About Ramadan This holy month begins with Ramadan or Ramzan. It is said that the first verses of The Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad in 610 AD by an angel called Jibril during the month of Ramadan. This was the holy night called ‘Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power).’ The legacy followed as the Prophet asked his followers to pass the month in prayers, fasting and other austerities as a mark of respect to Allah....
I make rice-based dishes like Pulao or biryani often at home. After getting the instant pot, I make all the rice recipes in it. About This Recipe Spicy: This vegetable pulao is slightly spicy. here the four ingredients which contribute to the spice and heat are Ginger, garlic, green chillies and red chilli powder. apart from these four ingredients, the other whole spices also lend their warm flavors to the dish....
Apple season is here! I’m usually so sad to see summer and its glorious produce go, but I’m actually looking forward to slowing down this fall. I’m going to bust out my cozy jackets and boots from their hiding places and take my dog Cookie out to admire the changing leaves. To celebrate the beginning of fall, I made a big kale salad with chopped apple and a lemony maple and mustard dressing....
What is Karanji For as long as I can remember we’ve had karanji as part of our festive occasions. Sweet snacks are a big part of celebrations like Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi, so these crispy stuffed treats are always a must-have. In North India, the karanji variant is called Gujiya. There are many different versions of karanji recipes that can be made. Usually they include a simple pastry dough that’s cut into circles, loaded with a variety of sweet goodies and spices, shaped into half moons and deep fried....
What is Kokum Kokum or Garcinia Indica belongs to the mangosteen family. Flourishing in the Western Ghats of India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it is also known as ‘Vrikshamla’ in Ayurveda. It is considered as one of the most cooling fruits rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and other nutrients. The kokum plant is a fast-growing tree bearing small and red color fruits, which are similar in size to that of cherry tomatoes or plums....
About Kulfi Kulfi (or Kulfi Ice Cream) is one of our family’s favorite desserts. Mom would make different types of kulfi, and Dad would get mixed kulfi from a shop on his way home from work. Preparing and serving kulfi reminds me of growing up, making it a very nostalgic treat. In the hot summers in India, Kulfi is a much sought after dessert. I still remember the kulfi wallah (a vendor selling kulfi) carrying a large earthen pot on his head and selling kulfi door-to-door....
Malai kulfi is one of the family favorites. Though I have posted some quick versions of kulfi, have not yet shared the traditional method of preparing kulfi. In my teens, I used to prepare quick version of Kulfi recipe made with khoya or condensed milk. Later I came to know about the traditional method of preparing kulfi and occasionally I do use this method to make kulfi. In this method, rabri is made with milk....
About This Recipe Margherita pizza is a simple, delicious pizza that’s easy to make at home. What makes a Margherita special is just how brilliantly basic it is. The best versions feature mozzarella and parmesan cheese over a zesty tomato sauce, and include plenty of fresh basil. You can add tomato slices, too, for an extra pop of flavor. My favorite Margherita pizza recipe is made with a yummy Whole Wheat Pizza Crust and homemade Pizza Sauce....
About Misal Pav The word “Misal” here is for the sprouts curry and Pav are Indian dinner rolls. Actually, in the Marathi language, the word misal means mixture. This sprouts curry is also called as usal. There are many variations of making misal pav in Maharashtra. Usually, moth bean sprouts (also known as matki in Marathi language) is used to make the misal. But if you don’t have sprouted moth beans then make the misal recipe with mixed beans sprouts or sprouted moong beans....
About Moong Dal Halwa The Moong Dal Halwa recipe might be a calorie laden one. But you really can’t say no to something that is so delicious, almost addictive I would say. You’ll know this once you take a bite of it. The heart will desire more and more of it. The quantity of ghee that goes in an authentic recipe of Moong Dal Halwa will also give you some stress....
About This Mysore Pak Recipe Mysore pak recipe is a super delicious and popular sweet with origins at Mysore (also spelled Mysuru) Palace. This traditional recipe is attributed to Kakasura Madappa, the chief chef of Maharaja and food-lover Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, who ruled until 1912. Pak, paka or pakka means “sweet,” and in this case refers to the sugar syrup the candy is prepared with. But while the name Mysore Pak may explain where the treat comes from, no name could do justice to its flavor....
Why This Recipe Works A stuffed onion paratha tastes more flavorful than a paratha which is made with onions mixed in the dough. And it is this stuffed method that makes all the difference in this recipe. A mixture of raw onions with spices is the stuffing. Do not worry as the raw onions get cooked and softened when roasting the paratha. So you enjoy the crispy layer of paratha filled with softened onions with a few hints of heat from the green chillies....
I can’t take my eyes off this salad! The concept came to me as I was improvising a big green salad for Friendsgiving this year. Salads are often overlooked at the holidays, so I set out to make a festive red-and-green showstopper. I knew I wanted to incorporate ruby-red pomegranate arils and fresh pear, since they’re both so delicious this time of year. I added Honeycrisp apple, goat cheese and pecans for good measure....
This fresh pomegranate salsa recipe is bursting with sweet-and-spicy flavor. It’s a fun holiday appetizer or wintertime snack. You can serve it with tortilla chips like any other salsa. Of course, a side of guacamole is always a good idea. For a special Christmas salsa presentation, try it as shown here, with whipped goat cheese as a creamy base and the salsa arranged in a wreath-like shape on top. This variation goes well with sturdy crostini or crisp toasted pita....
About Quesadilla Quesadillas are one of our all time favorite comfort foods. Who doesn’t love the idea of a handheld pocket of melted cheese and deliciously seasoned vegetables? If you are unfamiliar with this simple Mexican dish, prepare to fall in love. Corn tortillas are heated in a skillet and filled with heaps of shredded cheese and spiced veggies to melty perfection. The end result is dipped into an assortment of sauces like spicy Tomato Salsa, chunky avocado Guacamole and cooling sour cream....
More on Rasam Powder If you are confused between Rasam Powder and rasam, then let me clear your confusion. Rasam is a sour soup or broth like beverage made with tamarind, spices, lentils and herbs. On the other hand, Rasam Powder is a ground spice mix that is added to the rasam to make it even more flavorful. In the Tamil language, Rasam Powder is also referred to as Rasam Podi, where the word ‘podi’ means a ground powder....
About This Raw Mango Chutney This Green Mango Chutney one of the choicest ones from my mother’s recipe books and I’ve literally grown on it. I love it, not just because its my mom’s recipe, but also because it is easy to make, quite hassle-free and still tastes yummy. Just a few ingredients, about four to five steps in the method and voila! You’ve got a scintillating and sumptuous chutney ready in minutes....
More on Ribbon Pakoda There are many ways that you can bring in variations in the preparation of murukku. This is usually done by altering the proportions of rice flour, gram flour (besan) and oil or butter. To enhance the flavors and make it more interesting and festive like, you can modify the recipe by adding various spices and herbs. Similar is the case with Ribbon Pakoda Recipe as well. Even the Ribbon Pakoda can be prepared in a variety of ways with different proportions of gram flour and rice flour....
About Rushichi Bhaji As I mentioned in the beginning, the second day of the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as Rishi Panchami in Maharashtra, and Malvan and Konkan regions. On this day, each of the ‘sapta rishi (seven sages)’ are worshipped and remembered. They are Kashyapa, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Atri, Gautam, Bharadwaj and Vashishta. Sage Vashishta’s wife Arundhati is worshipped too. Rushichi Bhaji is a special delicacy that is cooked on this day....
Have you ever tried roasting your mushrooms? I discovered during the making of my cookbook that roasting not-so-fancy mushrooms condenses their flavors into gourmet territory. They transform from spongy raw fungi into tender, richly flavored umami bombs along the way. I understand that mushrooms aren’t for everyone (sometimes, they’re not even for me), but I’m into these roasted mushrooms. For those of you who are on the fence when it comes to mushrooms, I hope this recipe brings you over to my side....
