Hey everyone! I recently took a cooking class in Varkala at Jairam Cafe and learned how to cook 6 dishes from South India and 3 dishes from North India. The chef, Dilip, took us through each step of his recipes and we got to enjoy the feast after.

---

---

Dal Fry

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 4 cloves garlic, diced
• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 3 cups of already cooked yellow lentils
• 1 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Salt to taste
• Butter and cilantro for garnish

Directions

1. Add sunflower oil to wok, heat until shimmering over medium heat
2. Add garlic to the wok, tempering for 1 minute
3. Add red onion to the wok, stirring for 2 minutes
4. Add 2 tablespoons of butter
5. Toss in the already cooked lentils and 1 cup of water, stir
6. Add turmeric, 1/4 cup cilantro, and salt
7. Bring everything to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
8. Take off heat and garnish with cilantro and butter to taste

---

---

Cabbage Thoran

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 1/4 cup curry leaves
• 4 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• 2 cups coconut flakes
• 2 cups water

Directions

1. Add sunflower oil to wok, heat until shimmering over medium heat
2. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves to oil, tempering for 1 minute
3. Toss in the shredded cabbage, stirring to coat evenly with oil
4. Add turmeric powder and salt to wok
5. Add coconut flakes and water, stir
6. Cover and let steam for 5 minutes - do not overcook as this will hurt the nutrients and quality of the dish
7. Take off the heat and serve! It should resemble a rice texture