Puffed and crisp, a poori is the epicure’s delight – a delicious bread to accompany potato curry, chhole or aamras. While chapatis are everyday fare, pooris sit proudly as the "special occasion" treat.
Pooris aren’t so easy to make, though, are they? I say they are, once you’ve learnt the ropes.
I love grilled sandwiches. They have become something of a staple for my weekend breakfast. The sandwich filling varies depending on my mood and the contents of my fridge/pantry – mashed potatoes, paneer slices, the vegetableside-dish from last night’s dinner. This tomato baby corn filling, spiked with Italian spices, is one of my reigning favorites.
Cheese parathas teeter dangerously close to the limit of "healthy" but when you crave cheese, far wiser to club it with wheat flour bolstered with fenugreek leaves and carom seeds than ordinary white bread, right?
What can one do with wheat flour, onion and tomatoes? Make stuffed parathas of course. This filling came to be simply because I was out of other vegetables and it was raining too heavily for me to venture out and restock. Sometimes, necessity and laziness can produce wondrous results. Onion tomato parathas are proof!
I try to include a variety of grains/flours and cooking oils in my diet. Whole wheat flour, gram flour, brown rice have been regulars in the pantry. One grain I haven’t taken to easily is finger millet (ragi in Karnataka / marua in Bihar). One reason is that I am not a big fan of this millet – too much of it in a dish turns its taste to what I can only describe as ‘dusty’.
Ragi’s health benefits are multifold – nutrition sites tell me it is a rich source of amino acids methionine and tryptophan, and minerals such as calcium and iron. One HAS to eat it, ‘dusty’ taste notwithstanding! The most palatable way I’ve found is to add a portion of ragi flour to chapati flour and make it into ragi roti.
Discover how to easily adapt traditional Indian flavors into a vibrant, customizable Indian Buddha Bowl. Plus, get 10 delicious Indian Buddha bowl combination ideas!
Tomatoes are an essential ingredient for most curries – but you CAN do well without them! A collection of Indian vegetarian curry recipes without tomatoes.
Rice-dal-ghee is all you need for a happy tummy. Turn to khichdi when comfort beckons stronger than culinary sophistication. [Yes, you can make khichdi without a pressure cooker.]
With each bite, dhani nimbu zucchini gives a delightful lemony jolt to your senses. Green, light and tangy, this veggie side dish is summer exemplified.
Stop overpaying for “health drinks”. This savory, incredibly refreshing sattu jaljeera will keep your wallet happy. Requires no cooking and comes together in just minutes!
A seasonal take on the conventional rice phirni. Serve mango phirni in silver bowls for a classic feel, or layer it parfait-style with nuts and mango cubes.