Also known as Kacha Aam Er Daal/ Aamer Tok Dal, this special Bengali Mango Daal has been my fav ever since childhood. And I am not much into daal on a daily basis, unlike most Indians. Aam Daal - Quintessential Summer Meal Aam Daal or Kacha Aamer Tok Daal has a mild tangy refreshing taste. And with the minimal spice that goes in, it’s light to the tummy and perfect to beat the heat....

Apple Oats Crumble and Apple Chips The apple crumble recipe was sitting in my drafts for a long time now. I had completely forgotten about it until today morning. This is how crazy, busy life has been for the past few months now. Anyways, so before I get into complete spring mode, here is a quick throwback to fall flavors with apple. Ingredients for the Apple Crumble Apples - I used red, you can choose green too!...

I grew up eating bottle gourd very often and especially during summer, as this vegetable helps to keep your tummy cool. Ma would prepare it with lentils, with shrimps and even with fish. What is Badami Lauki Kofta ? Badami is almond, well badam is technically almond. Lauki is bottle gourd and kofta is dumpling. There are a wide variety of vegetarian Kofta dishes that are typically served in form of a curry....

Baked Eggs 3 Ways Tomato and Spinach Baked EggsSpicy Jalapeno Avocado Baked EggsCreamy Cheese Baked Eggs WATCH THE VIDEO One of my go to ingredients when I am out of ideas is eggs! My family loves eggs and we prepare it in several different ways. From simple sunny side up for breakfast to curries for lunch or dinner and then occasionally we go for Baked Eggs. This is such a fun way to incorporate eggs in your menu without making too much effort....

Bread Roll Malai is a quick version of the famous Indian dessert – Rasmalai. The flavored milk base is the same. Instead of making fresh cheese for Rasmalai, you will use sandwich bread. Satisfy your sweet craving almost instantly with this Bread Roll Malai. WATCH THE VIDEO What is Bread Roll Malai Creamy thick khoya/mawa (solid milk) is spread on sandwich bread. It is then rolled to seal tight. A creamy flavored milk which we call malai milk is prepared by simmer milk and it’s flavored with cardamom and nuts....

Chicken Momo is a North Eastern India Speciality! If you are from northeastern part of India or grew up there, I assume you must be familiar with momo. You probably even love it so much that you could survive on it. I was born and brought up in Shillong, a tiny little hill station in northeast part of India. The place is known for its pine covered hills, flowing streams, cool air and music....

By the way, did I ever mention about this lemon tree in our apartment community? Well, it took me only one entire year to figure that out. And here is the fun part, it’s right next to our flat and I see it everyday from my balcony. Yet, I never knew until last year when Mom visited us and pointed it out. Right now, the tree is filled with tiny lemons and I am quite sure that as soon as they grow big enough, most of it would be plucked even before I realize....

Chickpeas are quite common in Indian cuisines and make an appearance in several classic recipes. Every other state seems to have a favorite way to prepare chickpeas. Even though I am not a big fan of chickpeas, it’s always been my go to ingredient when I am without any inspiration for the next day meal. I don’t like to use the canned version. I just make sure to soak them before we hit the bed at night....

Flour: You can use all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour, both gives equally tasty and soft texture. Ghee/ Oil or Butter: I would highly recommend ghee for the best authentic flavor, but you can surely use oil or melted butter if you like. Salt for flavor Baking Soda and Yogurt: These two are the key ingredients for this Instant Naan recipe. It’s the combination of yogurt with baking soda that creates the puffy pillowy naan texture....

The best part about making a big batch of granola is that it’s not just breakfast food, it also makes for a great snack. On some days, it becomes our post nap grub. My boy and I sit with a bowl of granola and munch along as we read some book or shape alphabets with play dough. Jaggery is one of traditional sweeteners used in Indian treats. It is used quite widely to prepare the desserts, especially during the harvest festival....

The non-traditional Kaju Chocolate Barfi Typically for authentic Barfi, you will need good quality whole milk powder that is cooked with butter and whole milk until it thickens. The texture turns out soft and melting in mouth. Unlike the traditional barfi, these Kaju Chocolate Barfi is fudgy. There is no milk powder in this recipe. It a fun nontraditional Diwali treat, and loved by kids. It can make a lovely addition to your Diwali gift box....

Occasionally I like to bake a tea cake, either with fresh herbs, nuts or seasonal fruits. It’s always a fuss free cake, whisked everything in one bowl and prepared with oil instead of butter. This Mulberry Almond Cake is very similar to my apple almond cake, with the beautiful delicate crumbs and fresh mulberries studded in between. I tasted mulberries after several years, and the very first bite took me back to my childhood days at my Aunt’s house....

When Kankana from Playful Cooking asked if I could do a guest post over on her blog, I had just finished taking pictures of this Orange Chess Pie. And I was unsure if it would be the perfect post to share. But one of the reasons I love reading anything Kankana writes, is that there is always a story behind her recipes. Reading about the meals her mom cooked when she was little or the food she grew up with always makes me feel warm and happy....

When it comes to utensils, you would always find a pressure cooker or two! Pressure Cooker might intimidate a lot of people but not an Indian wife. They have some kind of love towards them. My Mom has three of those.. different sizes and uses them almost every day. There is one in my kitchen too, hiding somewhere in some counter. I could never like those! Tough to clean.. makes your kitchen a mess if your water proportion is not correct and then, the noise of the whistle!...

Sweet, spicy and sticky! This roasted chicken thigh is a winner for fuss-free lunch or dinner. With a few basic ingredients, the sauce gets ready in no time. Lots of garlic, some red chilies, savory notes from soya sauce, sweetness from honey and to balance it all together, big splash of fresh lime juice. A quick boil and sauce comes out gorgeous red in color. Although you don’t need to marinate the chicken but I like to allow it to soak up the flavor for at least 15 minutes before shoving it in the oven....

This sure does tells you about my love for fish. The thought of eating fish head, tail or even fish with skin and bones scares Arvind. So, I don’t cook anything but boneless skinless fillet. Someday.. someday.. I am hoping to make Arvind eat fish like I do.. and may be, I should start by making him eat fish with skin.. (evil grin) 😉 I am sure to receive some stares after he reads this post !...

There are various different versions of Tuna Sandwich and I myself try several different ways to make it more interesting every time. BUT, when it comes to lunch box, I stay away from experiments and stick to something simple that I know for sure he will eat happily. So, this particular version of tuna sandwich is utterly simple. Ingredients you need for Tuna Sandwich: Canned Tuna - My family loves tuna salad and sandwich....

Poached pears are perfect Fall desserts, and you don’t have to restrict to wine. Although, wine poached pear does have its charm. Wine Poached Pear is a classic French dessert, and I believe it started as a way to enjoy unripe pears. A great way to maximize their harvest without wasting or throwing away unripe fruits. I love to serve it mildly warm and then topped it with reduced red wine sauce and some whipped cream....

I didn’t like tofu for a long time and only recently did I truly started to enjoy it, especially since I started to air fry tofu. What is an Air Fryer ? Ever since I bought an air fryer last year, I have been using it on a very regular basis. Air Fryer is high powered convection oven that cooks food very fast and gives the perfect crispy texture that you would expect from frying in deep oil....

Dahi Mirchi Sabzi holds a significant place in regional cuisine, especially in states like Rajasthan. Traditional Rajasthani cuisine is often quite spicy, as chili was used to preserve and cure food. This spicy tangy green chili side dish often graces the tables during festivals, family gatherings, and celebratory occasions, adding zest and warmth to the dining experience. Ingredients you need for Dahi Mirchi Sabzi Fresh green chili - Get the less spicy variety of green chili....