Parangikai Ellu Curry (Pumpkin Curry With Sesame Seeds)

Pumpkin is available throughout the year in Delhi/NCR, though most of the time, it is the green pumpkin. The red variety is rarely available in the organic market, but plentifully available in non-organic wet markets. When I started to subscribe to an organic vegetable basket from a farmer friend, I was overloaded with pumpkins. It…

Kadugu Keerai (Mustard Greens With Coconut)

Mustard greens (kadugu keerai, sarson ka sag) is plentifully available in the North Indian winter months. The most popular dish using this green is sarson ka sag (a wet preparation) served with makki roti (Indian corn bread). I often make this green, though not the corn bread. However, there are several other preparations using mustard…

Garhwal Ka Fannah (Horsegram Dal)

People are really passionate about their home state. Be it politics, people, tourist attractions, cuisine…I have known this about Tamizhnadu and Kerala – the two states that I have a close association with. I also know that Bengalis have great pride in anything related to their state. Recently, I have had occasion to discover this…

Mixed Vegetable Salad In Mustard Dressing

I first had this salad at a vegan potluck some years ago. It tasted so wonderful that I immediately resolved to prepare it at home and taught Hari the recipe. Hari has evolved the recipe several notches so that the ingredients vary quite a bit from the original that I taught him. It also appear.s…

Khubani Halwa (Patami Kesari, Apricot Dessert)

I had occasion to visit an organic fair organised by the Ministry of Women & Child Welfare, on November 3, 2018. A very well organised fair with over a 100 stalls. I was delighted find several products that I would not normally find in any local market. Some examples are a sweet version of bitter…

Vazhakkai Vadai (Raw Banana Medallions, Kacha Khela Vada)

In the part of the country where I live, raw banana is hardly used. Folks in this region consume only the ripe ones. And even with the ripe ones, there is only one variety available. All that is fast changing, at least among vegans where the demand for raw bananas is slowly increasing. Raw bananas…

Dahi Kebab

I have experimented with several dishes for the tea-time snack. However, this is one of my favourties. I think this recipe originates from Rajasthan. It is not difficult to make and is always a pleasure to serve. I am surprised that this is not available in cocktail circuits where the kebabs are invariably non-vegetarian. The…

Kachumber Salad (Cucumber, Vellarikka Salad)

After all the binge eating during Diwali, it is time again for some healthy recipes. And what better than a good salad? Especially as winter has set in early and the market will soon be filled with fresh and wonderful vegetables. The salad today is normally served with Parsi dhansak (please refer section on main…

Cacao Kaju Katli (Munthiriparupu, Cashew Cake)

The practice of preparing sweets and savouries, at home, for festivals like Diwali is waning – or, should I say, almost non-existent? The practice is still alive in the Southern parts of the country. In the Northern parts, however, people look at you strangely if you happen to mention that you are preparing these at…

Athipazha Barfi (Anjeer Barfi, Fig Cakes)

Diwali is almost upon us (tomorrow for South Indians, the day after for the rest of the country). It is a time for celebration, joy, giving, sharing. It is especially a time for compassion – to Nature and all its creatures. As I have stated several times before, I do not have a sweet tooth….