The Steaming Pot - Easy vegetarian recipes from India

Saag – an Indian dish of leafy greens, eaten along with rotis or rice. A variety of leaves can be used in saag: spinach and mustard greens are popular choices, while chaulai (amaranth leaves) is used often in Bihar. Chaulai saag is a simple, dry preparation with amaranth leaves and a hint of spices.

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A chutney packed with the goodness of fresh coconut and curry leaves. Great on the side with dosa or idlis.

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Mid-April each year, the harvest festival (or the start of the regional New Year) is celebrated round the country in diverse ways. Punjab has its Baisakhi, Kerala its Vishu. Bihar welcomes the season with Satuaan (सतुआन), also called Satuaa Sankranti (सतुआ संक्रांति).

The prefix satuaa- comes from sattu (roasted Bengal gram flour), a staple food in Bihar. For Satuaan, it is customary to eat a meal with sattu as its star item. The festival ushers in the summer season, so associating sattu-eating with it follows sound logic: sattu’s cooling properties are an effective antidote to heat.

We keep up with tradition by having sattu in some form on the occasion. This year, we had sattu chokha.

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A quick tomato carrot soup that doesn’t require much toiling in the kitchen. With just a few ingredients and a couple of time-saving tools, you will have steaming hot cups of soup on the dining table within minutes.

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The microwave in my kitchen is usually relegated to the role of reheater – rarely is it called upon to participate in the *making* of a dish. This microwaved tomato salsa recipe dodges the norm!

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The very versatile sabudana sits as comfortably in sweet dishes as in savory. This South East Asian inspiration – sabudana coconut milk pudding with mangoes – is a fine example of sabudana in its dessert avatar.

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Like hot spicy food? Green chili fry (bhuni hari mirch) is just the thing for you. Coated with spices, quickly cooked in mustard oil, green chili fry on the side with an Indian meal will give your taste buds a delightful fiery kick.

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