook, trying to improve and your site is a great help to me.

  11. RAJESH M BHAT says:

    Namaskar Mai
    A few years back I got an opportunity to take my Mother to her native place KAGAL (Iam put up in Mysore). My father told me take her to GOKARNA first and then to KAGAL via KUMTA, but not via TADADI/TADRI (Because we have to use Ferry Boat to cross Aghanashini River and My father was afraid of this type of journey. My mother neglected my father words and took me to her place via TADADI (by Boat). It was a astonishing experience to me. We went to Ganesh Temple in Aghnashini and took a Tempo to KAGAL and got down near the Government School/Vardha Bank. Behind Vardha Bank happens to be my Mothers place. Behind my mothers house is GAZNI and GUDD KAGAL. One of my relative took me to Gudd Kagal to bring Shrimps (Sunkat) and then they prepared Sunkat Lonche or PRAWN PICKLE.
    NOW SHIPLA MAI, DO HAVE THIS RECEIPE. And DO YOU KNOW ANY THING ABOUT KARADA ANTU (A FULL DRY FRUIT SWEET)?
    THANKING YOU
    YOURS FAITHFULLY
    RAJESH

    Shilpa: Please check the Shrimp/prawn categogy under nonveg and you will find few different kinds of pickles(nonche/kholu). I don’t have karadantu recipe yet, I think it requires some special kind of antu(gum), which may not be available here. So will keep an eye.

  12. Tom Downey says:

    Shilpa:

    I found your site when looking for Paratha recipes. My wife (who is from Mexico) and I fell in love with Paratha’s in Abu Dhabi where we could get them frozen. They were made in Malaysia. We had to have Parathas every weekend morning for breakfast and we missed them.

    We liked them so much we bought several dozen when we visited her family in Mexico. There is now a family in Mexico who are fans of Parathas, they think it is a very tasty tortilla.

    We now live in San Antonio, TX, just down the road a bit from Kansas!

    Thanks for your well designed, intelligent and fun site.

    Regards,

    Tom Downey

  13. Dear Shilpa

    Below given is a quick cook recipe my mom gave me. I am food lover and a critic, this one really was amazing wanted to share with you and others.

    Please try this without fail

    First you need to make the BASE POWDER. You can make a lot of this; you can make up to a Kilo and store it in cool dry place. This powder can be used for all vegetable curries for added flavour; it can also be used as a chutney powder for idly, dosa and chapattis.

    MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS IS USED FOR STUFFED VEGETABLE DISHES.

    PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADD OIL IN THE POWDER BEFORE STUFFING IT IN THE VEGETABLES. (like a thick paste) this is because if you stuff the vegetables with just powder the minute these hits the stove it is going to burn.

    I use this for stuffing the following vegetables

    Brinjal / aubergine – White or black long once – slit just half so you can stuff this powder

    Capcicum/ Pepper – any coloured but green is best – just cut the crown off and deseed the Capsicum before stuffing.

    Okra – slit and leave the seeds in

    Bitter guard -/ hagalkai – I shave the skin to remove the roughness and deseed it.

    Although the same powder is used for all vegetables it brings out different flavour from each vegetable.

    1. Stuff the required vegetables.
    2. Put 4 -5 spoons of oil in a pan , once hot put the stuffed vegetables and close the lid
    3. Let it cook in slow heat
    4. Stir occasionally
    5. Once vegetables are cooked put 2 spoons of dry BASE POWDER to the cooked vegetables and stir.
    6. Take it out after two minutes.

    This the recipe for the BASE POWDER

    For 1 kilo powder

    1. Channa daal – Raw ( often used for tampering) – 150 Gms
    2. Roasted channa daal (often used in coconut chutney) – 250 Gms
    3. Peanuts – 200 Gms
    4. Badam – 100 Gms
    5. Cashew nut – 100 Gms
    6. Sesame ( til) – 50 Gms
    7. Red Chillies – 150 Gms ( this depends how spicy you want)

    You have to fry each ingredient separately (without oil) and Grind it to a Coarse powder ( not too fine).

    That’s it.

    Hope you like this.

  14. Hello Shilpa,

    I am impressed the way you write. There is a flow in thought which is smooth.
    Also, the language is fluent.

    All the recipes are so familiar to me since I too am a konkani.

    Regards
    Suvarna

  15. Good to see recipes so unique to North Kanara. Excited to see “tausalli” listed here. I came across this site when I googled “Ankola”, which is my native place. I grew up in Dandeli.

    These are a set of pictures that include Ankola and Gokarn
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/ausun/sets/72157594199536562/

    Great work,
    Sunil

  16. i would like to have the receipe of jowar roti and the brinjal curry.if u could send me those receipes i will happy to try them out at home.

    Shilpa: Both are already there on the site. Ennegayi, jolad rotti

  17. Hi! You are so sweet to post these amazing recipes & to dedicate the site to your family. I recently read The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri & Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai and have been craving foods with the flavors on your site. Thank you!!!

    fondly, Amy

  18. Hello Shilpa
    Thanks for the recepies. I am konkani too but unlike u I did not spend too much time learning my amma’s recepies when I was young… (I regret that)but now I can see that u have posted the same recepies on your website.
    I dont have to call amma now for the recepies.. I am waiting for her to visit me so that i can show off my expert amchigalle cooking too.
    Keep up the good work
    Meena

  19. Hi Shipla,

    This is Smitha, am very glad to be here .. I was least interested in cooking but seeing your blogs and easy method of cooking am tottally changed.. I started experimenting ur recipes .. too good ur recipes are.. Am seriously amazed seeing your intrest in cooking being a software Engineer.. As am a software engineer am very bad in cooking… And am proud to say that am fron karnataka.. Recently shifted to US (Boston) .. Nice to see you shilpa… Thank you…

    You are just superr.

    Smitha

  20. Natasha Kukowski says:

    Hi,

    My mother was born in Manglore, India. She migrated to Malaysia and she passed away when I was 16. Now, I am in my 40’s living in the US. I never learn how to speak Hindi except from watching Hindi movies when I was young and my mother did not push me to learn as there there were other languages that I had to be proficient in Malaysia. Anyway, I was intrigued to hear that about “konkani”. My mother taught us to call her mother (my grandmother ) Odli mine. She said that meant grandmother. It that right? or was I mistaken?

  21. I was really impressed by your website. I belong to South canara. I too have some good recipes. I wanted to contrubute so that many people could enjoy.
    Thank you Mani

  22. Hi shilpa,
    Got to know about you thru my sis
    Recently got married and my husband is from Kodkani—- your place and is a connisuer of food too– may be the place does it.
    Now everyday I reliously enter aayis recipes instead of my aayis vasari.
    we tried your chicken curry(your favourite) and was superb!Thou I am a veggie—I can tell about a dish by the look,color and flavour it gives.
    We live in Melbourne and everyday have to rake my brains on what to cook—-by evening I have a bunch of hungry wolves getting home—all I do is enter your site,
    Few minutes later my table is set
    Thank you dear
    Pratima

  23. HI SHILPA me and my husband loves kajar ka halwa (cerrot cake) please send me that recipe…thank you..

    Shilpa: Gajar ka halwa is already on the site under sweets section.

  24. Hi Shilpa,
    I came across your site while going through google for some good veg.breakfast recipe. Its a great site. Incidently
    my daughter is also Shilpa and she is a chef. We are also from North Kanara, Shirali to be exact.

    Keep up good work. Your recipes will help new brides to learn authentic konkani recipes.

    sheela

  25. Florine Lobo says:

    Hi,

    My parents are from South Kanara (mangalore) but I have been and bought up in Bombay. However, when I seen this website, I was very happy specially it brings konkani and konkan part of India back to me. We always had Konkani food ofcourse from our part of the region. But this website is good and keep it up. All good to Konkani and Konkani cuisine

  26. Florine Lobo says:

    Hi Natasha,

    This is Florine and I read your post. I come from Mangalore and we (or the christian community) call their grandmothers as wodli mai (meaning big (wodli) mother (mai))

  27. jerrymon says:

    Hi,
    i want some information about this website for my teacher. She likes every thing on this.
    1) what is your full name ?
    2) when did this websit published ?

  28. dr.k.g.bhat says:

    did you post Kadige gashi?

  29. S Kamath says:

    Hi Shilpa,

    I must say that this site is awesome. The recipes are so simple and tasty that my man is getting converted to a Konkani from a Kannadiga now :-) . Keep the good work up!!!

  30. Hi,

    I’m from Bangalore, but studying in Australia at the moment. I was a little saturated cooking the simple few dishes I learnt before coming here and was beginning to feel that my taste buds were getting bored…. Stumbled upon your website while searching for stuffed bhindi recipe, and I can’t thank you enough for the time and effort you have put in.

    There are many dishes that I would love to try (can’t try all since I’m a vegeterian), and it should be a good hobby and much needed variety for me and my roommate!!

  31. Monali [Bhujle] Nayak says:

    Hello Shilpa,
    This website is excellent, helping me lot in my cooking as well improving my cooking skills. I live in Atlanta USA.
    My parents are from Karwar-Kumta. The home photo of your native place has reminded me of my Nani’s home in Kumta and my dad’s home in Karwar.Those memories are like more than gold for me. My husband is from Karkal, Mangalore.on our last visit to Indiain 2006 we have visited all these places.
    Thank you so much for guiding newcomers like me thru ur website.I guess ur in India right now. So, have fun at the fullest and safe trip.
    Regards,
    Monali [Bhujle] Nayak

  32. Hi !
    went thru your site and loved the warmth of a household, which you have managed to bring in to it.
    is it possible to put up Aayi’s close shot ? that is if she doesn’t mind.
    its a neat sit so all the best.
    take care

  33. Aditi Modak says:

    Hello,

    Please can you give me some tips on how to make the perfect sabudana khichadi. The problem is when i buy Sabudana from the market and soak it in water for the whole night it still is very rubbery and doesnt taste good. I have tried many options, even milk but it doesnt soften at all. Please help…upwaas with Khichadi is boring ;)

  34. Hi! I am enjoying looking though your site ad the wonderful dishes you speak of! My “boyfriend” is Bengali so learning more about Asian is very important to me as I think we may be getting engaged soon! I am purely American so getting all the help I can is appreciated! I decorate cakes and, even though his family doesn’t eat many concentrated sweets (his dad is a doctor and they take a more holistic approach to wellness), I am interested in examples of cake recipes as well as any decorative techniques used there in Asia. I also enjoy cooking and was raised in an old-fashioned, family-oriented family (sort of non-traditional for Americans nowdays!) so I learned cooking dishes here at an early age.
    Please help me with my conquest!! Thanks!!

  35. Hi,
    Got to know about this website from a friend. i love all the receipe here. There are so easy to make.
    I need you help to find about “Set Curds”.
    I live in NJ. Do you know where i can find “Set Curds” here? If not, an alternative is good for me. I have seen it in India, not able to find it here..really need your help here..thanks

    Sonu

  36. lakshmi says:

    hi shilpa..
    great work!!!! saw the site while just surfing the net….am getting married in 4 months and was worried all these days how am i going to manage cooking… but no more tension!!! am going to try each of the recipes…. THANK YOU…..

  37. meinus2010 says:

    I recently landed in US, I am an armature cook, will surely try your tips and tricks mentioned here.

    I like the idea of opening a picture of common item in new window since most of the terms are new to newcomers like us

    One small suggestion, it may be not be possible.
    The items in recipe required may not be available easily
    if you could list down store address where it is available ( desi or alternate super market), It will be of great help.

    Thanks and happy cooking

    Regards
    meinus2010

  38. Hi Shilpa

    I have just discovered your website, and thoroughly enjoyed browsing it.

    I love your dedication and the picture of your home and your parents. My family and I visited North Kanara for the first time last year and the photo evoked very happy memories.

    Meena

  39. Vasanti says:

    Hi Shilpa,

    I bumped into your website while I was looking for some malvani/konkani recipes. I browsed through all the different sections and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely try some of your recipes.

    I am a Maharashtrian, living in Montclair NJ. Like you, I too love to try and make all the dishes that my aayi makes. She loves cooking and making different dishes, maharashtrian or non and we all really relish them, including my south indian hubby, who is a big fan of her cooking.

    I think of the items she used to make back home and I call her to get her recipes and try them out, except I never thought of compiling them in one place or sharing them. I appreciate your dedication in posting all the 100s and 1000s of your mother’s recipes. You and your team of family members have done a great job creating this website and sharing the culinary skills you inherited/acquired from your aayi. Keep up the good work!!

  40. Janhavi says:

    Hi,

    Somehow I came across to this site yesterday and saved as bookmark just by looking at name : Aayi – the magic word. In marathi also we call mother – Aayi.

    Just after reading – About – I am writing this. Yet to surf thru. But as they say – Love at first sight… I liked your passionate presentation…well beginning is half done.

    Thanks again,
    with warm regards
    Janhavi
    France

  41. Hi,

    Thanks for such a brilliant website. My maternal side is Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin, and your recipes have evoked many happy memories of my great grandmothers’ and grandmothers’ cooking, some of which remains partly forgotten even today.

    Best regards
    Ashim

  42. Hi Shilpa,

    I have finally come across the best site for the kind of recipes I normally hunt for…
    The best thing I liked about your site that compelled me to post a comment is the ’simplicity’ that comes across through your writing…even your recipes are so SIMPLE to follow! You have done a wonderful job and you are right, this site says a lot more about you than you can!! :)

    I am going to be a regular visitor here as I have a lot to learn and experiment. Thanks a lot for sharing…

    Joyeeta.

  43. I bumped into this website by chance as I was surfing the net for some konkani food pictures – mainly Patrado! This is a fantastic site and I wish you all the best. Though originally from Bangalore, I am in the UK for some time and we get a version of Patrado here, in a can! It is called Patra. Though it is not as good as homemade stuff, it is decent enough.

  44. very neat blog. good traditional recipes, easy to browse menu, cool font/color and simple language.
    one thing i found in it different from many other food blogs i’ve seen is that you mention the no of persons served.
    that really is helpful and pretty important :)

    thank you.

  45. shailesh shirali says:

    Itle amchigale rampa che recipe’s galalak thuk masta thanks.

  46. Hi,

    I love your site. It is wonderful – so many delicious recipes and so much care taken with them and with your blog entries. Please keep it up.

  47. Shraddha says:

    Hi Shilpa, You’ve really done a great job by setting up this website. I came across the website very recently. I am from north karnataka. Great to see a site with so many konkani recipes!

    Your website is the ‘closest’ to me of all the websites i visit for recipes. I have tried a number of recipes from your website of late and all of them turned out great. (…and may be also because I call my mother Aayi as well :) ).

  48. Hi Shilpa,
    This is a very commendable effort. On this lazy Sunday afternoon I was looking for some quick recipes. I discovered your web site through http://mysoorean.blogspot.com.

    Even I studied in Belgaum and am in LA now. Your recipes would help me not to miss Belgaum and my mom’s recipes so much!

    Thanks

  49. MAMATHA says:

    hi shilpa…

    as the name so the art in cooking…u sound too good at your site…can i see ur picture…i want to know the fouder…ha ha ha…can i have your darshan mam………every time i switch on the pc…my fingers get on to your site…great going …keep it up..

  50. LUCIA KUMAR says:

    Hi
    I came across your website while looking for Amchi recipes and it looks really interesting . I shall add it to my favourites so I can have it readily available.

    Regards
    Lucia

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