These days I am making a lot of pilaf/pulao dishes. My in laws are here in the US, on a short vacation, and they enjoy such rice dishes a lot for lunch. So you can expect to see a good collection of pilaf showing up here more frequently. Gobi Mushroom Matar Pulao Gobi is Cauliflower and Matar is green peas. Both these veggies are used a lot in preparing Indian spiced rice dishes....

I learnt making Pesto long back and for a very long time, I restricted to the traditional basil pesto with pine nuts. Then I moved from pine nuts to walnuts. We eat Pesto a lot and I figured using walnut will be a much better budget friendly option than pine nuts. Soon I realized that this particular green goddess doesn’t need a strict recipe and we can play around with the greens any way we like....

The beauty of Jhinge Bata lies in its simplicity. It’s a no-fuss dish that requires minimal ingredients, yet it delivers a punch of flavor that can elevate a plain meal of steamed rice to a whole new level. Why Should You Try Jhinge Bata? Healthy and Light: Ridge gourd is low in calories, making it a perfect option for a light and healthy meal. It’s also packed with nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamin C, and iron....

Quesadilla is a such a great meal for any day, and there is always endless possibilities of what we can stuff in there. Leftovers are always great, and sometimes those veggies that got ignored can be stir fried and hidden with cheese in tortillas. I always keep a packet of Tortilla for such quick meals. VIDEO OF MUSHROOM EGG QUESADILLA Mushroom Egg Quesadilla The combination of Mushroom with Japaleno and Egg is full proof, and you can definitely add some dried herbs or spices too....

Rososgolla or Roshogolla or rasgulla, call it whatever way you like, is a melting in mouth Indian dessert. Nolen Gur is a special jaggery popular in Kolkata. You will find it mostly during winter months. There are two different versions on the jaggery. The liquid form of the jaggery is called Nolen Gur and the solidified form that is sold in block is called Patali Gur. The jaggery has a string flavor of date and tastes wonderful when we add in desserts....

For someone like me, who almost always chooses a quick meal that doesn’t call for slow cooking, I found it very tough to study the technique of risotto making. You cook it at a high heat and it will get mushy leaving the rice uncooked. You prepare it at a low heat, and the rice will get overcooked making it soggy. Bleh!! The heat has to be just perfect. It was not easy to figure out the right temperature by reading recipes or watching videos....

Being the summer girl that I am, I find it very difficult to let go the sunshine, let go the warm clear sky, the long days and summer fruits. But I am gearing up, getting ready for the change, for apple and pears, and to fill the home with fall flavors. Until then, stay with me on this salad, which is definitely light but can very well be served on a cold winter evening....

It would have been easy to buy a bread maker of our own and Arvind tried his best to convince me but then, what’s the fun in that! May be someday in future, I will buy my own gadget too but for now, I want to see the yeast activate and witness the dough double in size. I want to touch the dough and shape it as I like it and watch it change color as it bakes in the hot oven....

What is Shim Beguner Chorchori ? Chorchori is one of those Bengali pure vegetarian dishes that my Mom would often prepare. Especially on the days in the week when we would eat just vegetarian food! While people may think that Bengalis are meat lovers, there are vegetarian dishes such as this that we equally enjoy. Your can prepare chorchori with different medley of vegetables. This Shim Beguner Chorchori is one of the most common combination used....

It took us a while to enjoy Tofu, and now it’s become a regular in our house and my son loves it. The simple air fried tofu was my first attempt to enjoy tofu, and since then I have tried using it in various different sauce. Tofu Pepper stir-fry is not only packed with flavor but also rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. More Tofu dishes to try SESAME CRUSTED TOFU TOFU BROCCOLI STIR FRY AIR FRIED TOFU...

Chana is the Bengali word for chenna (fresh paneer). Do not confuse with the hindi word chana for chickpea. Dalna is a Bengali word used for light curries. People also refer the dish to as Chanar Torkari. It is a very popular dish in every Bengali household, and we always pair it with white rice. You can prepare the same dish with store bought paneer cubes too, however the chenna dumpling does take it to a whole new level....

Last month, Better Homes and Garden asked for a dessert contribution starring Vitamin C for their August issue. I instantly thought of incorporating fruits and citrus was the most obvious choice. But then I learnt of other Vitamin C rich ingredients, like chili pepper! A good dose, if you use raw red chili and a fairly little dose, if you use the dry powder. The combination of chili with chocolate is not unusual but it was definitely new to our palate....

She and I worked in the same department which involved frequent short travels. Most of the times, we had to travel alone but there were few trips where we got lucky and we were in the same project. During these fun trips together, she introduced me to some of the amazing dishes and interesting ingredients. I keep telling her even today that she is one of the main reasons why I started enjoying food!...

Khoya Matar Paneer Khoya refers to solid milkMatar is peasPaneer is Indian cottage cheese We Indians love paneer and every vegetarian feast often includes at least one paneer dish. Any chicken or mutton dish can be made vegetarian by adding paneer as the protein substitute. Matar Paneer is one of the most famous North Indian curry and prepared in every household. It’s the simplest way to prepare paneer and often a go to on busy weekdays....

Now, Deepa is coming to CA, all the way from NJ, to spend a week with us 🙂 Her husband is Arvind’s friend and so, you guys can imagine that how excited we all are about the reunion! We girls have everything planned out. What to eat? Where to visit? Which disc to go? What parties to attend!! Everything planned out 😀 Tomorrow, we are going to Yosemite. 3 couples, 1 car, 4 hrs drive ....

Mac and Cheese Bread Bites It’s definitely a carb loaded dish and not meant for days you are on diet. These bread bites are however a great way to use leftover mac and cheese. I always have left over mac and cheese when I prepare some for my kid. The next day, it gets rolled in bread and served at dinner or snack. These Mac and Cheese Bread Bites are very similar to Indian Bread rolls....

I probably would have never tried sorbet if not for the overload of frozen muskmelon that was in left in the freezer for almost a month. Instead of making a smoothie, I decided to try sorbet and was pleasantly surprised at how easy and instant it was. Making Muskmelon Thyme Sorbet with fresh fruits When you make Muskmelon Thyme sorbet with fresh fruits, you need to first blend it, add sugar syrup to it and then, either churn it or freeze it....

What is Chaat ? Chaat or Chat is a family of savory snacks that is originated in India. There are various different kinds of chaat you can find in India. There is always one base ingredients like flaky crackers, chickpea, potatoes, etc. You add yogurt along with green and red chutney for the sweet and savory taste. Everything combined with few other ingredients like raw onion, sev, cucumber, pomegranate etc. makes every bite moreish and finger licking good....

Rigatoni Broccoli Casserole Every time I ask my little fella what he wants to eat, be it at home or in a restaurant, his answer is always the same – mac and cheese! He doesn’t get bored of it. I guess mac and cheese is every kid’s favorite meal but am glad he also enjoys pasta in general. Few weeks back I made this super simple Rigatoni Broccoli Casserole and he loved it....

Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just looking to try something new, this recipe is sure to impress. Why you should try this sesame crusted tofu Tofu is an excellent source of plant-based protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. It’s also rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium. Sesame seeds add a boost of healthy fats, fiber, and essential minerals like zinc and copper. This dish is not only delicious, but also packed with nutrients, making it a perfect addition to a balanced diet....