I’m an idea person. You know what I mean? I get really excited about new concepts and novel ways to combine things. It’s my nature. After I created this blog, I started to get bigger and better ideas about food. Through my camera lens, I saw ingredients broken down into colors and textures. Then the flavors seemed more abstract, and I learned that I could combine them like paint on an artist’s palette....

Let me just say, going from Weetbix to this was a warm welcome to my cold and miserable morning. I know I’ve dressed up oatmeal before with the Nutella Hot Chocolate Oatmeal, but figs were all around me. Beautifully ripened fresh-from-the-trees figs… And, I know this will shock me as much as it will shock you guys, but I needed a chocolate break. See? Shock, I know. Don’t worry, there’s a killer cheesecake with a truckload of chocolate (ahem – oreos and maybe Nutella) coming your way soon....

Serve these cauliflower steaks topped with cilantro chutney or mint chutney or alongside your favorite protein. What is Cauliflower Steak? Cauliflower steak is cauliflower that has been cut into thick, steak-like slabs, then seasoned and roasted until tender in the oven. Think of it like rich and buttery roasted cauliflower florets, but presented, eaten, and enjoyed like a traditional steak. I love cauliflower for this very reason! It is so versatile and can be enjoyed in so many different fashions solely based on cut and seasoning....

Punjabis love their Rajma masala, Dal makhani, Chole masala and parathas. There are many variations of making chickpea-based recipes and this is one more popular variation of chickpeas with cottage cheese. This chole paneer does not use any chole masala and nor do you need to grind any masala. Just the regular Indian spices are added to the gravy. The dish is made in less time in a pressure cooker....

Cherry tomatoes are the bomb.com…and roasting them and mixing them through the sauce lifts the flavour to a unique sweetness and incredible level. Especially vine-ripened tomatoes. If you can get a hold of them, the juicy flavour they hold is so unique. You can thank me later. This is my ultimate, carb loving indulgence that I enjoy at least once a week, in the midst of salads and grilled chicken....

It’s grilling season! Let’s talk all about chimichurri sauce. Chimichurri is a bold and refreshing herbed sauce hailing from Argentina. There are two kinds of chimichurri sauce, green and red. This recipe is for the more common green variety (chimichurri verde). Authentic chimichurri verde is made with parsley, garlic, red onion, red pepper flakes, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. These simple ingredients yield a spectacularly delicious green sauce....

My dog, Cookie, and I have been visiting the vet three times a week lately. We don’t mind the excursion. The girls behind the desk are fun to be around and Cookie loves the attention. She has quickly become a staff favorite (of course!). It’s also a prime spot for people watching. I always feel like I’m experiencing that 101 Dalmations scene where all of the dogs match their owners, remember that one?...

If you’re a fan of chai lattes and turmeric, you’re going to love this recipe. This ultra creamy golden milk is inspired by traditional Indian turmeric milk (haldi doodh), but it is by no means authentic. In its most basic form, haldi doodh is made with turmeric (haldi) stirred into milk (doodh) or tea. Typically, households will add more warming spices to the mix, including ginger, cinnamon and cardamom....

Ennai means oil and Kathirikai means brinjal (aubergines, eggplants). Here the brinjals are fried or sautéed in oil first. Hence the name ennai kathirikai in Tamil language which means ‘brinjals in oil’ or ‘oily brinjals’. Kulambu are gravy based dishes from the Tamil Nadu cuisine. Even if the term ‘ennai kathirikai’ means oily brinjals, it does not imply that a lot of oil is used in the recipe. I do make kulambu recipes on occasions and I have already shared some kulambu varieties :...

Cheers! It’s peach season, which means it’s also bellini season. Bellinis are sparkling Italian cocktails made with two simple ingredients: Prosecco and peach purée. They’re fizzy and refreshing, with more body than your average cocktail. Bellinis are easy to make, and perfect when you’re hosting brunch or soaking up a lazy summer weekend. They’re a fun alternative to a mimosa, and feel a little more fancy. Maybe because they’re Italian....

I have Friendsgiving on my mind. Not Thanksgiving and its boring, beige, turkey-mashed-potatoes-and-gravy plates, but the boozy Thanksgiving-with-friends edition that we call Friendsgiving. Friendsgiving features turkey, of course, but also offers many colorful, vegetarian sides and at least two pies. At least. I’m attending two Friendsgivings this year: one this weekend and one the next, which will be shortly followed by the real Thanksgiving with my family. I’ll be rolling into December in my stretchy pants....

About Gobi Matar Gobi or cauliflower is a much-loved vegetable in any North Indian, especially Punjabi household. The same is the case with mine as after my marriage, I’m a half Punjabi now. And I totally love it! So, it is also not surprising that we make a Cauliflower dish at least once a week. Typically, I just make Aloo Gobi, Cauliflower Fry, Aloo Gobi Matar or just this Gobi Matar....

I grew up eating a very typical Punjabi preparation of Greens Beans and Carrots, called Beans Gajar, and still love it. But every once in a while, I like to switch the seasonings on sides, so I can enjoy them in more than in one way. This recipe is exactly that. It’s a southern-Indian recipe from the gorgeous coastal state of Kerala, in which veggies are sautéed with desiccated coconut and seasoned with mild spices....

Refreshing, sweet and savoury all at the same time! A popular reader favourite, this Honey Mustard Chicken Salad has been remade all over the world time and time again! You all know me by now that when I create a salad recipe, it ends up being a giant salad that’s a meal in itself. Chicken Salad THIS was the number 1 chicken salad recipe on Pinterest and Facebook for all of 2016 and 2017!...

I love lentils. They’re highly nutritious, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and come in a range of colors and textures. All that, and they can be truly delicious—if you know how to cook them properly. This lentil recipe yields perfectly cooked lentils, every time. Lentils are one of my favorite plant-based sources of protein, right up there with their legume cousins, black beans and chickpeas. The beauty of lentils is that they don’t take long to cook (around 20 minutes or so), whereas beans require a couple of hours on the stove....

Have you tried cauliflower rice? It’s a perfectly versatile, light side dish. I was skeptical of the concept at first, but now I’ll admit that it can be awesome. I’ll share all my tricks with you today. If you, like me, are craving lighter meals as the weather warms up, try serving cauliflower rice instead of white or brown rice. It’s similar in texture, with a nice savory flavor, and it’s pure vegetables!...

Enjoy basmati rice as a side dish to curries, dal, and so much more. Nothing beats the taste of freshly cooked rice! But the magic behind basmati rice is its sought-after nutty and al dente texture. If you’re already a pro at making rice on the stove, this recipe gives you a fail-proof way of making rice in your Instant Pot, hands-off style. Here are some advantages of the stove-top recipe:...

In this post for the Water Test for Instant Pot, I’ll walk you through easy step-by-step instructions for your Instant Pot DUO or Instant Pot ULTRA. I also have a helpful video, that will add clarity and get you started in no time! Why do the Water Test? I get that question a lot! A lot of first-time Instant Pot owners wonder why they should do this water test. Here is why I think it is important:...

Make Chinese restaurant quality Kung Pao Chicken in your own kitchen with this easy to follow recipe. With crispy, tender, mouthwatering chicken pieces swimming in the most delicious, silky Chinese sauce, this is one Kung Pao chicken recipe that’ll be hard to pass up! WHAT IS KUNG PAO CHICKEN You’ve tried Sweet and Sour Pork, Chicken Cow Mein and Chinese Lemon Chicken, well now it’s time to meet the final boss – Kung Pao Chicken!...

About Lauki Soup I was introduced to this simple, yet flavorful soup recipe by my Spanish friend. So, this is a Spanish way of making the Bottle Gourd Soup. Since zucchinis and courgettes are more popular in Spain, the Spaniards prefer their version of this soup with this family of summer squash, and not bottle gourd. But one day my friend used bottle gourd in her recipe and the result was this amazingly delicious thick, creamy and wholesome Bottle Gourd Soup....