I should make this stew more often because it’s one of the few foods that all three of my kids like. It’s delicious, fast, and easy too. Inexplicably, I make it only for religious feasts alongside Puris, Kale Chole, and Sooji Ka Halwa. Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Yield: 8 servings INSTRUCTIONS […]
Hindu and Sikh temples give out free food to all visitors on a daily basis, regardless of their religious affiliation. In Hindu temples or Mandirs, ‘Prasad’ comes in the form of this sweet porridge and/or an Indian dessert or fruit and nuts. In Sikh temples or Gurdwaras, you get ‘Kada’, a whole wheat-based sweet porridge […]
There are many different kinds of bread in India. Some are made from whole wheat flour, while others are made using all-purpose flour, yet others are made from grains like corn or chickpea or millet. Puri is traditionally made using white wheat flour and water. However, when I can’t find white wheat flour or Chapati […]
At the end of Navratri, the nine nights and 10-day religious festival, I prepare a traditional meal that is vegetarian and contains no onions or garlic. There are four components in this meal: Puri (fried, unleavened wheat bread), Sooji Ka Halwa (sweet farina porridge), Kale Chole (savory black chickpeas), and Aloo (potato stew). This delicious […]
I made some Dal the other day. It was a hit, but like me, my family doesn’t care for leftovers after the next day. Therefore, I decided to disguise the leftover Dal as a Paratha. There are several ways to make Dal Ka Paratha: Cook Channa Dal (pigeon peas) with very little water so that […]
This is my Father’s favorite Paratha. He is my role model and I have tried to emulate him since I was young. Thus, this is also one of my favorite Parathas, second only to the white radish Paratha. It is really easy to make as it requires no prep other than making the dough – […]
There are many choices for Paratha fillings: some include meat, most of them are vegetarian. I vary the dough depending on whether the moisture in the filling will tear the Paratha. I use a wheat/white flour blend in either a 1:1 ratio or a 3:1 ratio (3 parts wheat, one part white flour) for the […]
The Hindu religious festival of Navratri (9 nights and 10 days) began this past Sunday and will end the following Tuesday. It celebrates the feminine nature of the Supreme Divine. It is celebrated twice a year in North India and occurs when the seasons change from cold to hot or vice versa. In practice, Hindus […]
My Dad gave me soaked almonds for breakfast for as long as I can remember. He told me they were good “Brain Food”. I carried on the tradition with my children. Now, when writing this blog, it begs the question: “Is it true?” Answer: Who cares! They’re delicious, nutritious and filling. It is a fact […]
There are about 1,100 varieties of mangoes in the world with a majority of the fruit coming from India. Mangoes are a wonderful summer fruit. They are delicious and nutritious. My Mom used to say (translated into English, of course) “In the morning, they are Gold, in the afternoon, Silver, and the evening, Brass”. In […]
Tapioca pearls (sabudana), which are derived from the cassava plant, are a staple in the Indian/Asian/Brazilian diet. They are sometimes confused with Sagu which is derived from the pith of tropical palm trees. Sagu and tapioca pearls resemble one another as they both appear as small, white, opaque pearls that become translucent when cooked. Think […]
If you have never had a Mathi, you don’t know what you are missing. This is top on my list of comfort foods. I’m still basking in the afterglow from having eaten three of them for breakfast with my cup of Masala Chai. Mathi is a crisp, flaky pastry that is generally served during high […]
This sweet, delicious, soft-textured, deeply colored bread started with the intent of making Challah. However, as fate would have it, I found an opened strawberry yogurt drink in my refrigerator that I needed to find a use for. Traditional Challah does not include any dairy, even in the form of butter. As a result, I […]
I like to throw cocktail parties where I serve a variety of hearty appetizers and some signature drinks in addition to the usual wine and beer. Here is yet another quick recipe for an appetizer (or, an afternoon snack, as I served this to my kids as well). You can make a lot of this […]
Here is another idea for a quick appetizer for entertaining. It is delicious with crispy bread chips. I did this for my holiday cocktail parties with over 50 guests. It’s pain-free entertainment. INSTRUCTIONS Place the cheese of your choice in a slightly curved dish or one with a slight lip. Pour either the Agave nectar […]
Margaret and Franco, friends of mine in Cleveland, Ohio, invited me to a lovely luncheon where they were serving fried fish and these amazing oven-baked potatoes that looked and tasted exactly like crispy french fries. They were fantastic! Crispy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside. I made them for a family […]
I purchased a lot of red potatoes with the idea that I was going to go on a diet where I would swear off almost all carbohydrates except potatoes. Ha! It lasted ONE day. I should have known better. I’m too much of a foodie to ever diet. Anyway, with this diet in mind, I […]
I understand why there are so many crêperies and street vendors selling crêpes. They are quick, inexpensive and easy to make. They can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are delicious either savory or sweet. They are elegant and can be served as an impressive entrée or wrapped in paper and eaten on-the-go. […]
Béchamel, the mother of several other sauces, is a lovely white sauce that is so versatile and easy to make that it has become my go-to sauce for many Euro-centric recipes. The sauce is made with different consistencies depending on how you plan to use it. For example: Thin béchamel is a lovely base in […]
Masala chai has gained a lot of popularity in the West. However, it is a common drink in many Indian homes. Masala means powdered spice or spice paste. It can be comprised of any spice in crushed form. Hence, garam masala means “hot” masala (it’s hot because the spices used in it generate heat in […]
Yesterday, I decided that I needed to finish up some leftovers and make room in my fridge. I had some Irish potatoes (a new family favorite), lots of eggs, a small head of broccoli, various cheeses, and some plain, homemade yogurt. I decided to make a frittata. As I was prepping and cooking the vegetables […]
This quick and simple gluten-free dessert is terrific on a cold day. I normally serve this to my kids as an after school snack. Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes, plus 30 minutes rest before and after Yield: 4-6 INSTRUCTIONS 1.Add all the dry ingredients to a 1-quart anodized aluminum or nonstick saucepan. […]
After researching and testing out different recipes, I came up with a mash-up that my family loves. This is a great way to get them to eat breakfast on-the-go when they are running out the door for school. These also make a wonderful after school snack. Because these are so popular and given the fact […]