Tuesday, August 6, 2013

iPhoneography on the streets of Bangalore and a simple salad

The pile of work seems to be growing in exponential forms. Either I have become slow or it's payback time for the 4 weeks of vacation.  I have my hands into so many things that sometimes I forget what  am working on. I have been waiting to share some of my clicks from my trip, finally found some time. I have so many photographs, it is hard to share all of them and even harder to pick which once to share. Here are a few:  colorful, vibrant and full of life - that's India for me.

Walking on the streets of Bangalore with my aunt, stopping for tender coconut water ( note to self : got to locate that picture and post), buying locally grown fruits and veggies, I don't think there are locally grown any more, it's easier to find Washington apple then the local homegrown apple. You just have to experience it to understand what I am talking about...random chats with street vendors, local grown (some of them) veggies n fruits. There is something magical about the experience that the most sophisticated super markets cannot give you. It takes me back to my childhood, I would follow my mother, who would stop at every vegetable vendor on the street, examine the veggie closely, either approve and buy it or would refuse to entertain any convincing from the vendor. The purchase transaction would almost always be followed by a chat or a sermon by my mother on how he (the vendor) should send his kid to school and not have him/her sit there all day to sell the produce. They all knew her by face and called her 'aunty ji' which was latter replaced by 'mata ji', now am the 'aunty ji' ...lol! I always thought I would hate that, but I don't seem to mind and it, it does amuse me (in a good way). Well, here is a slice of life that was in the 80s/ when I was growing up, am sure it will become extinct with the growth of super markets and malls... but for now they give me so much pleasure, I could not have imagined that back in the 80s.

The photographs are followed by a simple lentil carrot salad called kosambri in kannada.  Since all these photographs are taken in or near Bangalore - I thought kosambari would be the perfect recipe to share along with these photographs, since it is a common local salad.






Note : most of these are taken from my i phone, some could be from my dslr. 


handful of moong/ green gram (without the green cover on it)
2-3 grated carrots
1 tsp juice of lime
salt
cilantro finely chopped
fresh grated coconut for garnish (optional)

for seasoning
1 tsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard
1 green chili slit
 pinch of asafetida
1-2 curry leaves

soak the moong for an hour, drain water keep aside. Mix the grated carrots and the lentil, salt, lime and cilantro.

Heat oil, add mustard, let it splatter, add split green chili, curry leaf, asafetida. Pour the seasoning over the salad, garnish with fresh coconut and/or cilantro.

I omitted the fresh coconut, as I ran out of it. Here is a fresh, yummilicious salad - in less than 10 min ( excluding the soak time)

You could do several variations, with cucumber ( finely chopped) mix of cucumber and carrot, replace the moong with channa.


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43 comments:

  1. You just transported me to NAMMA BENGALURU, beautiful pictures and nice editing. I remember my amma making this Kosamiri, so simple yet so yummy. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

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    1. Thank you Asha, unfortunately vacation is over !

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  2. This is beautiful journey through photography. You got such a good eye for it. The 1st photo is haunting. Do you mind me asking which application did you use to pop the spices while making the rest sepia-like? Thanks!

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    1. Thxs Shulie, I use photoshop for my dslr pis and snapseed from my mobile pictures.
      For the spices picture, i just used a texture on in while masking the spices.

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    2. Huh on snapseed? I got snapseed, I got to play with it. :)

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    3. Yup Shulie you can do some pretty cool stuff , try using grunge

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  3. Simi are the first few pictures of the kumkum piles shot in Malleswaram? Nostalgia kicked in the moment i saw them cos i lived there for five years and i saw this every single day of my life- burst of color every morning. Lovely shots and kosambari- ah who can beat that?

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    1. Anusha : you know the first picture is from a small town between Bangalore and Coorg, we had stopped to pick some mysore pak and I saw this store, had to take a pic.

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  4. Beautiful tavelogue with pictures Very nice clicks. By the way delicious carrot salad.

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  5. A very nice post, Simi. Love the photographs, I have not been to Bangalore in many years but it is a beautiful city from what I remember with great food.

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    1. Nik : it's a beautiful city ! I miss the sleepy Bangalore of the 80s but it has not lost its charm. I have never lived there, but would visit every year for summer vacation. Thanks for your kind words

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  6. Awesome clicks....love the 1st pic...look so good...yummy carrot salad...

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  7. nice clicks.. Missing those streets! nice salad. .healthy one

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  8. Very nice clicks n kosamiri looks Temtping

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  9. I grew up in Bombay but lately have been visiting Bangalore for work often. That feeling that overcomes you when you visit is just hard to explain. While here in the US, you somehow disconnect from those feelings and they come rushing back when you are in familiar surroundings. I go to the market in Bangalore just to get that feeling. Is one of the shot up here from commercial street?

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    1. Archana u r so right, these pictures are taken in gandhi bazaar and 4th block jayanagar.

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  10. Lovely shots! I particularly like the one of the roadside stall.

    That refreshing salad looks delicous.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  11. Lovely clicks. Love the ones in BnW with colors highlighted very much :) And a simple flavorful salad !

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  12. Beautiful pictures Simi. The loved the one with the coconuts. Totally agree that the joy of visiting local markets is unmatched by an supermarket. Kosambari happens to be a family favourite too.

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  13. Wow! What app do you use to edit these photos? They are incredible!

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    1. Thxs Kelly I use snap seed, the first picture is post processed in Photoshop

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  14. awesome clicks...koshambhari looks scrumptious, true, there is so much fun in visiting local markets...
    oh how we miss Bangalore..HAVE A GREAT DAY !!! :-)

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  15. Great photographs and a lovely salad. I'd really love to try it. Looks beautiful.

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  16. Hey you were in Bangalore??? Are you still here? I wish I knew, we could have met up :)

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    Replies
    1. Gauri, I wish I had connected before leaving... I was there last month, hopeFully next time.

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  17. Good to see you back.
    You have beautifully captured the essence of the market.

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  18. Beautiful work with the pictures Simi, and the new look of the Blog is very captivating. Glad to see you back :)

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  19. Beautiful photos of Banglore! Love it and can't wait to visit my sasural over there, end of this year :)

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  20. awesome photography...just back from Blore myself and all homesick...took me back...thanks :-)

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  21. awesome photography Simi...Just got back from Blore myself...and loved it and can relate to this even more...nostalgia...thanks...:)

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Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to browse. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. Hope you enjoy your stay :))

hugs!
simi

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