Sweet-Sour-Spicy Chutney

This is a versatile chutney that goes along with dahi vadas, samosas, kachories and many other chaat dishes. This can be used in place of tamarind chutney, as a tang provide by dry mango resonates the same flavour. It is easy to store at room temperature, in a air tight container, for up to 3-4 months.

Ingredients:
1/2 tbsp black pepper powder
1/4 tbsp clove powder
1/4 tbsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tbsp green cardamom powder
1/4 tbsp mace(javitri) powder
1/8 tbsp nutmeg powder
1 tbsp ginger powder
4-5 pods Black cardamom powder
2 flowers of star anise
1/2 tbsp fennel seeds powder
1/2 tbsp fennel seeds - whole
1/4 cup chopped roasted cashews
1/4 cup chopped roasted almonds
1/4 cup chopped roasted pistachio
1/4 cup chopped roasted charoli
1/2 cup chopped raisins
7-8 chopped dates
400gm jaggery
1 and 1/4 cups Dry mango(Amchur) powder
1/4 tbsp salt
1/4 tbsp black salt
2 tsp red chilly powder
1/2 tbsp roasted cumin powder
2 and 1/2 cups water

Method:
1. Mix all the ingredients in a big non-stick pan and boil, stirring continuously on medium flame for 20 minutes.
2. Once the chutney cools, decant in a clean airtight container and store at room temperature.

Dahi Vada

Popular Indian dish, specially enjoyed on warm summer nights! This is a great dish to take to potlucks and serve in parties.

Ingredients:
325gm Urad Daal
1-2 tsp Asafoetida(Hing)
Salt
Sugar
Black salt
Roasted Cumin powder
Red chilly powder
Tamarind chutney
Pomegranate seeds
Oil for frying
1 tub of regular whole milk yogurt

Method:

Vada recipe
1. Soak Urad daal, hing and 1/4 tbsp salt in water for 5 hours.
2. After 4 hours, make a smooth paste of soaked daal.
3. Whip this paste into a light and airy mixture.
Note: You can use hand spatula or an electric whisk for this purpose.
4. Make small balls of this mixture, and deep fry in hot oil.
5. Remove the fried balls and directly place them in a big pot containing water. Let them soak in the water for 2-3 hours. Set aside to chill.
6. Before serving these, take out the soaked balls and place them in yogurt mixture for at least an hour.
7. Right before serving, sprinkle the yogurt and ball mixture with roasted cumin powder, black salt, red chilly powder, tamarind chutney and some pomegranate seeds.

Dahi recipe
1. In a big bowl, beat yogurt, salt and sugar with very little water until it makes a smooth and creamy mixture. Set aside to chill.

Veggie Protein Bowl with Barley

Quick, easy and healthy recipe is all this is!

You can cook cook and assemble this in 15 minutes or under!

If you were to cook barley while making this recipe then you will have to allow yourself additional 20-25 minutes to cook barley itself.

I often eat this as a workday lunch and most of the time I make it hot during lunch itself!

Ingredients:

Cooked barley

Some small paneer/cottage cheese cubes(to make it Vegan, you can substitute with firm tofu)

Veggies medley - cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, beans, snowpeas

Some salt and pepper to season

Some soy sauce

Schezwan sauce

Some coriander to garnish

Method:

1. Heat some ghee or oil in a non-stick skillet.

2. Add the veggies medley and saute for a minute on high heat.

3. Season with salt and pepper and saute for another minute.

4. Add paneer cubes and saute for a minute until they are just warmed through.

5. Then add a dash of soy sauce and 1 table spoon of schezwan sauce.

6. Turn off the heat and assemble as follows:

     - Fill the bottom of the bowl with warm cooked barley.

     - Top it with the paneer and veggie mixture.

     - Garnish with some coriander.

     - Don't wait for anything and JUST EAT! :)

Chickpea pastry with Cashews and Dates

This is a really quick and simple dish that is easily put together with little effort!
High on protein and flavour yet feels like indulgence :)

Ingredients:
1/2 sheet of phyllo pastry dough, thawed according to the package instructions
1 can of Garbanzo Beans or chickpeas, drained and washed
5-6 Dates, chunky chops
6-7 Cashews, chunky chops
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 tsp cumin powder
4 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp red chilly powder
2 tsp black pepper powder
Salt to taste
Oil or Ghee for sauté

Method:
1. In a non-stick pan, take some oil or ghee and sauté finely chopped onion until it starts turning translucent, about 4-5 minutes on low flame.
2. Add cumin powder, coriander powder, chilly powder, black pepper powder and salt. Sauté for another minute to cook the spices.
3. Now add the chopped dates, cashews and beans to the pan and cook for about 4-5 minutes.
4. While the beans are cooking, roll the dough to a thin flat bread shape and place it on the baking sheet.

5. Arrange the beans mixture on top of the pastry sheet and bake at 375F for about 20-25 minutes until the pastry is cooked.

Cut into four parts with a pizza cutter and enjoy savoury Chickpea pastry!

Tip: You can also use the chickpea filling as a side dish with lamb, veggies and roti.

Indian Masala Lamb Chops

Try these quick and easy succulent Lamb Chops with bold Indian Spices. It's easy to prepare, quick to cook and provides for elegant plating for weeknight parties.

Ingredients:
Lamb Chops
Turmeric
Red Chilly Powder
Black Pepper Powder
Coriander Powder
Dried Oregano
Minced Garlic
Minced Ginger
Groundnut oil
Salt
Greek Yogurt
Lime Pickle
Scallions
Fresh coriander
Cooked Basmati Rice

Method:
1. Mix all the ingredients in a ziplock bag to make a paste.
2. Marinate the lamb chops in the paste for  minimum of 15 minutes.
3. On a hot grill/pan, cook the lamb chops for 4-5 minutes each side.
4. To make the yogurt sauce, mix  Greek yogurt, lime pickle, scallions and fresh chopped coriander,
5. Serve with hot rice and yogurt sauce.

How to marinate lamb chops?? It's super easy...

Salmon marinated in tamarind sauce with millet

This was a spontaneous dish that I pulled together when I was missing my home during the days of navratri. My parents and grandparents used to prepare special meals rather humble feasts for us, all these nine days. Millet was a special part of our diet that we had almost  everyday - either for lunch or for supper. Here I tried to recreate something similar to what I had, with some of my twists.
First, instead of making a traditional sauce, I used my speed power and used a ready-made tamarind sauce and secondly, I added a little fish to the mixture to just make the dish more date-likey! :)

Ingredients:
Clarified butter
2 Potatoes
~3/4 cup Millet
~5 cups of water
6oz Salmon fillet
1 cup Maggie Tamarind Sauce
Some roasted peanut powder
Cumin seeds
Red Chilly Powder
Salt

Method:
1. Marinate: Marinate the salmon in tamarind sauce and a little clarified butter and set aside for about 15-20 minutes.

2. Millet: While the salmon marinates, cut the potatoes in small cubes. Heat some butter and saute cumin seeds and red chilly powder for a few seconds. Then add the potatoes, millet, salt, some roasted peanut powder and about 2 cups water. Cover and cook on low for about 20 minutes on medium to low heat.

3. Tamarind broth: In another pan, heat clarified butter and saute cumin seeds for a few seconds. Add tamarind sauce and remaining 2-3 cups of water. Mix well and set it to bubble on medium to low heat for about 10 minutes. After that add, some roasted peanut power and let it bubble on low until ready to serve.

4. Salmon: Cover and cook the salmon fillet in some butter for 12-13 minutes. After that, double wrap the salmon in aluminium foil and let it rest for another 10 minutes.

5. Assembly: use a bowl as mound and put the millet in the middle of the dish. Top the millet with flaked salmon. Gently spoon the tamarind broth on the side to create a moat effect.

Millet that I used for this dish

Speedy-Seedy Chutney

Do you want to try a new way to eat your seeds?? Well, try this way - it might be new to you but in my family this recipe has been passed down since many generations... I love to eat this chutney with a tsp of raw groundnut oil and hot chapati. Another way I like it is with hot rice, 2 tsp of ghee and some chutney on top. You can come with more creative ways to eat it with grilled meat or sprinkle on top of your pasta and sandwich!

 Ingredients:
Sesame seeds(~1/2 cup)
Flax seeds(~1/2 cup)
Cumin seeds(~1/4 cup)
Coriander seeds(~1/4 cup)
Sugar(~ 1tbsp)
Salt(~ 2tbsp)
Red chilly powder(~ 3tbsp)

Method:
1. Take equal proportion of sesame seeds and flax seeds and toast them on a dry pan till the sesame seeds turn brown. Remove and set aside to cool.
2. In the same pan, dry roast the cumin seeds and coriander seeds. Remove and set aside to cool.
3. Grind the roasted seeds with salt, sugar and red chilly powder to a coarse consistency.

Note:
1. The measurements are given as a rough estimate. You can adjust the salt and chilly level based on how spicy you want the chutney. I usually like mine spicy.
2. Make sure to add sugar because that is to balance all the pungent flavors of flax seeds, cumin seeds and coriander seeds.

Quick&Easy Chicken curry with Greens and Roasted vegetables

Looking for a quick meal that is easy to make, delicious and healthy at the same time??
Try this plate package - you'll be in and out of the kitchen in 30 minutes with amazing food and guilt free dinner :)

Ingredients:
2 chicken breast tenders
2 potatoes medium sized
2 tomatoes medium sized
1 cup chopped greens(kale and spinach mixture)
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tbsp Greek Yogurt
1/4 tbsp vegetable oil
1/4 tbsp garam masala
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Cut the potatoes lengthwise in four parts. Preheat the oven to 450F/230C and start roasting the potatoes.
2. Chop the chicken breast tenders in small cubes.
3. In a non stick pan, heat the oil with minced garlic.
4. Put the chicken in the pan, cover and cook for 10 minutes stirring once or twice in between.
5. After about 10 minutes, add garam masala, salt and a little water to the chicken. Cover again and cook for another 10 minutes.
6. At this point, start roasting the tomatoes in the oven for these last 10 minutes and check on your potatoes.
7. When 10 minutes have passed, adjust water in the curry and add the greens. Stir the mixture until the greens wilt(about a minute).
8. Add the yogurt to the chicken curry and mix well. Turn off the gas, cover and set aside.
9. Remove the  vegetables from the oven.
10. Serve the curry with the roasted vegetables.

You can also serve the curry with rice or chapati.

Lime pickle without oil - my Aji's recipe

This is one of my favourite pickles that I had growing up as a child. I have very sweet memories of my grandmother making this every summer and keeping the pickle jar on the terrace that soaked the sun and cooked slowly into a spicy-tangy preserve.
Try it, maintain it and you'll love the fruits of your patience, not efforts - since it requires none!
This doesn't have any oil like many other fresh pickles require.

Ingredients:
6 limes - quartered
8 lime juice
4 tsp salt
3 tsp red chilly powder(adjust based on how spicy you want)
1 tsp turmeric powder
1.5 tbsp sugar
1 tsp roasted cumin powder
2 tsp asafoetida powder

Method:
1. In a clear glass jar, mix the lime juices with salt, sugar, red chilly powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder and asafoetida powder. Shake well.
2. Add the quartered lime wedges to the juice and shake well.

Maintenance:
1. For first 15-20 days try to keep the jar in sun for two-three hours. Shake the jar every day.
2. After 20 days, leave the jar on the kitchen counter and shake every few days.

Fresh pickle should be ready to eat in a month.

Pickle after two years of preservation

If you want it to be well preserved, you can even leave the pickle in a cool place in your pantry for up to two-three years. These old pickles taste the best and have the most wonderful textures. And kids love it!! Try it - it'll hardly take 10 minutes of your time today ;)

Haaq - Palak ka shorba

This is a classic Kashmiri dish that my father used to make for me on cold days - for a quick and light meal. This recipe is one of my favourite but you can tweak it to increase or decrease the spice you like. Another important thing to note here is the use of whole spices. That gives this dish a whole new level of flavour and aroma.
The recipe below serves one with hot saffron rice or as a side to good grilled meat!

Ingredients:
Bunch of spinach
Some cinnamon
Some whole black pepper corns
Half dry red chilly
One cardamom pod
Some cumin seeds
Two cloves
Salt to taste
Pinch of sugar
1 tsp clarified butter(ghee)
1-1/2 cup water



Method:
1. In a pan, heat some ghee, then add all the whole spices and roast for some time.
2. Then add water and boil that for 1 minute.

3. Add salt and sugar.
4. Then add spinach and blanch for 4-5 minutes.

5. Serve haaq with steaming rice or grilled meat.

Homemade pasta with lemon-coriander sauce(dhaba style)

Indiaized pasta version for all the spice seekers... This pasta dish seems like it came it came straight out of a Indo-italian 'dhaba'(Indian version of a diner) - but no, it's a concoction out of my kitchen :)

Ingredients:
Homemade pasta - see the video below on how to shape it OR just regular pasta would work too!
Generous bunch of fresh Coriander
One dried red chilly
One clove of garlic
Juice of half a lemon or one lime
Salt
Pepper
Some Olive oil

Shaping the pasta

For homemade egg less pasta recipe click here.

Method:
1. Prepare the pasta sauce by mixing coriander, chilly, garlic, salt, pepper,lemon juice and very little water in a blender.
Note: At this point you can start cooking your pasta in boiling water is if it's store bought.

2. Start warming olive oil in a pan.

3. Once the oil is warm, put the sauce in and heat it for a minute.
Note: At this point you can start cooking your pasta in boiling water is if it's homemade(since it hardly takes a minute to cook it). Over boiling fresh pasta will make it chewy.

4. At this time add your cooked pasta to the sauce.

5. Serve the hot pasta with some more lemon juice and garnish with fresh coriander.

Enjoy dhaba style pasta with some chilled beer! :)

Spiced-up Chicken sandwich

This sandwich is one of my favourite lunch items. Once you have prepared the spiced up chicken mixture, it can serve as a sandwich filling for up to three lunches!!

The spiced-up chicken mixture is also very versatile - it can be served as an appetizer over a salty biscuit, filled in pastry shells, eaten in lettuce wrap or filled in rolls with other veggies.

Here's the super simple recipe for making it.

Ingredients:

5-6 pieces chicken tenders

Vegetable oil

Salt

Pepper powder

Mayonnaise(optional)

Greek Yogurt

Raisins

Roasted cumin powder

Red chilly powder

Garam masala

Dijon mustard

Method:

1. Season the cleaned chicken tenders with some salt and pepper. Put some oil on them so they do not dry out while baking. Bake these in preheated oven at 350F/177C for 30 minutes(or until cooked).

2. In a bowl add yogurt, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, raisins, cumin powder, chilly powder, pepper powder, garam masala and salt. Mix well. You can add very little milk or water to ease mixing and make it thick running mixture.

3. Shred the cooled cooked chicken tenders and add them to the yogurt mixture.

4. Take a rustic baguette and warm it a bit in the oven. Add some lettuce and chicken mixture and pack to-go for office or picnics!

Tip: I chopped the lettuce finely and dressed it up with some homemade blue cheese dressing. The sandwich tastes even better with it! You can substitute lettuce with arugula or spinach. Enjoy...

Indian style cheese corn puffs

One of the quickest and a popular appetizer is this cheese-corn puff... my twist - spice it up with some  Indian flavours!!
All you need to make sure is that your freezer is stocked ;)

Ingredients:
Some frozen spinach
Some frozen white corn
Some frozen yellow corn
Ready made frozen mini puff pastry shells
Ricotta cheese
Salt
Pepper
Peanut oil
Roasted cumin powder
Roasted coriander powder
Red chilly powder
Garam Masala

Method:
1. Place the frozen spinach with some water, to thaw and cook, in microwave for 2-3 minutes.
2. After this drain and remove most of the water from the spinach so that it is almost dry.
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 with frozen corn.
4. In a pan, heat some oil. Now put chilly powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, pepper and salt - roast for a few seconds.
5. Now put spinach and corn and mix well with the spices.
6. Turn off the heat and let it cool until just warm(5-7 minutes).
7. At this point, add some ricotta(or skip, your choice!).
8. While the mixture is cooling, cook the pastry puffs(typically 20 minutes in 400F/205C oven).
9. Now put the filling inside the shells and serve.

These taste delicious when the pastry is warm but at room temperature they still do justice to their look! :)

Chick pea chat salad

This is one of my to-go salad when it comes to entertaining with Indian food.
This is a great way to incorporate classic Indian flavors and make it look pretty.

Ingredients:
1 medium size red onion
2 tomatoes
1 can of chick peas/garbanzo beans
1 tsbp of mint
2 thai chillies
1 tbsp of fresh coriander/cilantro
1 lime
2 tsp chat masala
2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp sugar
1 head of Belgian Endive
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
1. Finely chop tomatoes, onions, chillies, coriander and mint and mix that with garbanzo beans(drained and washed).
2. Add 1 lime juice, sugar, cumin powder, chat masala, salt and pepper and mix well.
3. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes so that the beans soften and soak up all the flavors.
4. Serve on individual endive leaves as shown above for personal salad bites.

Tilapia baked with marathi spices

Ingredients:

2 fillets of Tilapia

Marinade:

1 green chilly

3 cloves of garlic

1/2" piece of ginger

2 tsp red chilly powder

1 tsp turmeric pwd

4 tsp coriander pwd

1-1/2 tsp garam masala(all spice powder)

3 tsp black pepper powder

2 tsp roasted clove powder

2 tsp cardamom powder

1 tsp cinnamon powder

3 tsp roasted cumin powder
2 tsp dried mango powder(amchur powder) -- most important ingredient :)

1 tbsp of vegetable oil/mustard oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp sugar

salt to taste

Method:

1. Make a paste of marinade ingredients(you can ad a little water or increase the quantity of lime juice to aid the blending process).
2. Make small cuts on the fillets so that the marinade can reach the inside of the thickest part of the fish.

3. Rub the marinade on the fish fillets and set aside in the fridge for a minimum of 15 minutes (up to maximum one hour).

Cooking the fish:
1. Pre-heat the oven up to 425 F.
2. Cook the fish in baking dish for 30 minutes.

The way to know the fish is cook is if the fillet had completely turned opaque white in the middle of the thickest part.

You can serve the fillets over brown rice with some green coriander chutney.

Enjoy! :)