The Steaming Pot - Easy vegetarian recipes from India

Doesn’t food acquire an exotic sheen when described in language alien to its roots? Mangodi sounds like something grandmas from my native place would add to curries simmering in earthen pots. Sundried lentil dumplings? That’s like stuff my hostel-residing cousins in Bangalore would cook on a rare Sunday, as they do pasta and bruschetta.

But there you have it. Mangodi = sundried lentil dumplings. Choose the name you like. Made of ground moong dal with a hint of salt and spices, mangodi globules are sun-dried for 2-3 days before they are ready to use in curries.

(more…)

A party favorite also considerate to the weight-watchers – what more could one ask for? This recipe for gobi masala (cauliflower cooked in an onion-based gravy) with minimal oil is a sure hit with the dieter as well as the epicure.

(more…)

This is a simple, no-spice dry vegetable dish that I like to carry as packed lunch to work or on a journey. No spill, no stain. Easy on the intestines. Nutritious. And tastes great – if you are a bitter gourd hater, this is the best bet to bring you over to the other camp.

(more…)

I’ve been trying out different dishes with my new find this year – the vegan, gluten-free red chili paste from Thai Kitchen. This Thai-inspired recipe using potatoes, onions and sesame seeds is one I specially liked.

(more…)

An instant stir fry, using a vegan, gluten-free red chili paste from the Thai Kitchen. Easy to make, great-tasting and ultra-flexible, this recipe of thai stir fry vegetables is a godsend for days when you have little bits of many vegetables and don’t know what to do with them.

(more…)

Bitter gourd onion fry – a great way to eat bitter gourd if you aren’t a fan of its taste. Combining it with onions is one of the most effective ways of reducing the bitterness of bitter gourd.

Well, this recipe is also a side effect of onion prices diving down this season – my no-onion spree is on a break, my kitchen is stacked with onions and I am adding the bulb copiously to any vegetable dish I make nowadays.

On to the recipe of bitter gourd onion fry…

(more…)

If you love French fries but avoid them for health’s sake, here’s a way to prepare them without deep frying. The result is spectacular!

(more…)