19 May
Till not too long ago, pancakes for me meant cheela. The flour/batter of the pancake would vary: if not besan then moong or sooji, but the template of ‘thick batter + a dash of seasoning’ was a constant.
A chance viewing of Maangchi’s vegetable pancake recipe brought about a shift in this template.
3 May
Not all experiments pass muster the first time. A few go through rounds of trials before they reach publicly sharable shape. A few are embarrassments best shelved forever (I’m thinking of you, curdled strawberry yogurt). Lachha gobhi paratha, I’m delighted to report, was a stupendous success from the word go.
28 Apr
Thick colorful bell pepper strips and wedge-cut potatoes, shallow-fried with fragrant spices. Uses no onion, tomato, ginger or garlic. This aloo capsicum dry sabzi is just right for days when your pantry has run out of Indian curry staples.
19 Apr
I was looking for a chickpea recipe that did not call for onion, tomato, ginger or garlic, and I stumbled upon a Himachali dish called madra which is served during the dham food festival. Madra is a legume and yogurt combination with an array of aromatic spices – just the kind of recipe I wanted.
My version is lighter than the traditional madra recipe and calls for fewer spices, based primarily on what was on hand – I simply call it “dahi chhole” instead of madra as I have probably strayed too far from the template…
11 Apr
Momos seemed like exotic restaurant-only food to me for a long time, till a friend taught me how easy it is to make them at home. All you need is to figure out a way to steam the momos. The good news is: you don’t need fancy equipment for it; an idli stand and an Indian pressure cooker do the job perfectly.
4 Apr
Once upon a time, when I couldn’t tell the most basic cooking ingredients apart, I decided to cook myself some khichdi. The end result was a slimy mess. It dawned on me after downing a few spoonfuls that I had cooked the khichdi with dhuli urad dal instead of yellow moong dal. The two looked so alike to my untrained eye that, unless I was squinting to detect the right shade of pale yellow, I could swear they are one and the same.
My early struggles in the kitchen were peppered with many such quandaries. Is this coriander powder or garam masala? Is that besan or sattu? Nigella seed or mustard, cumin seed or saunf?
If only I had thought of labeling my storage jars then…
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.]
Bottle gourd decks up in style in lauki paratha, balancing its natural simplicity with the heftier flavors of fresh coriander and carom seeds.
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.
Dal with raw mango – in which raw mango slivers, with help from garlic and ghee, elevate simple the yellow legume to exotic status.
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!
This homemade rabri recipe with fresh seasonal fruits, dates and apricots is as healthy as can be. No refined sugar, no condensed milk!
