26 May
From my recent trip to Singapore, I got back a couple of food items not easily available or cooked with in India: dried goji berries (also called wolfberries) and Chinese dates (also called jujubes). I went on to learn more about how these ingredients could be used, was especially struck with the idea of goji berry tea and resolved to make it in my own kitchen.
19 May
This recipe pays homage to parval, a gourd popular in the eastern states of India. Whenever we make a trip to Bihar, we come back loaded with parval [1] by the bagful – we could buy this elsewhere too, sure, but the quality we find in Bihar is unmatched.
If you do get hold of parval glistening green on the outside, seeds and flesh tender and firm – count yourself blessed and make parval ki bhujiya this way. This recipe lets the gourd take the spotlight – no dousing in spices, no other vegetables added to the mix.
2 May
A starring recipe for a party menu: lauki kofta – spiced balls of grated bottle gourd, deep-fried and simmered in a rich tomato gravy. The preparation of lauki kofta takes a bit of planning, and the steps for making the bottle gourd balls can’t be rushed or parallelized – but the end result makes the dish worth every bit of the effort.
21 Apr
This recipe of kairi khatti-meethi chutney (sweet and sour raw mango chutney) is so elementary, even Watson wouldn’t need a Holmes to explain it to him. Or so I thought till a friend asked me what I had put in the amazing accompaniment I served with the meal.
Ginger? Lime? Some Far Eastern condiment you brought back from the travels?
It turns out that what we believe is too obvious for words may not be so.
6 Apr
Not too long ago, the mention of sundal outside of south India would be met with quizzical stares. Times are changing – this simple boiled legume dish is gaining traction far and wide for its health benefits, compatibility with special diets (vegan, Jain), and ease of making.
Sundal can be made with various types of legumes – chickpeas or peanuts for example. This recipe uses a very light and easily digested legume: yellow moong dal.
15 Mar
Start-of-season green grapes tend to be tart and work best when combined with other ingredients – a few grapes in fruit rabri, for example, or in fresh juice. A recent addition to my list of go-to recipes for sour grapes is this green grape chutney, flavored with Bengali panch phoron spice and fennel powder.
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. Yes, you can make khichdi without a pressure cooker!
Explore mango recipes made with raw & ripe mangoes. Desserts, chilled drinks, chutneys, and other summer treats to try this mango season!
A vibrant, fresh pineapple grapefruit juice with a savory twist. Tropical goodness, herby kick, and a vitamin C boost!
Protein rich sattu in a stuffed paratha. Bihar’s specialty – sattu paratha, or pan-fried flatbread with a spicy roasted gram flour filling.
Dessert to die for! Rice kheer (pudding) with a hint of saffron, sweetened with jaggery and dried figs.
Kachumber – classic oil-free Indian salad made with cucumber, tomatoes and onions, dressed with fresh lime juice and green chilies.
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.
Want banana peanut smoothie, have no peanut butter? Learn how to make this smoothie using whole peanuts! A budget-friendly, energy-packed recipe.
Spiced buttermilk, a tasty cooling thirst-quencher.
