Here is the recipe I mentioned in my one year blogversary post – traditional dum biryani. Everyone knows what biryani is – that lovely, rich and aromatic one-dish meal which is almost as synonymous with Indian cuisine as curry is. There are accounts showing that biryani was brought to India by settlers from the Persian…
Cabbage & Onion Fritters (Bajji or Pakoda)
Pakoda or pakora are a fried Indian tea-time snack. In South India, they are most commonly known as bajjis. Just about anything can be made into bajjis or pakoda. Most commonly potatoes, cauliflower florets, onions, paneer, etc are used. Back home, my mom makes a mean cabbage and onion pakoda. These are my most favorite…
Fish In Yogurt Sauce – Bengali Doi Maach
There is nothing like an illness to make you re-consider your food choices. I am not talking of any huge life-changing decisions here. Even the common cold or flu can make you crave variety. Is it just me or is it normal to crave new foods rather than the comfort of food that you grew…
Mysore Pak: An Utterly Delicious Indian Sweet Treat
I am doing a complete turn-around from my usual oh-so-easy-yet-yummy dessert posts today. Indian sweet treats are a test of patience, endurance and experience. Mind you, that does not mean we cannot make them at home ourselves. With a little practice and attention to detail, it can be done! We take everyday ingredients (like lentils,…
Ennai Kathirikkai – Spiced Baby Brinjal/Eggplant In Tangy Gravy
Brinjal, eggplant, aubergine or whatever you want to call it, is very popular in Indian cuisine. Owing to its versatile nature and high nutrition value, it is often called the “king of vegetables”. I distinctly remember a cartoon in my childhood (in the state-owned Doordarshan, of course) that showed a stout brinjal with a crown on…
Chili Chicken With Pan-Fried Boiled Eggs
The title might put you off a bit, but please don’t go yet! I promise it is worth it. I love Chinese cuisine, but did you know there is a unique variety of Indo-Chinese or Indianized Chinese dishes? Yep, I am talking about the curry versions of chili chicken, chicken manchurian, or chili paneer, gobi…
Mushroom Peas Masala
I love mushrooms and always find ways to incorporate them in our meals. Be it in egg burji (spicy Indian scrambled eggs), curries, stir fries, pasta or even in vegetable biryani. They have such a unique and hearty, sort of meaty, flavor. And mushrooms are so easy to cook too. Mushroom peas masala is an easy weeknight…
Tricolor Petal Cake
August 15th marks the 67th Independence Day of the Republic of India. It is a day of great joy and pride to Indians all over the world. I decided to make a tricolor dessert for a little celebration at home. The Indian flag colors are saffron (a shade of orange), white and green, with a blue wheel…
Indian Chicken Pepper Fry / Pepper Chicken Masala
This is a spicy south Indian chicken preparation spiced with a lot of black pepper. In Indian cuisine, the term ‘fry’ sometimes refers to a dish prepared by simmering the ingredients slowly till it has been reduced to a thick, almost dry consistency. Such is the case with this dish, and do not confuse this…
Easy Meal – Vegetable Pulao And Stir Fry With Edamame
This meal was put together to please the guys in the house. A mild, colorful vegetable pulao for little Boy and a Chinese style stir fry for the hubby. It is easy and the only hands-on time needed is for chopping all those veggies. I am a big fan of edamame beans right now and…
Restaurant Style Creamy Egg Curry
Have you ever wondered how the curries in restaurants are so creamy and rich? The answer, my friend, lies in a whir of the blender. The bhuna or mixture of onions, ginger, garlic and spices fried in oil, is blended to make a smooth paste, which gives the curry its creaminess. This egg curry is…
Dum Aloo / Slow-Cooked Spicy Potatoes
Dum Aloo or slow-steam-cooked potatoes (baby potatoes are best) is originally a Kashmiri dish, made by deep-frying the baby potatoes and slowly simmering them in a yogurt based spice mixture. As always, there are many variations of dum aloo. This is one of those dishes that is as much delicious served dry or with gravy. I…
