Methi Matar Malai is the perfect Indian curry to welcome Spring. Methi greens are a winter vegetable in most parts of India. Luckily, they are available all year round in Pune. This is one of those curries which have sadly metamorphosed into a sweet, white glop in most restaurants. Well, not any more. I know…
Onion Pakora Recipe – Khekda Bhaji [Vegan]
Onion pakora! Monsoon is the best time to enjoy these crispy, crunchy onion fritters, simply spiced with turmeric and carom seeds. They are the quintessential Indian street food along with a cuppa of chai. Summer in the Northern hemisphere officially lasts until September 21st. July and August are the dream like summer months widely awaited…
Spinach Whole Wheat Wraps – Palak Paratha Recipe
I grew up in the central parts of India, known for extreme temperatures in both summer and winter. In India, frozen vegetables are not very common, apart from say green peas. We mostly ate and still eat in-season veggies that are locally grown. So Palak Paratha was mostly a seasonal dish. The ‘exotic vegetables’ like…
Chipotle Burrito Bowl – 7 Layer Mexican Bowl
My Chipotle Burrito Bowl recipe is based on the burrito bol at Chipotle restaurants, but the chipotle here refers to the chili pepper that I have used rather than the restaurant chain. That is because this is more of a Taco Bell 7 Layer Burrito meets Mexican Taco Salad meets Chipotle Burrito Bol. In short, most…
Coconut Rice – Vegan Indian Rice Recipe [Meatless Monday]
Coconut rice is inspired by South Indian cuisine. We have a sweet coconut rice in Maharashtrian (my native) cuisine called Narali Bhat, which I am not very fond of. I had mulled over a savory version for a long time. I had heard of Thengai Sadam, a savory coconut rice made in South India. I…
Spinach Enchiladas with Homemade Chipotle Enchilada Sauce
You gotta love enchiladas! What is not to like, pray tell me. Corn tortillas stuffed with anything you like on this earth, smothered in a spicy sauce and topped with cheese. Bake in the oven until it bubbles and everything gets happy together, and the cheese melts and becomes slightly crusty? Veggie enchilada choices are…
Chana Masala or Chole recipe – Indian Chickpea Curry – Meatless Monday
Chana Masala or Punjabi Chole or Chole Masala or Pindi Chole – this quintessentially Indian chickpea curry is known by many names. It is a Punjabi dish from the northern parts of India. Fiery spices and chili can make it as hot and spicy as you want it. Or you can tone them down to…
Vegetarian Tagine with Chickpea and Eggplant Recipe (Meatless Monday)
Vegetarian Tagine was bursting with flavors and turned out to be as exotic as it sounds. I have been hearing about tagines since my carnivore days. But my attempts to eat at Moroccan restaurants never really bore fruit. The local CousCous restaurant was famous enough but parking issues kept me from actually going there. So…
Mushroom Biryani Recipe
Biryani is popular across the world and can make your mouth water just thinking about it. Biryani was brought to India by Mughal travelers through the Khyber pass. Some cities such as Hyderabad and Lucknow/ Awadh are known for their Biryani. Biryani is a meat based dish but has a vegetarian counterpart too. Mushroom Biryani…
Vegetable Pulao or Indian Vegetable Pilaf Recipe (Meatless Monday)
Vegetable Pulao or vegetable pilaf as it is called in some parts of the world is a really simple recipe. And its the one to try if you are new to Indian cooking or Indian food. Veg Pulao has come a long way over the years and there are many different versions floating around on…