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.
7 Aug
Do you realize that if you stack round parathas in a square lunchbox, then even with the largest paratha size your lunchbox can accommodate you leave more than 20% of its surface space unused?
Does this “criminal wastage” bother you?
You can’t beat geometry. But you can pack parathas in your square lunchbox without an inch of space going waste. Let me show you how.
11 Jul
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 :)
15 Mar
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.
9 Oct
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!
1 Oct
Baby potatoes look so adorable they make me want to pop them into my mouth whole. When I can resist that urge, this is one way I like to cook them.
16 Jun
How do no-onion-no-garlic dishes make up for the missing flavors of onion and garlic, the essence of most Indian curries?
This is a thumb rule that "pure" vegetarians (no-onion-no-garlic eaters) will tell you –
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.
Hindi idioms inspired by the tastes, colors and characteristics of food.
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.]
Cucumber, orange, salt…no, this is not an ingredient list for a salad. These are names of products/concepts from the world of technology.
A guide to juicing recipes that you could follow during the week: this 7-day juicing plan gives you a range of colors, nutrients and ingredients.
Set aside the surface similarities: chia seeds and sabja seeds are NOT the same. Here’s a rundown of the differences between these two wonderfoods.
Is it art or is it science? Making the perfect homemade yogurt is a bit of both. An easy step-by-step guide on how to make yogurt at home.
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.
When melons and oranges are about, get your juicer out! This musky, citrus-sy melon orange juice does wonders for your health – AND tastes great.
