How to make perfect chia mango pudding? All you need is milk (any variety you like), chia seeds, a bit of sugar or honey and fresh mangoes.You can choose any variety of chia seeds you like.You do need some sweetener, either sugar or honey. For this chia mango pudding, I used coconut milk with brown sugar and mixed chia seeds along with cardamom powder for little flavor. Once mixed, just let it set overnight in the refrigerator....
I hate eating nuts, never liked them, unless it’s dusted with spices or cocoa powder and roasted to crunchy texture. And my husband used to do just that. He would roast assorted nuts in tiny batches, sometimes savory and sometimes sweet. And he would keep it right next to our bed, so I never forget. Sadly, even after all that hard work, I couldn’t really fall in love with nuts and we were still left with way too many packets to finish....
Indian summer is very hot and humid, but growing up in Shillong, which is a hill station, I was saved from that. But very occasionally when I visited Kolkata during peak summer months, I drank Doi Ghol on repeat every day. Doi ghol is a healthy summer drink, essential to keep the tummy cool. It is not sweet nor savory. It rather has a lovely balance and can be made aromatic by adding lemon leaves....
What is Tutti Frutti Cake? Tutti Frutti cake is a popular tea cake in India. It is available in almost every other bakery. These tiny colorful candies are prepared from raw papaya, that is boiled and then food color is added for the vibrant shade. It is used very widely in India on ice cream, cookies and cakes. Last year I had shared another recipe of Tutti Frutti Pound Cake but that was with egg....
What is Fish En Papillote? The name is fancy, and I doubt I pronounce it correctly! It’s a French dish and is pronounced ahn-pa-pee-yawt). To break it down, it’s Fish in Paper! In simple words, fish cooked in parchment paper. So, Fish En Papillote in simple dish when fish fillet is wrapped in parchment paper with flavors and vegetables of your choice and then baked in the oven. Fish En Papillote (3 different flavors) The 3 different flavors I used are:...
After all that excitement on the weekend, getting back to work on Monday is not easy. This week’s weather prediction says it’s going to be very warm and all I can think of is easy light meals. Talking about light meals, I might repeat one of our last week’s meals for sure - Grilled Watermelon and Shishito Peppers with Mint and Lime Sauce. There are some fruits that taste best when grilled....
Breaking down the name - Ilish Maach Kacha Kola Jhol Ilish Maach is Hilsa Kacha Kola is plantain Jhol is light curry Ilish Maach is emotion for Bengalies Growing up, I didn’t like seafood that much but Ilish Maach was always a favorite. We would get excited at the sound of Ilish and no celebratory meal seemed to be complete without the presence of Ilish Maach. Hilsa, as it is known in English, is just not any fish but it’s more of an emotion, a cultural icon to us Bengalis....
I grew up enjoying fresh ghee that Ma would make from scratch by collecting the malai (thick milk skin) that would float on top from boiling raw milk. Here in US, I can’t collect malai, so I use heavy cream instead to make fresh butter and ghee. MAKING INSTANT BUTTER and INSTANT GHEE Making Fresh butter and ghee can at times be little time taking. You can also follow and instant method: Instant butter can be prepared by whisking heavy cream without letting it ferment....
When I was working in Bangalore, every Friday, I and my friend had to work on this boring task of allocating resources to the projects. I am not going to go into a detailed explanation of the task but believe me when I say that for those few months, this was one hell of a friday job that made us go crazy at times. This friend of mine loves pizza and almost every Friday, it was our lunch....
The steps to prepare Rosogolla is very easy, but it can also be little difficult if you try to rush through the steps. In Kolkata, rarely anyone will make rosogolla at home. You can find it in any small or big sweet shops. But homemade is definitely the best and if you follow the steps I shared here, you will definitely make it very successfully too. Invention of Rasgulla/Rosogolla There are lots of stories on who invented this melting in mouth luscious dessert and debates on if it’s a true Bengali dessert or Oriya’s....
At times, it’s not always easy to locate the thing you want. We walked back and forth the aisle, looking left, right and left again. And finally, there it was, color matching to my nail polish, thin, straight, three bundles tightly packed in a transparent cover that read organic Soba - authentic Japanese buckwheat noodle. You are famous I know, but all this effort! You better be worth it, I thought....
Pulao is an aromatic rice dish, cherished across cultures, holds a special place in the hearts and palates of millions worldwide. There are various different kinds of pulao, and you can make it vegetarian or non-vegetarian too. The dish call for a meticulous balance of spices, aromatics, and main ingredients, each contributing to its distinctive flavor profile. I used here soya chunks which is bland on its own but absorbs flavors beautifully....
There’s something incredibly satisfying about making your own pickled cucumbers at home. The crunch, the tang, and the burst of flavor elevate any dish. This brine is a keeper, and you can keep adding cucumbers to the same brine once the cucumber slices gets over. Well, I always make a small batch and so there is not much lying at the back of the fridge. There are so many ways I like to enjoy cucumber, and this pickled cucumber tops the list for me....
Our little boy loves popcorn. We need to just utter the word and the little fella runs to the kitchen looking for “pocom”. He then helps Arvind in placing the pouch inside the microwave and even turns the microwave on. Then, he waits patiently, right next to his Dad, staring the microwave with a big bowl in his tiny hands. Watching those excited eyes as he starts munching the popcorns is a sheer joy....
It was a very quiet afternoon. We managed to climb, pluck a few fruits, ate some, made a mess and giggled away at our bravery. Feeling quite sated, we got down and walked towards home. Guess what! Mom was not in deep sleep. She was standing right there at the doorstep looking very angry. The thing is, that shabby backyard was not very safe as tiny snakes were seen a few times in the past....
Yesterday we had a beautiful sunny day and it was perfect to sit outside and enjoy these warm zucchini fritters. The left-over zucchini fritters, I paired the next day with khichdi. May sound like a weird combination but we liked it. You should totally give it a try. Ingredients for Zucchini Fritters: ZucchiniEggsFlourCorn flourSpices (optional)Salt Mixing the Ingredients: Make the fritters as soon you mix all the ingredients. Allowing the mixture to rest with release water from the zucchini there by making it soggy....
When I make Bandhakopi Torkari, it takes me by surprise at the amount of cabbage that goes in the wok. But then as it cooks down. It softens, releasing the moisture, turning into a comforting mush. You can pair it with roti/chapati, but I personally love it more with rice. What is Bandhakopi Torkari Similar to North Indian patta gobhi sabzi or South Indian style cabbage stir-fried, Bandhakopi Torkari is the Bengali way of stir-frying cabbage....
What is Raita? Raita ia a staple in North Indian cuisine. It is a yogurt-based condiment typically infused with spices, herbs, and sometimes sesonal vegetables or fruits. It serves as a cooling counterpart to spicy dishes, providing a refreshing balance to the palate. Why you should try Beetroot Raita? The classic combination of cucumber with onion has long been favored, and most commonly found in any Indian restaurants. But when you add roasted beetroot instead, it not only make it look pretty but also adds an earthy sweetness to it....
The recipe credit goes to my best friend Vijitha, who can cook some seriously delicious South Indian food. She had cooked this chicken curry in a cast iron pan, which gave a gorgeous caramelized color. So if you have one, surely use that. But even without a cast iron pan, the curry comes out rustic and so hearty. INGREDIENTS needed for the Slow Cooked Chicken in Coconut Milk: Chicken cubes (preferably with a mix of boneless and bones-in) : If you want to use boneless only, then use only chicken thigh as it has fats which helps to keep the chicken pieces juicy....
Why you will love this Dahi Gobi This Dahi Gobi is very minimal with no onion, no garlic, no peas or tomatoes or even potatoes. The key ingredient here is cauliflower, and it shines through. Since the dish is so simple, you want to give 5 minutes extra in making the fresh spice powder. With such minimal steps, this Dahi Gobi will make a fantastic weeknight meal. Ingredients you need Cauliflower florets - I will recommend using fresh cauliflower florets instead of the frozen ones....
