One of the first pickles that I made. It is very popular in Uttar Pradesh and is called “aam ka heeng wala achar” , as the heeng ( asafoetida ) has a dominant flavour , not overpowering though. This is a pickle that anyone who has a learner licence in the kitchen can make. I call it No Fuss mango Pickle because it requires just four ingredients and is takes hardly any time. The most time is taken to wash , wipe and cut mangoes, once that is done , it only takes 5 minutes. Few things that need to…
salt
Dry Chicken Starter
This is one of my favourite starters. When I am planning for an elaborate dinner I keep some dishes that do not require much time without compromising on taste. This recipe is dedicated to my late maternal uncle, who used to love cooking and hosting. Right from cleaning the meat to cooking he would do everything by himself, except for adding salt. For which he would ask my mom ( his younger sister) or my aunt. He had a big mortar and pestle in which he used to grind onion garlic and also make mint chutneys. We call this preparation…
Sweet & Sour Mango Relish
Mangoes, Mangoes & more mangoes. I go crazy during mango season. There is so much that can be done with mangoes , raw & ripe both, other than enjoying them as is of-course. During summers, just before the rains start, my mother used to plan making pickles & relish with raw mango. Relish and pickles are an essential part of the Indian meal. Most Indian households will have a couple of pickles and chutneys stocked up in jars in the kitchen. This relish or chutney comes to the rescue on the days when you want a quick meal. Hot tea,…
Dry Fruit Chaat or Mewe ki Chaat
Dry Fruit Chaat sounds unique and tastes awesome. I have lived and visited cities like Varanasi, Lucknow , Delhi etc which are known for their variety of chaat. In fact I have not come across many places in Bangalore that serve good chaat. Chaat is a must eat on my visits to Delhi and Lucknow. North Indian Weddings are know for their grandeur and elaborate spread of food. A chaat counter is a must. One of the dishes that is a ” star attraction” nowadays is the dry fruit chaat. Dry fruit chaat with hot chai during the rains is…
Masala Crabs – Spicy Crabs cooked in Kerala Style
Having lived most of my life in North India , non vegetarian food has mostly been Chicken and Mutton. Seafood was restricted to fish and that too fried fish. I was lucky to travel alone, a bit once I joined work, and on my trips I used to experience all the local cuisines. I had crabs for the first time in the US a couple of years back. After that, although I have been eating crabs in India , it is mostly as crab cakes or in mixed sea food pasta , pizza or soup. I got introduced to this…
Beans on Toast
Baked Beans on Toast is my husband’s favourite breakfast. Luckily its one of the dishes that I need not put in a lot of effort as I used to buy the canned baked beans. In the last few years , as I have moved away from packaged food as much as possible I started making Baked Beans with easily available Rajma / Kidney Beans, at home. Though the name indicates that the beans are baked, they are usually slow cooked in slightly sweet tomato sauce. Over the weekend when I have more time on my hands I like to prepare…
Chatpati Bhindi – Okra made in Air Fryer
Okra or Bhindi is a vegetable made in almost all parts of India. It is one of the vegetables which most kids love. Mine loves it too. I am certain that the lunch box from school will return empty on the days “Bhindi – Roti” is given. Masala bhindi is normally a spicy preparation , wherein the okra is slit horizontally and the mix of spices are filled in. It is a very time consuming process especially if one needs large quantities, so I prefer to cut the okra into half, and then cook with the spices. This recipe is…
Paneer Butter Masala – Cottage Cheese Cooked in Cashew and Tomato Gravy
In a Punjabi household, Paneer or cottage cheese preparation is a must, if one has guests coming over or for a grand meal at home on special occasions. This is one of the recipes, which comes to my rescue, when I have guest coming over for a meal at short notice or if I am making an elaborate meal and have many dishes to prepare that are time consuming. The recipe is quick to prepare and comes out well with little effort. I learnt this recipe from my second guru, my sister. Over a period of time I have learnt…
Rajma – Kidney Bean Curry
For all my friends, who love the Rajma at my place, I had to post this recipe. Rajma or Kidney beans curry, is a popular dish in a Punjabi household. I have hardly come across anyone who does not like Rajma Chawal . My daughter loves it and when ever I make it , I make a little extra for her to eat the next day as well, as she is sure to ask! One of my friends who travels from Delhi for work to Bangalore every few months, and stays here for a week, requests for rajma rice on…
Aam Ki Launji – Raw Mango Relish
No Indian meal is complete without pickles and relish. Aam ki launji is a sweet and sour relish from North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is made with a few spices and is quick & easy to make. Having spent my childhood in eastern Uttar Pradesh, I came across many dishes that required panch phoran. As the name suggests it is a mix of five spices. Unlike other mix of spices , panch phoran is a mix of whole spices, all of which are seeds, in equal quantities. I use lesser fenugreek seeds for milder taste and…