Aug 22, 2018 It’s best enjoyed with hot rotis or paratha! Some veggies are liked universally while others have limited appeal, the eggplant (baingan in Hindi) belongs to the latter category. I don’t know how true it is but this is what I observed growing up, kids especially would never eat this vegetable. My brothers are all grown now and they still don’t eat it! Anyway I have always been an eggplant fan, I like it in any form like in this bornai banjan or this eggplant mango kadhi but my most favorite way to eat it is baingan bharta!...

Jan 19, 2019, Updated Jun 08, 2020 Okra or bhindi as it’s called in Hindi is a very popular vegetable in India. I think after paneer (which though is not a vegetable but most definitely treated like one in India), bhindi must be everyone’s favorite veggies especially kids. I say this because I remember when I was a kid my friends, cousins who were very picky would always eat 2 veggies – paneer and okra....

Nov 10, 2021, Updated Nov 15, 2022 Now that we are done with all the Diwali recipes, we can shift our focus to fall and winter produce. One of my absolute favorite this time of the year is Butternut Squash. It’s great in soups and chili and also in bharta, but let me tell you guys, it’s really good in a simple Indian style sabzi as well! For those who don’t know, sabzi is what we would refer to any simple stir-fry in north India....

Jan 22, 2021, Updated Feb 01, 2021 It is also vegan and gluten-free. Chana dal had a special place in my heart growing up. Mainly because it wasn’t made everyday in my house unlike toor/arhar dal. Mom made chana dal once in every few months when we got super bored of eating the same toor dal everyday. And so it always felt special. I would come back from school and if I saw chana dal on the table, I would be delighted....

Jul 10, 2015, Updated Jan 02, 2018 And another one! I hope you guys aren’t getting bored of my popsicle recipes? Okay, I promise this is the last one, for a while! And I saved the best for the last, YES! Maybe I am biased because there’s Peanut Butter involved but guys these peanut butter popsicles are so good! I was actually playing around with flavors and I had no idea that it would turn out so good....

What is cocoa powder? An unsweetened powder that delivers a deep chocolate flavor to dishes, cocoa powder is what remains when butter fat is taken away from chocolate and then ground to a fine powder. Traditionally used in place of melted chocolate to add flavor to both sweet and savory dishes, it can come in a variety of flavors from sweet to dark. Considerations when replacing cocoa powder When it comes to choosing a substitute for cocoa powder, you need to consider two factors – taste and texture....

Oct 15, 2014, Updated Jan 02, 2018 Dahi vada is a popular Indian snack which is often made during the festive season. So what exactly is a dahi vada? Literally dahi=yogurt and vada= fried dumpling. These are lentil dumplings which are deep fried are then dunked in creamy yogurt and then topped with sweet chutney and spices. The terms dahi vada and dahi bhalle are often used interchangeably in different parts of the country....

Jul 23, 2019, Updated Sep 02, 2022 I use a mix of toor (pigeon pea lentil) and masoor dal (red lentil) for the dal which is then tempered with onion, tomatoes and lot of ginger, garlic and cilantro! An Indian can never have enough of dals. And I hope you guys aren’t bored of my dal recipes because they will be here all the time. No escaping! This Dal Fry recipe is one of my absolute favorites....

Get ready to learn how to make better-than-takeout, restaurant-quality, easy shrimp fried rice with leftover rice and simple, inexpensive ingredients. It’s loaded with flavor and texture, healthier yet super satisfying, and NOT greasy or gummy. Plus, it is a great protein-packed, well-balanced weeknight meal when you feel low on energy and/or time. And if you love this recipe, I am sure you will also love this shrimp stir fry with vegetables or this pepper steak stir fry....

No matter what the season, I can’t overstate the importance of staying hydrated. Whether it’s during a heatwave or the middle of winter, our bodies need water to function optimally. If you aren’t plain water “fan”, luckily, here is a list of naturally flavoured water recipes with various fruit infuses – to encourage even the most forgetful/reluctant of us to get in our daily water amount, with a smile. Fruit-flavored and herb-infused water recipes boost the flavor of water without adding any unhealthy artificial sweeteners or flavors – for a natural, delicious flavor twist....

This year I’ve decided to make the most of watermelon season while it’s at its sweetest. I’ve already shared a recipe for a watermelon feta salad, watermelon salsa, and I’ve whipped up a large batch of watermelon juice and even watemelon jelly. Now it’s the turn of this simple, refreshing watermelon granita (aka watermelon Italian ice/watermelon shaved ice). This fluffy, icy watermelon treat is the perfect way to cool down during warm summer days/evenings or end a BBQ/garden party....

What is Girmit? Girmit is one of the most famous and sort after evening tea-time snacks or street food in the Central and Northern regions of Karnataka, and you will get this in all the street side shops and temporary shacks. It’s usually eaten with Mirchi bajji. My husband and I grew up in Harihar, close to Davangere, and my husband remembers eating Girmit almost every day since childhood until he passed out of Engineering and still craves like a baby for this amazing snack....

Jan 18, 2016, Updated Jan 02, 2018 I have told you guys about my lunchbox story before isn’t it? All through my school life, my mom sent me parathas for my lunch every single day. Okay maybe not every single day but 90% of the time. I really used to be jealous of all the other kids who would get sandwiches, noodles etc. in their lunchbox. I would always complain to mom that send me something else but it never really made much difference....

There is always time for a warming bowl of soup, and my latest obsession is this easy springtime soup. It’s a light but nutrient-dense green soup made with peas and zucchini. Its refreshing taste and healthful profile make it a great year-round option for a highly satisfying meal filled with plant-based protein and fiber. It’s easy to prepare, budget-friendly, and a great meal-prep/freezer-friendly soup, too. It’s a great soup to add to your rotation, along with homemade tomato soup and homemade asparagus soup....

If you’re looking for a dip/spread that’s a mix somewhere between this homemade Nutella (hazelnut cacao spread) and chocolate hummus, a creamy, rich spread/dip that tastes like brownie batter but without any butter, oil, dairy, or eggs, you’ve found it! This brownie dip tastes like brownie batter and works amazingly as a spread for toast or homemade banana bread or to be dipped into with seed crackers, etc! In fact, this dessert dip is 100% natural with a combination of hazelnuts, walnuts, cacao powder, dates (or date paste), and espresso....

When it comes to homemade vs. store-bought, I’ll admit some recipes simply aren’t worth the time and effort. Homemade broths and stocks are NOT on that list. A well-made vegetable broth, chicken broth, or beef broth can be in a league of its own compared to store-bought versions and really takes a dish to the next level. Sure, it takes time to brown the meat, then simmer it in water with vegetables, herbs, and spices....

This homemade kombucha DIY has been on my list for a long time, and I’m so happy that I’ve finally managed to document the process to share on my blog. Learning how to make kombucha is surprisingly easy, and once you start making your own, you’ll never want to rebuy store-bought. I’ve even added a simple DIY for pomegranate kombucha here too. If you haven’t already seen my long list of immune-boosting DIY’s available then feel free to check out the DIY section of my blog now....

Oct 12, 2015, Updated May 07, 2023 If you were to ask me to make a list of my most favorite dishes in the world, pav bhaji will definitely make it to the list. In fact chaat (common term used for Indian street food) and pav bhaji will be there among the top 3 for sure. For those who don’t know pav = bread/dinner roll and bhaji = mashed veggies with spices....

Pumpkin spice latte season came early this year (if you know, you know!) in the UK, which is excellent for all those pumpkin spice coffee-obsessed out there, not so much for our bank accounts. Luckily, you can make a delicious pumpkin spice latte, iced pumpkin spice latte, and even a pumpkin spice Frappuccino at home in just a few minutes, at a fraction of the cost (and often calories and sugar (you can even go sugar-free), too)!...

Oregano is one of my favorite herbs (hello, Za’atar!). It has a delightful aroma and distinct robust, earthy flavor that make it a popular ingredient in many cuisines. It’s great at enhancing the taste of various dishes. Plus it has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and may provide anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits. But have you ever bought an oregano plant and then have not been able to use all the fresh leaves before they wilt?...