Avocados are must in my pantry along with eggs. Every morning, I throw one avocado in our smoothie and then fry one egg to go along with our breakfast. When you mix both these super-foods together, it’s not only turns into a fun scoop-able breakfast but also healthy at the same time. A perfect no carb, heart-healthy good fats meal. You can go creative with the toppings and add some prosciutto, smoked salmon or bacon....
The steams and the leaves of a cauliflower have more nutrition than the florets which sadly often goes straight in the bin. So, use it to make this simple Fulkopi’r Data Bhaja that goes wonderful with rice or roti/paratha. What ingredients you need for Fulkopi’r Data Bhaja Cauliflower stalks including the leaves attached to itPotatoesmustard oilNigella seeds SPICES: Cumin powderCoriander powderFennel powderTurmeric Fulkopi’r Data Bhaja is not a spicy dish....
Orange Curd There are some condiments I absolutely never buy because it is so easy to make at home. And we have the control to make it our way. Fruit curd is one such condiment. Once you get the hand of making fruit curds at home, you will probably always have a jar stocked in your refrigerator. You can use the same recipe to make other citrus curd too. Here is a link to the Lemon Curd I had shared in the past....
Panko Crusted Salmon Panko Bread Crumbs adds the crispy topping which turns into a delicious mouthful bite with the flaky creamy salmon. Underneath the panko crust is a thin layer of Dijon mustard which creates a beautiful pungent taste. You can definitely use bread crumbs too, homemade or store bought. This is the Panko Crust brand we like Most often I keep this dish simple, without any sauce. I add some lemon slices, some cherry tomatoes from the garden which softens down on baking....
What is Sarson Ka Saag? Sarson Ka Saag is a famous Punjabi dish prepared with mustard greens. Often a combination of few other greens goes in preparing the dish. I mix spinach with mustard greens to prepare this creamy saag. There are lots of health benefits of mustard greens. It is rich in anti-oxidants, high in fiber and is definitely a good source of iron. Sarson ka saag is not something I grew up eating....
I had initially prepared these popsicles as part of recipe collaboration with Foodhall. My in-laws were in town at that time. They both avoid sugar as much as possible and learning there could be a healthy popsicle was quite surprising for them. The combination of creamy yogurt with fresh fruits in form of popsicles is always a treat, whether you blend the fruit or keep it in bite size. The addition of crunchy granola to the popsicle brings an interesting texture balance along with flavor....
The taste of Begun Poda is extremely earthy from charring the eggplant in open fire, and the mustard oil along with raw onion adds a lovely pungent flavor. We like it spicy, so we add a few green chilies too and for the ultimate refreshing flavor to balance it all, a good dose of fresh cilantro leaves. Ingredients for Begun Poda Eggplant – You definitely need the big ones or the long ones....
Candy Cane Cookies Instead of adding some candy canes to your cookie box, add these buttery melting in mouth Candy Cane Cookies. With a cup of hot cocoa, these playful cookies bring simple pleasure. And a giant smile to any kid’s face. I kept these butter sugar cookies simple vanilla flavored. But you can add some peppermint essence oil too or almond extract. Shaping the Candy Cane Cookies in two different ways....
Baking Ciabatta needs a little effort and time plus the elaborate messy work. It certainly requires a stand mixer too, as the dough has to be kneaded for 15 minutes at medium high speed, which is almost unmanageable by hand. Unless, you have some seriously strong muscle power! At the end of kneading, the dough looks glossy, it’s gummy, wet and quite lumpy to handle. After the first rise, when you shape the dough for the second rise, don’t bother to make it look neat or give it a form....
I didn’t had any luck finding couscous in India. As soon as I saw it in the shops out here, I knew I had to give it a try. The texture looks grainy and it tastes like a combination of pasta and semolina. It can taste very dry unless paired with something more moist like a stew or meat. It’s commonly eaten in North Africa and is one of the healthiest grain-based products....
If you haven’t tried Hassleback potatoes before, then definitely give it a go. Soon it will become your go-to potato side dish. Yes, slicing the potatoes takes some time, but with the chopstick trick it is effortless. These Hassleback Baby Potatoes are baked and not fried, which makes it less guilty, too. Hassleback Baby Potatoes with garlic and Curry leaves If you love potatoes as much as we do, then you don’t even need a flavor booster most days....
It was one such day when I was feeling very lazy since morning! From the corner of my eye, I could see the laundry basket screaming at me to clear it off. I could see the beautiful sunny day from my window asking me to come out for a walk. Huh! I decided to ignore it all. Everybody deserves to be lazy some days.. right?? So, I switched on the TV, made myself a nice lemonade and started watching Food Network channel....
This humble drink needs minimum effort and gives maximum pleasure. It also has a lot of health benefits in terms of keeping your tummy rolling smoothly, loosing the flab, curing hangovers and replenishing your body salts after you sweat a bucket everyday. I mostly prefer plain Nimbu Pani with a little salt and sugar swirled in it. But when I am in the mood for that extra smack, I go for Masala Nimbu Soda (Spiced Sparkly Lemonade)....
Gobi Manchurian comes in two form Gobi Manchurian can be served dry as an appetizer or serve it saucy as a main course. What is Indo-Chinese Food? It’s a style of cooking that was invented long back by a small Chinese community in the eastern part of India. It’s a blend of Chinese style of cooking in hot wok with a blend of Chinese and Indian flavors. Of course, people in India just refer to it as Chinese food, which I eventually realized is not appropriate....
What is Gur Makhana? To break down the name, Gur is Jaggery and Makhana also known as Phool Makhana is Lotus Stem seeds. Phool Makhana is also known as Fox Nuts. It looks like popcorn and when toasted it also tastes like popcorn. You can add any flavor you like and turn it into a healthy snack for kids and grown ups. Gur Makhana tastes very similar to caramelized popcorn, and kids absolutely love these....
I had learned about Mutton Nihari from an Indian cooking show. In the promo of the show, the chef was cooking Mutton Nihari. And even though it showed only a few glimpses, it was enough to inspire me. Since then, I have made this dish countless number of times! What is Mutton Nihari Mutton Nihari is a traditional Muslim dish that came from the Royal Kitchen of Mughal. Over the period of time, the dish migrated to different regions, which each making several little twists of their own....
I often like my morning tea with something savory, preferably rusk. My two girlfriends, Prerna and Vijitha, share the same ritual with their morning tea. So, when we gathered for the Christmas party, I figured that these crackers would be perfect gift for those lovelies. We, food enthusiastic people, always appreciate edible gifts, both giving and receiving. However, I was not sure if giving simple savory crackers would be the right choice because we all love sugar and spice during this time of the year....
To make it extra special, I made a creamy jaggery sauce with the leftover filling and drizzled it on top of the Patishapta. It’s so delectable at every bite, with the flawless aromatic sweetness from date palm jaggery making it almost melting in the mouth. What is Patishapta? Patishapta is a quintessential winter treat. It falls in the category of pitha/pithe! Bengali Pitha or Pithe are special types of Bengali sweets that are typically prepared using seasonal harvest....
Why You Should Try Sukha Kala Chana? If you’re on the lookout for a high-protein, vegetarian dish, Sukha Kala Chana fits the bill. Black chickpeas (kala chana) are rich in iron, protein, and fiber, making this recipe a power-packed addition to your diet. It’s also gluten-free and can be vegan if you use oil instead of ghee, catering to various dietary preferences. The simplicity of the ingredients, combined with flavorful Indian spices, transforms kala chana into a delicious and hearty dish....
However, it’s been different since the time I moved to US and became a full time home maker. You will notice that I have quite a few snack items in my recipe index 🙂 I am always in hunt of snack recipes and at times, I try to come up with some new ideas. I avoid deep fried stuff these days because i’m trying to get back in shape… you know, time to get back in summer clothes....
