Yogurt is a staple in the daily diets of many Indians. It balances the heat and warmth of the Indian spices, and in the summer months, it helps deal with the heat. This is why raita is a common addition to everyday meals in most north-Indian homes. I love making a variety of raitas, some of my favorites include boondi raita, onion raita, and avocado raita. Today I’m featuring my kids’ favorite- Cucumber raita....

About Aloo ki Sabji There’s hardly anytime that you can go wrong with either potatoes, tomatoes or a combination of both. Especially in Indian cuisine, these 2 vegetables are the simplest to work with, yet make for amazingly delicious dishes. At home as well, the pairing like in this Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabji makes for a comforting dish. I’ve said this in my other posts, but I’m going to reiterate – it is almost a critical situation at home, if there is no aloo or tamatar in my vegetable tray....

Makki ki roti, a quintessential Punjabi delicacy, holds a special place in my heart since it brings back fond childhood memories. It’s not just a flatbread; it’s a warm embrace of tradition, flavor, and simplicity. It is traditionally enjoyed during the winter months in the north. Its hearty and warming qualities make it the perfect comfort food during chilly evenings, especially when paired with sarson ka saag! Today, I’m sharing my mother-in-law’s foolproof recipe and tips to make this classic flatbread easily....

Just like our Best Fluffy Pancakes, Crepes are extremely versatile and easy to make! This Easy To Make Crepes recipe features a number of helpful tips and tricks that are guaranteed to help you create delicate, soft and buttery French Crepes every single time! So versatile, you can make them for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or dessert! WHAT ARE CREPES? Similar to American pancakes and Buttermilk Pancakes, French crepes have a mild, sweet, cake-like flavour, but a very different size and texture....

Scrambled eggs are a staple in my home. They are filling yet light, packed with protein, and super quick to make. But Egg Bhurji aka Indian scrambled eggs are on an entirely different level! It’s a breakfast-for-dinner recipe my family looks forward to. Growing up, my dad made these scrumptious masala scrambled eggs for dinner weekly. He cooked the eggs with fresh tomatoes, onions, assorted vegetables, and ginger, and seasoned them with warm spices....

This balsamic vinaigrette recipe deserves a moment in the spotlight. When you’re improvising a seasonal salad, no matter how simple or elaborate, balsamic vinaigrette is always an excellent choice. It’s a classic for a reason, and I love the lightly figgy flavor that balsamic vinegar imparts. This balsamic dressing strikes a delicate balance between tangy and sweet. It’s just right. This homemade balsamic vinaigrette calls for basic pantry ingredients, yet tastes far superior to any store-bought dressing....

I have news. No, I didn’t get a promotion. No, I’m not moving (yet). No, I’m not engaged (hahaaa). Are you ready for this? I got a dishwasher! Found him on craigslist, a portable Whirlpool, and he’s the most beautiful hunk of metal I’ve ever seen. I only wish we had met sooner, because washing dishes by hand has been the bane of my existence over the past year. You can reasonably expect more recipes to come out of my tiny kitchen now that I have his help....

Here’s the birthday girl: Cookie is my mystery puppy—I don’t know where she was born, who her parents were, or even what breeds they are. Favorite made-up mixes so far are schipperhoula (schipperke + catahoula leopard dog) and blue russell (blue heeler + jack russell terrier). What’s your best guess? I must admit, I was excited when I connected the Earth Day-Cookie birthday link. I’m a holiday baby myself (Christmas Day) and it’s only fitting that my dog be born on a holiday as well....

Harissa-Roasted Turnips is adapted from Easy Keto in 30 Minutes: More than 100 Ketogenic Recipes from Around the World © 2019 by Urvashi Pitre. Photography © 2019 by Ghazalle Badiozamani. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. Turnips- The Underrated Root Vegetable My girls and I took a trip to one of our local farmer’s markets over the weekend and while perusing the different vegetable stalls, I came across a large pile of turnips....

Use this protein-rich mix to make Thandai, an Indian cold drink served during the festival of Holi and Maha Shivaratri. What is Thandai Powder? Thandai powder is a flavor-packed blend of ground peppercorns, cardamom, fennel, poppy seeds, melon seeds, saffron, rose petals, cashews, almonds, and pistachios. It is used to make Thandai, the colorful, sweetly scented milk-based drink. Although easy to find in stores, I find homemade thandai powder is a cinch to make....

Once prepped and clean, make stuffed mushrooms or this cozy cream of mushroom soup with them! Mushrooms are a meaty, plump, and porous vegetable that absorb any sort of liquid or oil like a sponge. They add a lovely texture and special umami flavor - and are among one the most popular ingredients for vegetarians. So after much trial and error, I have finally come across the best way to clean mushrooms - and it’s much easier than you think!...

Roasted garlic is a revelation. Have you tried it? When you roast garlic long enough, it transforms from pungent and crisp to mellow and soft. It’s irresistibly caramelized and spreads over bread like butter. Roasted garlic seems indulgent, but it’s really just garlic with a little bit of olive oil. Like I said, it’s a revelation. I’ve loved roasted garlic since my friend introduced me to it in college. We developed a funny routine of roasting tons of garlic, which we enjoyed with crusty bread, too much red wine, and episode after episode of Arrested Development....

Idiyappam was made in my home for breakfast and my mom usually served it with Coconut Chutney. I still like to have idiyappam with coconut chutney which is not what it is commonly served with. I do make idiyappam once in a while for breakfast. We make idiyappam with rice flour. Thus the recipe shared here shows how to make idiyappam with rice flour. The recipe uses just 4 ingredients in its making....

About Grilled Sandwich Recipe This is another easy and healthy veg grilled sandwich recipe that can be made for a quick breakfast and brunch. Though the grilled sandwich recipe is similar to Bombay Veg Sandwich, it is the grilling that makes a huge difference. While you can omit the grilling to make this more like a basic veggie sandwich, I’m here to tell you that this simple step makes all the difference....

Serve jasmine rice as a side dish to Thai curry, stir-fry and so much more. Jasmine rice is a wonderfully fragrant, super versatile grain to serve as a compliment to many main Asian dishes. I particularly enjoy cooking this rice in my Instant Pot. It’s a fast, simple, and hands-off cooking approach that results in perfectly plump rice every time - no stirring or watching the pot required. You will never go back to cooking rice on the stovetop again!...

Ever have a crazy hard-core Jam (Jelly) Donut craving that you just need a hit of Donut on your tongue? If not…then this would be an awkward moment. If you answered yes, however, then we can be friends. (Wait. Donut? Or Doughnut? Don’t judge me) The only problem with donuts is all the effort that goes into making donuts. I mean, steaming; yeasting; chilling; waiting; frying; 36 degree body burns from oil spitting; not usually an issue making them in normal people hours…....

The first time I made this Keema Naan pizza, I was in food heaven. After all, I had just combined two of my all-time favorites, Pizza and Indian food! Naan Pizza is one of my family’s favorite TGIF dinners. It’s easy, delicious and everyone gets to customize their own pizza. When my kids were younger, we used to make pizza from scratch. Kids would love to help in kneading the dough, sprinkling the pizza board with flour, roll out the pizza dough into ‘anything but round’ shapes:-)....

What is Kheer The make of the Indian sweet dish (dessert) Kheer usually consists of cereals, lentils or their flours. Sometimes even fruits and veggies. It resembles a pudding, and traditionally made with milk, sugar and some dry fruits. The choice flavorings include certain spices like saffron, cardamom, nutmeg, etc. and others like rose water, kewra water, etc. You may use vanilla or other fancy ingredients to flavor some of the modern-day preparations....

About Lauki Thepla Like I mentioned in the beginning, bottle gourd or calabash or long melon or opo squash is also known by various other regional names in india. Like, lauki, dudhi, ghiya, sorakaya, etc. This light green colored tender gourd is also the star ingredient in this recipe of Lauki Thepla. Picture this: as you take a bite, the tender texture of dudhi melds seamlessly with the earthiness of flours, and the warmth of cumin, coriander, turmeric, red chili powder and hints of ginger-green chili paste....

This luscious Mango Cheesecake is a must-have during my Indian dinner parties or Diwali get-togethers. It’s the perfect make-ahead dessert that actually tastes more delicious the following day. This velvety-smooth masterpiece combines the creamy goodness of a traditional cheesecake with the exotic essence of mangoes, pistachios, and cardamom. What is Mango Cheesecake Mango cheesecake is a delectable fusion dessert that combines the creaminess of a traditional cheesecake with the tropical sweetness of ripe mangoes....