My Signature Dishes

Coconut Cashew Modak
Gluten-free, Indian, Indian desserts, Maharashtrian, My Signature Dishes, Recipes, Regional, Vegetarian

Cashew Coconut Modak / Kaju Khirapat Modak / काजू खिरापत मोदक

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi and a happy welcome to the ‘Vighnaharta’ – the harbinger of troubles; the ‘Vinayaka’ – the god of wisdom. This pot-bellied-single-tusked God of new beginnings is perhaps the most recognisable of Hindu deities as well as one of the most loved. Today marks the start of a 10-day festival when people install […]

Stuffed bittergourd
Gluten-free, Maharashtrian, My Signature Dishes, Recipes, Regional, Vegan

Low Waste Stuffed Bittergourd / Bharli Karli / भरली कारली

If ever there were a vegetable that deserves the label ‘an acquired taste’ it is the karela or aptly named bitter gourd. The first time you taste it you could be forgiven for thinking that the chef has made a mistake and served some inedibly bitter vegetable. Some give up after that first mouthful, but […]

Gluten-free, Indian, Maharashtrian, My Signature Dishes, Recipes, Snack, Vegan

Hurda Bhajani Thalipeeth / Tender Sorghum Flatbreads

India has an endless variety of flatbreads. Some are simple, like the humble chapati or roti, merely accompaniments to a ‘main dish’. Others are more elaborate and serve as a meal in themselves. Thalipeeth, packed with a mixture of healthy grains, spices and veggies, is definitely in the latter category. Thalipeeth is a perfect example […]

Ridge gourd curry aka dodkyachi bhaji
Gluten-free, Indian, Maharashtrian, My Signature Dishes, Recipes, Vegan

Ridge Gourd Curry / Dodkyachi Bhaji / दोडक्याची भाजी

Ridge gourd or Dodka in Marathi, was never my favourite. But since I moved away from my homeland and saw less of it, the more I missed its mild flavour and subtle sweetness. So recently I decided to make it slightly more interesting by adapting my Mum’s recipe a bit.  It’s not the most visually […]

Gluten-free, Indian, Maharashtrian, My Signature Dishes, Recipes, Vegan

Fresh Fenugreek Stir-Fry / Methi chi Bhaji / मेथीची भाजी 

There are some jobs in the kitchen that still need to be done the hard way. The labour-saving gadget that my husband craves the most is the auto-methi-leaf-picker™. Alas, modern science has yet to fulfil his needs. So I know that I’m going to get a few moans whenever I bring 3 or 4 bunches […]

Gluten-free, Maharashtrian, My Signature Dishes, Recipes, Regional, Vegan

Matkichi Usal / Moth Bean Usal / मटकीची उसळ

The most popular usal (उसळ) dish in Maharashtra, the state in India I hail from, is undoubtedly the classic – matkichi usal. If that name sounds unfamiliar to you, then you just need to know what matki and usal are. Matki means moth beans (pronounced ‘moath’ or ‘mote’) and usal (pronounced ‘oo-sul’ or ‘oo-sal’) is […]

A bottle gourd peel thecha is shown in a shallow pan laid on a dark brown wooden board with bottle gourds seen in the background
Gluten-free, Maharashtrian, My Signature Dishes, Pickles & chutney, Recipes, Vegan

Bottle gourd peel thecha / Bhoplyachya salancha thecha / भोपळ्याच्या सालांचा ठेचा 

Bottle gourd, also known as dudhi in India, is a very versatile vegetable. Although it’s classed as exotic produce in the UK, it has become a common find in Indian grocery stores across the UK. A long pale green bottle gourd with delicate white flesh inside dotted with soft edible seeds is rather delicious (and […]