Palak Patta Chaat (Crispy Spinach Chaat) is an Indian street food & easy vegan & gluten-free appetizer. Spinach leaves with a monsoon of Mumbai chaat faves. Masala yoghurt, red, green and tamarind chutneys, onions, tomatoes and crunchy sev are all crowd-pleasing toppings. These snack-tastic fried spinach leaves get more addictive with every bite! If you’re …
My Nanabapu was a mithaiwala. He wore a flat cap and cooked Indian sweets in giant steel pots on a sugar plantation in Uganda. Stirring vats of bubbling syrup and milk consumed his days, along with thoughts of perfecting his next great recipes for jalebi, mohanthal, boondi and halwa. He had come from humble roots. …
White Chocolate & Raspberry Kheer is an Indian-style rice pudding with spices, juicy berries and luxurious chocolate shavings. What is Kheer? A bowl of kheer is like a comfort blanket for any Indian. Hot or cold, the spice-speckled milky rice is thinner and more flavoursome than the mass of bland rice pudding that enriches memories …
I was introduced to Indo-Chinese food in the late 90s when “fusion cooking” wasn’t a dirty phrase and British curry houses were no longer the only “Indian” option when eating out in the UK. Korma? What was that? Balti, Bhuna and Phall? I’d never heard of them. Growing up in a Gujarati household meant that …
The clattering of pots, pans and spoons in my kitchen is a sound that fills me with comfort and joy. It’s the first dish I crave after a long trip away and the hug in a bowl I need when autumn sets in. At the first whiff of mellow rice and lentils emanating from my …
Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney (No-Cook Garlic Chutney) is the condiment to rule all condiments. It’s made with a tonne of crushed raw garlic, chilli, fresh coriander, salt and oil. That’s it. No cooking and no fancy spices. Where does this raw garlic chutney come from? This is simple Kathiyawadi village fare from the heart of …
My Makai Paka & Maraghwe Bhajiya is a Swahili-style dish of corn cooked in coconut milk with crispy, spicy kidney bean fritters on top. Makai Paka is the corn stew and Maraghwe Bhajiya are the bean fritters. Maraghwe Bhajiya soak up some of the coconut milk like dumplings, yet still have a crispy, cragginess I …
The pregnancy cravings are real, people. Indian savoury snacks are my weakness. They include, but aren’t limited to: Dhokra, samosas, khichi, muthiya, idli, chakri, upma and bhajia. Simple things I’ve never made too often at home, but in the last 5 months I’ve taken the time to satisfy my cravings with the proper home-cooked versions. …
Hand me a rose-flavoured dessert over a bouquet of roses any day. I’m a sucker for rose-flavoured everything. It all started back when I was around seven years old when my dad would take our family to our favourite Indian restaurants. Even before looking at the menu I’d know what I wanted to drink – …
