If there’s ever been a dessert that springs to mind when I hear someone say ‘melt-in-mouth’, then it’s besan laddoo. For me it’s rather evocative. The thought of it stirs emotions of holding the besan (gram flour) dough and moulding it, using the heat of your palms, until a neat round ball of ‘laddoo’ or […]
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 […]
Chocolate Modak With Coconut Filling
Modaks are traditionally made during Ganesh Chaturthi to celebrate Lord Ganesha’s birthday and it’s customary to spoil him with his favourite sweet, that’s modaks. While ‘ukadiche modaks’ are my personal favourite (as well as Ganesha’s), my daughter can’t appreciate the Ganpati festivities until she gets to eat this dainty dark chocolate and coconut variety. So, […]
Puran poli / पुरणपोळी / Maharashtrian sweet lentil flatbreads
Whether it’s the Hindu festival of colours (called Holi), or a farming festival of oxen (called Bail Pola), a Maharashtrian puran poli is not to be missed. It’s traditional to make this Marathi delicacy for festivals like Holi, Diwali, Bail Pola, Ganesh Chaturthi and Gudi Padwa. I feel obliged to roll some of these sweet […]
Pearl Millet Khichdi / Bajra Khichdi / Bajrichi khichdi /
When the weather gets chilly, a hearty bowl of ‘bajrichi khichadi’ becomes the cosy quilt my tastebuds long for. Right now we could all do with some of the winter warmth in a bowl that is pearl millet khichdi, or bajrichi khichdi as we call it in Maharashtra. It’s a staple in rural parts where […]
Vegetable Bombay Biryani
In Mumbai’s bustling streets, where vibrant chaos and diverse cultures come together, there lies a culinary masterpiece that has captured the hearts of millions – the Bombay Biryani. This iconic dish is a symphony of flavours, a testament to the rich culinary heritage of the city and a must-try for anyone seeking a gastronomic adventure. […]
How To Make Paneer At Home?
My daughter came home from school the other day with questions about cheesemaking after it was mentioned in one of her lessons. She remembered that I sometimes make paneer at home and I decided it was about time I satisfied her curiosity and introduced her to the process of making this versatile ingredient at home. […]
Coconut And Savoy Cabbage Vol-Au-Vents
Pistou Soup
Autumn is the time for warm soups. Hearty, comfort food. Ready for dunking crusty white bread or sprinkling with croutons. The perfect antidote to the rainy day blues. Having said that, we are having one of the warmest autumns on record. So there is still basil growing in my garden in mid-November. So how do […]
Leek & Potato Soup
The nights are getting longer, the skies are getting greyer and though it’s rather late this year autumn is upon us. When it gets gloomy outside and we all start to feel a bit chilly there’s nothing more comforting than a nice bowl of warm soup. But you need something substantial to keep the shivers […]
Masale Bhat
The world is blessed with so many different ways to cook rice. Where would we be without this humble grain? So many souls are sustained by it. But for such a mundane ingredient it’s amazing how it forms the basis for something unique to the region that I grew up in, the wonderful masale bhat. […]
Tilgulachi Vadi / Sesame Peanut Flapjacks
We Indians, never pass up the opportunity to make jaggery-based sweet treats in the cooler months. And the festival of Makar Sankranti gives all the more reason to make these ‘til-gulachi vadi’, as we call them in Marathi or ‘sesame-peanut flapjack’ as my English husband once described them as he popped one in his mouth […]


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