Kachumber Salad Mumbai Style

I grew up eating kachumber paired with a selection of rice dishes, so adding them is nothing new to me. Its base is creamy, thick, and has a crunchy, flavorful texture. This lightened classic fresh salad made from scratch uses no mayonnaise that most recipes call for. It comes out crisp and so delicious, perfect on biryani or pulav. Different varieties of salads are my favorite things to make ahead of lunch, from yogurt dip salad, simple greens salad, thick russian salad, or beetroot salad, to name a few.

Not So Savoury Zarda Rice

Biryani is that one dish that has an intensifying, humongous list of fragrant spices. Biryani will always be close to my heart, especially because this was the first dish I tried my hands on. If you’re a newbie and want to dedicate your hours to cooking, you should first attempt to make simple recipes NAH! If you ask me – WHENEVER YOU ARE LEARNING ANYTHING I MEAN ANY BIG OR SMALL SKILL. FOCUS MORE ON THE DIFFICULT TASK – IF YOU SOMEHOW REACH THE HARDER SCALE THEN YOUR SIMPLE TASKS BECOME SIMPLER. Yes, believe me, apply this simple approach in your daily life, and you will be amazed by the flexibility of your mind. I hope my trick does wonder in your beautiful life.

Okra in Yogurt Sauce

If you call for some easy lunch dishes to make this summer, you will love this rich and flavor filled bhindi recipe. Bhindi means Okra in Hindi, which is within reach in season all year long. Maybe, this is one of the reasons you’ll spot okra made in different style, look and taste in the houses of India. Besides this, okra helps to cut down bad cholesterol, protects the brain, lowers the risk of kidney damage, and rules out the anxiety. For this Indian Okra Curry, I take a batch of okra, wash and pat dry them, shallow fry and simmer with fragrantly yogurt sauce forming good looking lunch.

Salubrious Soya Chunks

I make veg recipes in so many ways, especially since I’m Indian, my husband’s Pakistani, my family is a melting pot, and our different ethnic cuisines inspire a lot of my recipes, which are often a fusion of all these cultures. Soya chunks, also known as soya beans, are a delicious version of meat bites, they are a quick, easy and healthy dish that demands minimal prep and not much hands-on cooking time, making it pretty easy to pull together when you’re in hurry yet looking for something flavorsome to eat.

Meethi Kadhi Gujarati Style

Meethi Dal or Meethi Kadhi is very common in Gujarati houses and is generally served as a side dish. It teams well with rice dishes like khichdi, vegetable pulao, and even with bhakri. There are oodles of ways to reshape the kadhi recipe and it changes state-wise. Mostly, kadhi recipes are given a touch of sour and spicy taste with a thick consistency, but this one flow towards the sweet side and is less thick.

Vada Pav – Vegan Doppleganger Burger

Pri and I spend our Sunday chit-chatting, the last time we met was in twenty o twelve when she visited my home back in Mumbai. Now she is back in Toronto, and much has happened since.

Veg Manchurian Balls

Vegetable Manchurian Balls + Chicken Fried Rice

Oh my word! They have bomb of all the different flavors and are so tender that they melt in your mouth! These tasty Chinese Veg Balls are always a hit with my family. And, let’s not forget the sauce, the Chinese gravy really makes the dish. While most Manchurian balls call for a few veggies, I use a variety of wonderful veggies to enhance its health factor. 

Green Peas and Ridge Gourd

Both separately cooks in under 30-minutes from start to tummy! These veggies give a deeper taste when added in a velvety sauce. Peas are my favorite; I have TONS of other wonderful Peas Recipes in the search box. These two recipes are very nutritious and so delicious! They are a good source of fiber, and veggies during winters are loaded with freshness and full of vitamins and minerals. Although I don’t want winter to end, I am looking ahead to more variation of vegetable dishes and vegan soups. The aromatic curry is Indian inspired, made with phenomenal spices. It cooks quickly and all in one pan, making it an excellent choice for an easy lunch on a busy day.

House Favorite Palak Pulao

Spinach Rice

Palak Pulao is a rice dish using spinach that can be served as a side or meatless main dish.

I love to bulk up spinach with rice, so my family can’t pick the greens out. And the truth is, Hashim never know it’s in there! Rice and spinach cook together, which gives the rice its green color. Onions, garlic, cumin, and whole spices give this dish so much aroma. This simple rice recipe is an easy one-pot meal. On a busy weeknight, this dish is a great go-to. You can even double, triple, or quadruple the recipe as needed.  Not only is spinach rice delicious, but it’s also high in calcium, magnesium, and nutrients, low in fat, vegan, and gluten-free. Win, win!

Scrumptious Stuffed Okra / Bharela Bhinda

Vibrant Green Okra

Cooking is an art that involves time and forbearance for the perfect balance of excellence and taste. I was wondering, does anyone feel as infuriated as I do about the sequence of cooking a dish and uncover on a plate without touching its limitations. Even a tiny herb can't be settled for less, I find that when edibles are cooked together in a certain way it brings out the x-factor of its own. This thought reminds me of Ratatouille – who is one of those characters who won't hog anything without checking its parameters. Why should we deal with the beautiful nature of goodies with a flat taste when the same item can be transformed into a delectable dose of happiness? Food doesn't call for exceptional ingredients, even an ordinary spice can change the flavor if cooked in a right proportion and approach.

Dill Leaves Dhokli

Dill leaves when dropped in salad, curries or soup strengthens the overall spirit of nourishment. They are piled up with different nutrients adding value to our pink health. They taste excellent when added in keema or minced meat, Hashim enjoys the hint of its flavor in minced keema with pav which is the form of soft bread from inside and crispy layer from outside. If you want to dedicate the entire dish to this greens, there is a little trick - You can merely chop the leaves and toss together with few Indian seasonings or join my orbit and deliver this simple looking recipe into something rare and stunning.

Melange Filled Crispy Shells / Dahi Puri

If you relish making pani puris at home, you will barely rue in trying these crispy bites of complete flavors. There are countless ways of making dahi puri, but I’m going to impart the most authentic Mumbai style recipe of dahi puri. Pani puris are mostly liquid filled goodies, which are supposed to be gulped down in one go whereas dahi puri is a thick yogurt based salpicon that gives you a chance to delay those bites. Whenever, we are done with our conventional menu, we try to blow away the cobwebs by simply inviting this light, tasty and pleasant bubbles of goodness. I tend to make this recipe without any second thought as it holds a pinch of sour, well balanced sweetness, restrained spice taste and above all it is crunchy delight.

Methi Thepla Rolls – Indian Breakfast Recipe

Gujarati food takes in a lot of effort for full flavored and a healthful bracket of meal. To include all the food groups throughout the day, gujarati cuisine demands prior preparation for the jaw dropping outcome. Adding muthias in veggies to bring out the additional punch in veg dishes or adding dhoklis in greens to make the dish look extra appealing and appetizing or transforming the boring looking lentils into a process of spongy and peng varieties of dhoklas, this is all the effort and vision it takes.

I missed eating mama’s magical food, so it made sense to make a batch of methi theplas at home and have them with milky cardamom tea while watching endless runs of the news switching between CNN, NBC, FOX and Sky. Methi meaning fenugreek leaves and thepla are basically flatbread version of spicy elements moved together to form a delicious and soft roll of methi thepla. I’ve been dying to test out these thepla rolls, a childhood favorite of mine and they exceeded my expectation. The yogurt is used in my thepla dough and as they are loaded with protein that keeps you full longer. They are a great addition to get your daily intake of greens.

Potatoes Stuffed Flatbread / Aloo Paratha

Aloo Paratha with Mint + Yogurt Dip

Parathas are basically an Indian version of flatbread made from wheat flour or all purpose flour. Kneading the flour with water and ghee brings out the final output into silky finish, smooth touch and soft texture. In Indian houses, flatbreads are regularly eaten with any vegetable or chicken curry, due to which it becomes necessary to revamp the normal food recipes into something delightful, good looking and awesome in order to uphold the charm of food appearance on the table.

Dance on the tunes of rain with a plate of yummy vegetable fritters in one hand and cuppa chai in another hand!! / Vegetable Pakodas Recipe

Aloo Pakodas with Mix Vegetable Pakodas

It’s raining!! And how can we Asians forget to enjoy the scented air and cool breeze without any fried edibles especially our top listed pakodas or fritters. Rain has always been a sense of celebration for Asians and we never forget to express it through the means of inviting food. Since the time I am with Hashim, we have always spent most of our moments at the beach enjoying the drops of nature. Sometimes, having crunchy chunks of sliced guava with a dash of chat masala powder and salt. Or relishing the roasted flavored corn – the corn seller has a pile of raw corns and he would quickly peel the dried sunny leaves of the corn and give it a quick toss on the deep bottom pan filled with heated charcoal for a natural roasting process. The gentle warmness oozing out from charcoal fire surrounds us in no time. The entire mechanism is fitted perfectly to his mobile selling cart. The fragrance of fresh roasting of corns complementing with the smell of rain has been just the best part of the entire happenings. Mr. Seller would then slice a fresh piece of lemon and rub it thoroughly over the warm roasted corn with a few species and do some recycling by using the corn husk as the perfect replacement of serving plate. He would place the hot roasted corn on its dried leaves so that we enjoy its warmness without expressing the kick of burn. Munching corns by the side of sea view is all what we look for. I have also uploaded a short video clip of spicy corn that I had tried at some mall and the sweet corn kernels were perfectly boiled and flavored. For its live recipe you can click on the highlighted link!

Weekend Breakfast Trio Dosa – Rawa Maida Urad Dal Dosa with Ginger Tea

I love making varieties of dosa, the process starts with the slow fermentation, circular design of batter and after this comes the addition of spices and flavors and familiar comfort of warm tea. Its flavors are inspired by Southern part of India and this one is pronounced as Rava Maida Urad Dal Dosa, thanks to my friend Soumini who is always my supporter, taught me this delicious recipe in the flawless version possible. She and her mother have played a remarkable role in my life from sharing wonderful advices to helping me in perfecting the south Indian dishes away from India. Their roots belong to Udupi city so the recipe always comes out in perfection. I have a strong affection for South Indian food and we are more than happy to indulge our girly conversations over excellent food.

Garbanzo Summer Salad With Refreshing Yogurt Dressing

Lately, we all are stucked up at our kitchen counter busy chopping, drizzling, tasting, mix-matching, and again tasting. During this process of cooking, I have realized that I need to develop recipes that are instant and fun thing to cook. As for breakfast, lunches, snacking and dinner everything need to be prepared at home due to fresh and clean cooking. During summer, we try to kill the heat by either hydrating ourselves with fresh mojito shots or just the desi way our own Lassi! Lassi is basically a thick yogurt mixture done by combining the smooth consistency with sugar and topped with ice cubes - its so refreshing and gives you much needed summer treatment that our body requires. Apart from all this, we fancy our evening hunger with a list of yogurt dishes like dahi wada, light and healthy garbanzo salad(recipe highlighted - its easy recipe), and now our regular servings of garbanzo summer salad topped with saucy yogurt dressing and wada. Wada is made up from the thick paste of soaked lentils and other spices. As you all know that I look up for the freezer-friendly recipes - so these wadas can be made beforehand and could be stored in freezer for upto 1 month. But, as we intake them in multiple forms like dahi wada and other salads they don't last long! Apart from wadas, We enhance its taste with crispy papdi, this is what my husband calls it, In India, we name it as farsi puri - nevertheless the taste is quite similar - adding this puts you into a constant spoonful eating. You are welcome to skip the step of adding wada, and for papdi you can have a good dose of nachos.

Coming back to garbanzo salad recipe, I find this option very fresh, colorful, full of twists in spices and very simple. Simple, because I boil the entire pack of chickpeas and drain the water, refrigerate it for months. And believe me, this is so time saving and I not only use it during snack time but also in main dishes like Chole Pulav, Chole Panner and Spicy Chole Masala, they are more like life saving beans. I will shortly share the recipe of other Garbanzo dishes as well. Garbanzo are nutrition-packed and highly filling, Yogurt has all the soothing properties and this undivided combination is like a sunshine on a plate. This is the perfect recipe for those who are lazy summer people, just choose a day and give a worth it time deal and freeze all. Juggle everything into one with spices according to your taste buds and yes! An amazing plate of fresh, nutritive, and crunchy summer treat is done. 

Garbanzo Summer Salad With Refreshing Yogurt Dressing

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 60 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Serves: 2 persons

Ingredients:

2 cups cooking oil

1 cup whisk yogurt, chilled

1 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight and boiled in the morning

1 large boiled and chopped potato

1 medium onion, half moon sliced

Salt, adjust as per the taste

1 tablespoon red chili flakes

A dash of chat masala powder, optional

1 teaspoon of cumin seeds, roasted and powdered

1 cup roughly crushed papdi or nachos

Chopped coriander leaves, for garnish

For Wada: 

1 cup yellow lentil, soaked overnight

 ¼ cup white lentil, soaked overnight

½ teaspoon ginger paste

2 finely chopped green chilies, you can reduce or increase its amount

1 teaspoon baking soda

Water, as per the consistency needed

½ teaspoon salt

For Mint and Cilantro Green Sauce:

2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves

½ cup coriander leaves

4 green chilies

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Salt to taste

For Tamarind Chutney/Sauce: 

Recipe shared earlier, click here.

Method:

• Firstly, boiled soaked chickpeas and potatoes separately.
• Wada: In the morning, Grind soaked and drained yellow and white lentils into a smooth running paste. Transfer the batter in a bowl and beat it slowly for 5 minutes.
• You can cross verify the state of batter by simply filling a bowl with water and later dropping a small amount of batter in the water. If the batter floats over the top of the water - it's ready to fry otherwise keep whisking for another 5 minutes until light in texture.
• If the batter floats on the water, add ½ teaspoon ginger paste, 2 finely chopped green chilies, 1 teaspoon baking soda and mix the batter properly.
• In frying pan, heat cooking oil and fry fritters until golden brown. At this point, you can freeze them in air tight jar for up to a month.
• If you want to eat them straight away - Take a bowl filled with water and 1/2 teaspoon salt, mix water and add fritters. Allow it to soak for 25 minutes. After the soaking method - take them out one by one and squeeze all the extra water by pressing the item with the help of your palms. This step is very crucial as if you don't squeeze all the water away - you will feel the push of water in every bite. After this refrigerate it and remove before serving
• For Green Chutney: Blend 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves, ½ cup coriander leaves, 4 green chilies, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Use water to blend the sauce into a smooth consistency. Adjust the salt and chilies.
• Final Serving for two - In a plate or bowl, add 5 tablespoons of chickpeas, 1-2 tablespoons chopped boiled potatoes, 1 or 2 dumplings, 1 tablespoon onion slices, gentle amount of whisk yogurt at most 1/2 cup, 2 tablespoons each of green chilies sauce and tamarind sauce, as much amount of papdi or nachos, sprinkle red chili flakes, chat masala powder, freshly roasted cumin powder and salt if required. Mix gently and adjust the sauces and spices accordingly. Garnish with chopped cilantro. 
• Serve it with fresh and chilled lime juice. YUM!

Finally! Khaman Dhokla

As we all are locked down with our mains, it is really important to normalize things at home especially when there are special days. Celebrating each occasion during this current pandemic make us appreciate the detail of all the things we were missing. Food is that constitutive part in the celebration that simply adds a generous amount of happiness. As yesterday, it was my husband birthday - a thought of making him feel loved and amazing was all I needed. First and foremost because – I hold the word loss in my mouth, it feels full and heavy, all of a sudden our baby nanu died on 9^th June 2020 leaving us all into a sphere of sadness, it took to grief. It is hard to lose a loved one, we spent our every moment of life with her – she was a companion knitted with immense love and care. To overcome our complicated grief, I decided to cook Hashim favorite cuisine on his birthday and celebrate his day in a simple way as possible. I have cooked all day long since early morning but with a heavy heart. As, whatever I was picking to prepare the meal some veg elements belonged to Nanu. It was difficult to decide the birthday special menu – hence I skipped burgers with french fries option as she was crazy for french fries. She used to hog 15-20 fries without any break. And maybe that’s why we have taken a pause from eating french fries for a while until we don’t find comfort in sadness.

Tantalizing Food { Mix Veggies + Yellowish Khichdi + Stuffed Bullet Peppers }

My super favorite combo of food. Its summer time and all I look for something light and healthy with a zing of spice. Khichdi is always a great option when it comes to something soothing, Previously, I had also shared another recipe of khichdi made with the amalgamation of split moong beans and rice. The only difference between this particular dish is that it comprises of red lentils and rice that are not excessively cooked together on a slow heat. The rice granules are prepared closely like we make normal white rice. That’s it.

Mama's Savory Cake Recipe - Khatta Dhokla

Khatta meaning sour in gujju language and dhokla means steamed and spongy cake concoct through fermentation. Gujjus are die-hard food fanatics for the most part when it is dhoklas. Yellow dhoklas are eaten conventionally and cooked most of the times at my home in Mumbai be it as breakfast, lunch or dinner. Yellow dhokla comes in two forms, if we talk about the taste – the sweet ones are the Khaman dhokla and another is Khatta dhokla which is totally opposite from the taste of the Khaman. I have also shared the recipe of White dhokla that does not necessitate fermentation.