Nigella Seeds

Nigella seeds are black and shaped like miniature teardrops. In Indian cooking, nigella seeds are typically used for tadka (hot oil tempering). When plopped into hot oil, the seeds release their flavor and taste like a mix of black pepper, oregano and onions. For this reason, nigella seeds are nicknamed “onion seeds”, though they are not truly onion seeds.

Chana Dal with Raisins

Chana Dal with Raisins

In my pre-teen years, food mentions in books would send my senses into overdrive visualizing them. The less familiar the food, the more vivid the imagined details. "Hot buttered scones", said Enid Blyton, and I pictured mildly sweet nimki-like snack twisted into conical shape, dripping with melted butter. "Lemonade" to my mind was a cross between nimbu pani and Limca. "Red radishes" were slender, graceful and blood red, more alluring than the humble white we had access to.

Reading Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake, I realised I am not much changed today. Ashima makes "thick channa dal with swollen brown raisins" for her party. What can that be like?  Now I don’t just imagine, I cook my interpretation of it :)

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Flatbread Spiced Indian Style

Flatbread with Sesame and Fenugreek

When chefs with expertise in other cuisines turn to Indian, it is lovely to see their interpretations of dishes well-known to us. Parathas are regular fare at my place but I learnt of this interesting variation courtesy MasterChef Australia.

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Beans with Crushed Peanuts and Sesame

Beans with Crushed Peanuts and Sesame

Beans with crushed peanuts and sesame – one of those dishes in which you keep adding this and that, taking tentative bites to check if it tastes good, and end up liking the result enough to make note of it for repetition.

Each bite of beans with crushed peanuts and sesame gives you a variety of flavors – spicy and sweet and tangy and nutty. Yes, vegan and gluten-free CAN be adventurous!

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Paneer Capsicum Curry

Paneer Capsicum Curry

Feeling blue? Liven it up with a bright red, green and white curry. The lovely concoction of colors and flavors in paneer capsicum curry is also surprisingly easy to put together.

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Quick Tasty Onion Fry with Soy Dressing

Quick Tasty Onion Fry with Soy Dressing

This side dish of quick tasty onion fry is perfectly suited for a work-night meal. It uses few ingredients, doesn’t need much cooking time and, with its delicate honey soy dressing, is so flavorful you’d hardly believe it can be put together so effortlessly.

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