The scent of wild garlic is once again wafting through the woodlands of Britain. This year it’s even been in the news, though sadly not for the right reasons. It seems it’s getting too popular for its own good and some people (or maybe restaurants) are over-harvesting this precious seasonal delicacy. Our local patch has […]
My Signature Dishes
Olya Harbharyachi Amti / Saar / Green Chickpea Soup / ओल्या हरभऱ्याची आमटी
We take so many things for granted in our kitchen; if we want to make a quick ‘chole’ we can easily grab a tin of chickpeas from the store cupboard, pop it open, pour it into a pan with some fried onion, garlic, spices etc. turn up the heat and a few minutes later it’s […]
Turichya Ghugrya / Whole Pigeon Pea curry
Turichya ghugrya / तुरीच्या घुगऱ्या aka whole pigeon peas or whole toor beans with pearl millet flatbread / बाज़रीची भाकरी is a winter staple where I grew up in India and a meal I fondly remember having at my grandparents’, all of whom were farmers. They knew their food way better than I do today. […]
How to sprout horse gram and other legumes?
Other than increasing the nutrient value of legumes, sprouting also enhances their flavour and makes them easily digestible. Horse gram, a much underrated and inexpensive legume from India, is actually one of the most protein-rich lentils on the planet. It’s a powerhouse of protein, essential amino acids, carbohydrates, calcium, iron and fibre so no wonder […]
Pav Bhaji Pinwheels / Pav Bhaji Swirls
If you are lucky enough to be hosting friends at home for a Christmas party (or any other party come to that) you’ll need to think of something for your guests to munch on. A lot of traditional Indian food doesn’t lend itself to the party buffet. Take the pav bhaji, for example, it’s quite […]
Black-Eyed Bean Curry / Chawli Chi Usal
Black-eyed beans (also called black-eyed peas or ‘chawli’, ‘chavli’ or ‘lobia’ in India) are a much-underrated legume. Known as ‘usal’ (pronounced ‘oo-sal’) in the region of India I come from, this dish gives me some mean cravings in autumn when the weather starts to get a bit chilly and damp in the UK. These pale […]
Pudina Poha Chiwda / Pudinyacha Chivda / Mint Flavoured Flattened Rice Snack / पातळ पोह्यांचा चिवडा
I don’t need a festival like Diwali to enjoy my delicious stash of ‘chivda’ or ‘chiwda’. I make it throughout the year whenever my stocks are low, mainly to satisfy my untimely but guilt-free snack hunger pangs. Also, I enjoy savoury breakfasts a tad more than sweet ones and this Maharashtrian chiwda ticks all my […]
Wild-plum chutney
I love wild food, there is nothing more sustainable than food that you pick yourself. Whenever there is an abundance of fruit we naturally think about preserving. Chutneys, jams and pickles all spring to mind. So with the local hedgerows groaning under the weight of a bumper wild plum crop, I came up with this […]
Maharashtrian Kadhi
Kadhi, needs no introduction to an Indian. It is often about as yellow as a dal but tastes nothing like it. It’s so versatile, that almost every corner of India has whipped up its own version of this dish. This unsung dish can be prepared in just 30 minutes so on hectic days when you’re […]
Eggless Blackberry Cake
Foraging food that grows wild in the local countryside is second nature to me. Whenever I collect ingredients from the local hedgerows and woodlands I feel so much more connected with nature and the seasons. I am truly blessed to live close to such a prolific source of tasty ingredients so I just have to […]
Asparagus And Wild Garlic Risotto
When the wild garlic and English asparagus seasons coincide, then one can think of numerous ways of enjoying this seasonal and foraged produce. When I have lots of foraged wild garlic in hand, I often stir-fry it in butter and serve as a side dish with pretty much any meal. Same goes for in-season asparagus. […]
Quinoa With Red Peppers And Broccoli
Quinoa is a seed that is a staple diet in parts of South America. In recent years it has become popular in other parts of the world having been touted as a so-called superfood and is supposed to have various health benefits. That is all fine with me, but I like it because it tastes […]
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