• About Tooting Mama
    • About Tooting Mama
    • PR & Disclosure statement
    • Privacy policy and terms & conditions
  • Food Photography
  • Sri Lankan recipes
    • Recipes
  • Contact me
Logo

Classic Layout

  • Home
    • Sidebar Version
      • Classic Layout
      • Grid Layout
      • List Layout
      • 1th Classic than Grid
      • 1th Classic than List
    • Fullwidth Version
      • Classic Layout
      • Grid Layout
      • Masonry Layout
      • List Layout
      • 1th Classic than Grid
      • 1th Classic than List
  • Features
    • Categories
      • Vegetarian
      • Food & Health
      • Delicious
      • Sugar-Free
      • Travel
    • Post Formats
    • Post Styles
      • Style 1
      • Style 2
      • Style 3
      • Style 4
      • Style 5
    • Widgets
    • Typography
    • Sidebars
      • Full Width
  • About Me
  • Contacts
Logo
Logo
Recipes

Why you need this this Sri Lankan pineapple curry in your life

2 Mins read
July 29, 2022
Recipes

Kottu roti, the Sri Lankan street food sensation

3 Mins read
July 17, 2022
Recipes

Why I love this Sri Lankan spicy potato curry and you should too

1 Min read
June 30, 2022
Recipes

How to make Sri Lankan love cake

3 Mins read
February 14, 2019
Sri Lankan Recipes-1_rt

Making my mother Sri Lankan Love cake has become a tradition. I like to make it about this time of year, you know, love and Valentines and all that. The recipe I bake yields a hefty portion.  The Love cake is dense, it’s not designed to be wolfed down in a single session. It’s a …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

Easy to make vegetable pulao rice recipe

2 Mins read
October 26, 2021
recipe for vegetable pulao rice

This easy to make vegetable pulao rice recipe is a brilliant way to use up leftover vegetables. This is a delicious one-pot recipe that you can make as a side dish, or pack it full of vegetables and have it as a main. This recipe works for both lunch and dinner. My recipe has roast …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

Sprouted mung beans to make your Sri Lankan curry sing!

4 Mins read
October 13, 2021
Sprouted Mung Beans

How to make a Sri Lankan sprouted mung bean sambol Do you know how to make sprouted mung beans? And when you’ve sprouted them do you know what to do with them? How about making a sprouted mung bean sambol. Sambols are a big deal when it comes to eating Sri Lankan food. They provide …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

How to make a mango sorbet without an ice cream maker

2 Mins read
May 12, 2021
Mango_sorbet_5

It’s mango season. Correction, it’s Alphonso mango season, when people like me go wild about this little yellow mango. There’s something special about Alphonso mangos – more about that later. If you’re looking for a recipe to make this sticky, sweet fruit last through the summer, then look no further. I have the perfect recipe …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

How to make a Sri Lankan egg curry that’s simply satisfying to eat

2 Mins read
April 6, 2021
Sri Lankan egg curry

Have you ever tried a Sri Lankan egg curry? If you haven’t then you are in for a treat. This is a wildly delicious and ridiculously easy recipe that takes the humble boiled egg and transforms it into something glorious on your plate. Step aside shakshuka, make way for the egg curry. A good Sri …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

How to make an authentic Sri Lankan devilled prawns

3 Mins read
March 24, 2021
Sri Lankan devilled prawns

Being a Sri Lankan I love seafood. If you are a seafood lover, then let me introduce you to this authentic recipe for Sri Lankan devilled prawns. This recipe is so quick to make, and it’s incredibly easy, you’re are going to wonder why you’ve never discovered this before. Probably because it’s so good we …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

How to make Sri Lankan pancakes, with jaggery and coconut

2 Mins read
February 9, 2021
Sri Lankan pancakes

These Sri Lankan pancakes aren’t just for Pancake Day. Sri Lankan pancakes filled with a sweet, sticky jaggery and coconut filling. Once you taste this, you will eschew your usual pancakes topped with lemon and sugar, and maple syrup. All you will ever want is the Sri Lankan pancake, pani pol. I gave these to …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

How to make a Sri Lankan beetroot curry

2 Mins read
January 24, 2021
Beetroot_curry_1

Before I started to cook with beetroot, and make curries, like this Sri Lankan beetroot curry, beetroot was the vegetable I bought, ready pickled, to be chopped up and thrown into a salad.  I did on the odd occasion bake a chocolate cake with beetroot. But the kids discovered the beetroot and refused to eat …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

Warm up with an easy curried pumpkin soup

2 Mins read
October 21, 2020
Pumpkin Soup

When there’s a chill in the air and the mornings are dark it’s the time of year for soups that nourish and warm you. My curried pumpkin soup hits the spot. This is a thick soup, the kind your spoon can almost stand up in. It’s packed full of vegetable goodness. You’re just going to …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

Why I love this recipe for roasted okra. Quick, easy and delicious and there’s no goo.

1 Min read
October 20, 2020
roast okra on a blue plate

Okra, or ladies fingers, is a staple in Sri Lankan cooking. My Sri Lankan okra curry is a perfect option for a midweek supper. I wasn’t on the hunt for a new okra recipe. But one day, a recipe for roasted okra popped-up into my inbox. And boasting only 15 minutes to make? Wow, I …

Continue Reading
Shares
Photography

Want to improve your food photography? Check out my 7 awesome food photography resources for beginners

5 Mins read
September 19, 2020
Holding a bunch of carrots

I wish I had a list of food photography resources for beginners when I first started in food photography because honestly, I didn’t have a clue. With a basic Samsung mobile phone, I’d point and shoot and hoped for the best. I might as well have had my eyes closed! If you’re in food photography, …

Continue Reading
Shares
Photography

Review: Online food photography course with The Little Plantation

3 Mins read
August 11, 2020
Frying pan with paneer

During lockdown I took a six-week online food photography course, the Online Food Styling, Food Photography and Visual Story Telling eCourse run by Kimberly Espinel from The Little Plantation. Kimberly runs the highly successful vegan food photography blog – The Little Plantation. She produces the Eat Capture Share podcast. And the Eat Capture Share food …

Continue Reading
Shares
Recipes

How to make mango lassi at home, and make it authentic

2 Mins read
July 3, 2020
Rich results on Google's SERP when searching for 'how to make mango lassi'

Mango lassi makes everyone happy. What’s not to love, the sunshine of the mango, combined with the goodness of milk and yoghurt. Here’s my recipe on how to make mango lassi at home, and make it authentic. Mango lassis are a firm family favourite when we go to Indian restaurants. Before we even order our …

Continue Reading
Shares
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • Next
Latest Posts
July 29, 2022

Why you need this this Sri Lankan pineapple curry in your life

Sri_Lankan_Pineapple_Curry_2rt
July 17, 2022

Kottu roti, the Sri Lankan street food sensation

Kamala_03_rt
June 30, 2022

Why I love this Sri Lankan spicy potato curry and you should too

Devilled_potatoes_2
October 26, 2021

Easy to make vegetable pulao rice recipe

recipe for vegetable pulao rice
October 13, 2021

Sprouted mung beans to make your Sri Lankan curry sing!

Sprouted Mung Beans
That'll be a full Sri Lankan for me.​​​​​​​​​
@cynthia.uma I want to say good luck as you welcome your first guest to your new Sri Lankan restaurant @rambutan_ldn.

I know this project has been in gestation for a long time, and I can only imagine the excitement you are feeling as you welcome your first guests to dine with you. 

I also know you're going to smash this while putting Tamil Sri Lankan food on the map!

If you can't wait that long, grab a  copy of Cynthia's awesome cookbook Rambutan. 

This is the roasted butternut squash curry, perfect for soaking up fragrant spices that pack a punch. 

My husband and I, we are hooked on seeni sambol toasties. This was something my mum used to make, and you'll find it in the book. Think cheese toasties with an onion jam on acid! Try it, you'll be hooked too! 

🍀Good luck Cynthia, I'm rooting for you! 👊🏾

Recipe: Sri Lankan butternut squash curry, recipe from Rambutan cookbook
Photography: Moi 
Food styling: Moi

#srilankanfoodrecipes #srilankanfoodphotograher #srilankanfoodlovers #srilankanfoodiesaroundtheworld #srilankantraveldiaries #srilankantravel #foodandflatlay #foodstylingandphotography #foodstylingphotography #foodphotographymagazine #restaurantphotographer #londonfoodphotographer #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale
My creative juices are feeling drained, and I’ve My creative juices are feeling drained, and I’ve sucking up the last dribbles from my creative well.

I did a shoot for two recipes I had created. 

I loved the recipes, hot spicy traditional Sri Lankan curries, kalupol chicken and a side of sambar. The flavours that had depth, the kind of flavours reach into you and touch your soul! 

But, I hated the pictures.

It was frustrating. 

Even though I had meticulous planned my shots, they just didn’t work.

It sometimes happens, especially when you feel sapped of your creativity. 

Creativity is a muscle that has to be exercised, and then there are times when it simply needs a rest.

I gave my brain a break from food photography, and embarked of a photo walk in the fascinating company of @step_hen_les_lie, a brilliant and insanely knowledgeable street photographer.

I needed to engage and see the world, in a different way.

With street photography, the shot comes you. If that sounds easy? Think again. 

Street photography tests your mental sharpness, your power of seeing the out of the ordinary. 

It’s a case of walking, waiting and watching, waiting for something unusual, out of place or something just plain old god damn bonkers to happen. 

And you need a truckload of patience, and be ready to catch that shot! 

Check out my photographs and let me what you think. 
#streetphotographylondon #londonphotographer #documentaryphoto #londonrestaurantphotographer #foodphotographerlondon #visualstorytelling #candidstreetphotography #streetphotomag #streetlifeworldwide #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale #capturestreets
We connected over fish. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
After connecting on Instagram and following her foodie adventures around the world across Australia and India, I finally got to meet Sohini, who runs the fabulous food account @smokeandlime.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sohini creates inventive menus for her line of supper clubs inspired by her Kolkata heritage.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We met, in South London, in the Elephant and Castle.I’ve worked around the Elephant for almost twenty years. With jobs that took me down the Aylesbury Estate; I’ve seen tea dances in the Elephant & Castle shopping centre where I played ten pin bowling when I volunteered with a cub troupe from Peckham. This was at a time when the Elephant was a no-go for gentrification.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How it has changed. Sprouting out of the earth like giant stalagmites are these huge glass towers with apartments commanding eye watering rents. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Like the old housing estates, the old carbuncle of a shopping centre has been bulldozed; In its wake are small eateries and boutiques. The big brands aren’t here yet, but it’s only a matter of time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
At Sohini’s suggestion we met at a little Peruvian place, @saborperuano_elephant, just under Strata Tower in a brutalist concrete parade of shops. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This restaurant is old school, no frills, white vinyl tablecloths, giant-screened TV. Yet the food is…..EPIC!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The ceviche, marinaded in tangy cheeksuckingly good leche de tigre, succulent beef hearts threaded on to skewers, fresh crispy deep fried squid, and I’m pretty sure we ate vegetables to. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And, for two hours straight, we spoke about nothing else but food. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It’s was great. And my heart is lost in Peru! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#londonfoodphotographer #Londonfoodie #restaurantphotographer #commericialphotographer #stilllife #stilllifephotography #stilllifestories
Thai aubergines. It's hard to believe these are ve Thai aubergines. It's hard to believe these are vegetables.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
That green, they look like little semi precious stones, or marbles, the ones I used to play with when I was a kid.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
I saw these in my local Sri Lankan grocers, and had to grab my phone and snatch picture!​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
They're almost too cute to cook!​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#pinkladysnapsfeb23 @pinkladyappleuk @davidloftus​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
 #myediblecaptures monochromatic bliss by @andreakoever judge @eli_and_co sponsor @blueberrybackdrops ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#aubergines #stilllife #stilllifegallery #stilllifephotographer #raw_minimial #belightinspired #shotoniphone #foodstyling #srilankanfood #restaurantphotographer #londoncommercialphotographer #foodstylistlondon #saveurmag #bonappetit #londonfoodstylist #srilankanfoodphotographer #Londonfoodphotographer #editorialphotographer #beautifulfood #f52community
When I was a kid, we always made thin, French-styl When I was a kid, we always made thin, French-style crepes. And our topping was only ever lemon and sugar. 🍋​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
The American fluffy pancakes were, well exotic. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
We only ever saw them on American kids' shows. And they always seemed to have pancakes for breakfast. And they always covered them in syrup! I'd watch wide-eyed agog at these pile of delicious pile of pancakes.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
When I was a kid, pancakes were a once-a-year thing.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
The excitement and build-up was almost too much as we approached Pancake day, aka Shove Tuesday, gobbling up all the good stuff before we headed into Lent and abstinence before we crack open the Easter eggs. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Now, I can make whatever pancakes I like. And I like to make fluffy American ones. Perhaps it reminds me of those Saturday morning American kids' shows, and those hearty American breakfasts, served by all-American moms to their all-American families.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
There's something indulgent about a pile of fluffy buttermilk pancakes, ready and waiting, drenched with something delicious and to be devoured by a brood of hungry mouths. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
What pancakes did you make this year? And more importantly, what was your topping? ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#pinkladysnapsfeb23 @foodphotoaward @pinkladyappleuk @davidloftus ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
February open theme #foodphotobiteswithritu @foodphotobiteswithritu @happytummybyritumbhara judge: @ferraronierica ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
American pancakes: Recipe @marthastewart, Food styling: Moi​​​​​​​​
Photography: Moi. Syrup: @lylesgoldensyrup​​​​​​​​
Inspiration: @louisehagger - an incredible food photographer with so much wit & creativity 🤩​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#buttermilkpancakes #americanpancakes #pourshot #pancakeday #pancakeday2023 #foodstylistlondon #londonfoodphotographer #foodphotographylondon #londonrestaurantphotographer #commercialphotography #editorialphotographer #beautifulfood #f52community #hautecuisines
Making my mother Sri Lankan Love cake has become a Making my mother Sri Lankan Love cake has become a tradition. I like to make it about this time of year, you know, love and #Valentines and all that.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
The recipe I bake yields a hefty portion.  Love Cake is dense, it’s not designed to be wolfed down in a single session. It’s a cake to savour and relishes to cherish while sipping a cup of Sri Lankan tea.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Having made it so often it's only now that I am digging into its provenance.  Sri Lankan Love Cake has an interesting backstory of colonialism, culture, and personal stories of migration.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
If you want to know more about the history of this delicious cake, hop to the Tooting Mama website, there’s a link in my bio. You’ll find the recipe there too. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Because, the only way to experience Love Cake is to make it. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#lovecake #srilankancuisine #srilankanfood #restaurantphotographer #londoncommercialphotographer #foodstylistlondon #saveurmag #bonappetit #londonfoodstylist #srilankanfoodphotographer #Londonfoodphotographer #editorialphotographer #beautifulfood #f52community #hautecuisines #raw_sweets #raw_sweets_
Follow on Instagram
Lifestyle Blog & Magazine WordPress Theme
Logo
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contacts
Logo
  • Home
  • About Tooting Mama
  • Contact me
About Me

Ranji Thangiah

PHOTOGRAPHER & BLOGGER

I'm Ranji! I am a food photographer, recipe creator, lover of Sri Lankan food which I want to share with you.

Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy
I accept use of cookies