Posts

Aug 15, 2019, Updated May 13, 2020 All tips and tricks to make the perfect samosa each time! These are filled with a spicy potato filling and are also vegan. Samosa, does it need any introduction? I don’t think so! The triangular shaped flaky pastry filled with spicy potato, chicken or lamb filling is a popular snack not only in India but in several countries of the world. Because samosa is so so common in India (you literally get samosa and chai at every other street corner), I always considered it to be a quintessential Indian delicacy....

Recently I’ve shared lots of light and refreshing dishes like Korean cucumber salad, Italian Panzanella salad, and Thai green papaya salad. But, this time, I’m going back to all things hearty and wholesome with this simple vegetarian maqluba (aka upside-down layered rice). This dish has you layer vegetables and meat (soy mince in this case) underneath rice, then baking it to allow all the flavors to meld before flipping it over to serve, allowing all the juices from the vegetables to sink back into the rice for tons of flavor....

Sorbet (or ‘sherbet’) is an amazing frozen treat for when you want a treat that is lighter and packed with flavor but without the heavier creaminess of ice-cream. This strawberry sorbet uses just four ingredients for a flavorful treat. And since I’m taking full advantage of this year’s berry season, for those days when you are craving ice-cream over sorbet, then you may like this Raspberry Ice-cream (with thyme and rose, optional) or this Blackberry lavender Yogurt ice-cream....

Apr 30, 2021 I haven’t shared many sandwich recipes here on the blog and that needs to change. Sandwiches are often thought to be quite simple and may I say boring? In my opinion though, a little extra effort can change your simple sandwich to something truly remarkable. And I am sure a lot of you will agree with me there. Granted in everyday life, my sandwiches are also pretty simple....

Jun 03, 2016, Updated May 07, 2023 It’s this month that we moved into our new house (and our first!) last year. It has been quite a ride so far, from furniture shopping to painting walls to failed attempts at gardening. I would say that setting up the house was probably the most challenging and time consuming thing and we are not done yet! We lived in a 1 room apartment, were newly married so practically we had no furniture....

If you already enjoy rice pudding, you’ll hopefully love this Lebanese rice pudding (aka Riz bi Haleeb, which means ‘rice in milk’). This Arabic rice pudding version sees you cook the rice pudding on the stove, thicken it with cornstarch, and delicately scent it with rose water or orange blossom (like baklava and qatayef). All before serving it with a delicious, crushed pistachio topping! It seems like no matter where you live, there is a rice pudding-style dish that is beloved....

Shrimp are tricky creatures when it comes to the kitchen. Somehow, they’re easy to both undercook and overcook – and there’s nothing worse than shellfish not cooked properly. When it comes to ovens, or even frying pans, shrimp can come out worse than when they went in. And this is where the air fryer comes in. Cooking shrimp in the air fryer not only saves on oil and effort, but it produces a delicious flavor and great texture – just by pressing a few buttons....

Oct 27, 2020, Updated Nov 11, 2020 These festive treat are easy to make and require only few ingredients. Milk powder is one of my very favorite ingredients to use when it comes to making Indian mithai. There’s so much you can make with them (like this rose cardamom burfi or milk peda) and that’s the reason I am always stocked up on it especially during this time of the year....

Summer is almost here. Watermelon is one of my favorite summer fruits. Watermelon is one of the most hydrating foods and contains more than 90% water. It is also rich in iron, vitamins A and C, lycopene, and potassium. This watermelon juice has a cooling effect and is naturally sweet, refreshing, and hydrating, making it the perfect summer drink for outdoor pool parties, potlucks, and picnics. This watermelon Juice with Mint and Lime is similar to a drink served throughout Mexico known as watermelon agua fresca, made with fresh watermelon, lime juice, and sugar, all blended into a delicious drink....

If you are tired of making zucchini curry or zucchini sabzi, and looking for more ideas to cook with zucchini, here’s a delicious alternative zucchini besan sabzi. This Zucchini besan sabzi recipe is similar to my broccoli besan sabzi, offering a fantastic way to transform zucchinis into a flavorful dish quickly. My family loves it, and I make it almost every other week. To make it even healthier, you can add toasted flax seeds as a finishing touch....

I used my Instant Vortex Plus 6 Quart Air Fryer for this recipe. I love this because you can get the food in a single layer all at once, and dinner is ready in 30 minutes or less. Ingredients for Homemade Plantain Chips Plantains/Raw Banana – Choose green plantains to make these chips. If you can’t find them, you can also use raw green bananas. Coconut Oil – Traditionally, Banana chips are deep-fried in coconut oil in India....

One of my favorite ways to serve one of my favorite vegetables is with a delicious Asian garlic sauce. It blends some of the most commonly used flavors in Asian cooking with a little Sichuan twist, which means plenty of spice – and plenty of delicious flavors. Garlic eggplant is a great way to dress up the veggie and help you get in your five a day. You can even add extra veggies to bulk it up with nutrients....

Even though you are not a smoothie person, you’re bound to love this nutritionally rich avocado and banana smoothie that is both silky and delicious and takes five minutes to make. My toddler daughter Dhwani also loves this drink. I remember drinking this avocado smoothie, also known as Butternut Fruit, in India while working in the Cognizant cafeteria post-lunch. It is also known as an avocado banana milkshake. Avocados are loaded with mono-saturated fatty acids, suitable for a healthy heart....

Jun 11, 2015, Updated Jan 02, 2018 You know some recipes are so simple that you actually think if it qualifies enough as a recipe to share. But then the very same dishes are delicious and even though super simple to make, you cannot resist sharing them. And that’s exactly my thoughts about this Avocado Tomato Sandwich with Baby Spinach. This sandwich actually has some of my favorite things – there’s avocado (which I can never have enough of) and then there’s tomato and spinach!...

I have always LOVED banana bread, it’s sweet, moist, fluffy, and such a comforting treat. But with this homemade vegan ‘Nutella’ spread can we just say yummmmmm. Now, it’s taken me a while to get this homemade hazelnut ‘Nutella’ spread ‘just right’ but I think I’ve finally hit the nail on the head. With just 7 simple ingredients and about 15 minutes, you can whip up a delicious jar of spread that can be kept in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container....

Why I love this recipe Beets—or beetroot, as they’re known in some parts of the world—have a distinctive, earthy taste that turns a bit sweet when roasted and caramelized. This flavor blends well with classic hummus’s nutty and tangy flavor, resulting in a creamy and delicious dip. Plus, my roasted beet hummus recipe is simple and quick to make. Once the beets are roasted, blend everything in your food processor. And the vibrant pink color of this hummus will impress all your family and friends....

What is Halwa? Halwas are easy and delicious Indian desserts that have a pudding-like texture. The best part is that you can make halwa from lentils to various fruits and vegetables, turning them into healthy desserts. Beets are an excellent source of folate, manganese, potassium, and copper. They are also a known source of magnesium, phosphorous, vitamin C, iron, vitamin B 6, and dietary fiber. In addition, they are low in saturated fat and cholesterol....

Broccoli is one of the world’s healthiest foods. This vegetable is a powerhouse of nutrients. In addition, it’s reputed to benefit digestion, the cardiovascular system, and the immune system and to have anti-inflammatory and even cancer-preventing properties. Paneer is a rich source of protein, and thus, it is ideal for vegetarians. It fulfills your daily calcium needs too. This helps your bones to grow faster and stronger. So this recipe is a good way of serving wholesome meals to your toddlers or kids....

Jul 06, 2014, Updated May 07, 2023 Here’s yet another Indian cookie recipe that I am sharing on my blog – Butter Cookies With Cashews & Almonds. I especially call these Indian cookies because this is how cookies in India are supposed to be – crispy and crunchy and a total contrast to cookies in USA. Also unlike the USA cookies these are often relished with tea and are less sweet in taste....

Kosambari/Koshambari is a traditional salad from Karnataka cuisine. It is made during the festival season like Navratri, Ramnavami or at weddings. It is served as an accompaniment to our South Indian meals. It is also served as Prasada at temples. The traditional hesarubele carrot kosambari and cucumber kosambari are staples in our household, due to their health benefits and delightful taste. We make sure to include them regularly in our lunch or dinner meals at home....