Love is in the air this weekend… or is it in the risotto pot? Well this risotto is perfect throughout the winter months when the nights are dark and frosty but it makes a stunning and thoroughly comforting Valentine’s meal for two. Beetroot has a lovely sweet earthy flavour and that colour screams of passion. […]
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Maharashtrian Horse Gram Curry / Kulith Usal
My winter meal of choice is this ‘hulgyachi rassedar usal’ also called ‘kulith usal’ (हुलगे / कुळीथची उसळ). It is a delicious runny curry of sprouted horse gram, very popular in rural Maharashtra. Horse gram or ‘kulith’ is an excellent source of protein in a vegan diet. Why is horse gram so popular amongst […]
Crispy Baked Okra / Kurkuri Bhindi
From the moment they come out of the oven I just can’t stop munching these little crispy bhindi snacks. There’s no need to feel guilty about scoffing these little treats though. They are low in fat being oven-roasted rather than fried, with a very light gluten-free batter made from besan (gram flour), light spices and amchoor powder (green […]
Indian Gooseberry Pickle / Amle Ki Launji
Indian gooseberries or amla are regarded as highly beneficial to health in traditional medicine and are widely grown in India. I wanted to have a go at making this amla pickle aka ‘amle ki launji’, a spicy tangy delicacy of northern India, ever since I spotted some fresh ones at our local Asian grocer. This recipe […]
Vermicelli Kheer / Homemade Shevayanchi Kheer
Festivals or not, vermicelli kheer is a must-have dessert in most Indian households. It is popular and has many names – sevai kheer or semiya kheer or in Maharashtra, the state of India I grew up in, it is often called shevayanchi kheer (शेवायांची’ खीर’). If you have an Indian store nearby, you may buy […]
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 […]
Stuffed Cauliflower Flatbread / Gobi Paratha
Popular Indian flatbread stuffed with cauliflower, coriander and green chillies. As a kid, I grew up in a family where breakfast was never just a bowl of cereal or a slice of toast. My mum often treated us to much tastier breakfasts that could also be packed in a lunchbox (more colloquially called ‘Tiffin box’) […]
Dill ‘Subzi’ / Shepuchi bhaji / शेपूची भाजी
Made with fresh dill, garlic and green chillies, a simple and healthy Maharashtrian farmer’s meal
Smoked Aubergine Mash / Baingan Ka Bharta
Flame roasted aubergines cooked with garlic, onions, green chillies and tomatoes. Vegan and gluten free dish
Tandoori Roast Poussin
We are not big meat-eaters. So, oven-busting Sunday roasts don’t tend to happen in our house and if we cooked a turkey for Christmas day we’d probably still be eating the leftovers at Easter. A small bird like a poussin is perfect for us and this recipe with tandoori spices has become something of a […]
Clementine Drizzle Cake
I often bake this in the depths of winter, around Christmas when oranges are a regular part of the festivities. The tradition of placing an orange in Christmas stockings dates back to times when they were a much rarer commodity than today. They were considered a luxury and therefore a really special treat. Even in […]
Homemade Pizza
We don’t have any frozen pizza in the Zanzaneet freezer. But we have our own fake-away homemade pizza that Aarya loves making with me. It takes a bit of patience to let the dough rise; our mini chef loves nothing better than getting hands-on with the pizza dough. And getting the whole family involved, […]
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