Tag Archives: Indian food

Devi’s Carrot Coconut Chutney

My friend Devi is an amazing cook. She has to be, since she has been cooking her entire life for her family, extended family, and friends for more than 50 years. There are so many recipes she shares with me, but most of them go over my head, as I’m usually not writing them down. But this carrot chutney recipe I did write down, that’s because I’ve been having it at her place for years now whenever she invites me over for lunch. The menu is almost always the same – her fluffy idlis, delicious lentil sambhar, and her two chutneys – coconut chutney and carrot chutney.  Everything is as expected scrumptious, but her carrot chutney is always the star of the meal.

It’s hard to describe the taste of Devi’s carrot chutney, let me just say that when you have it you can’t stop eating it. You can have it with toast, with crackers, mix it into rice, have it over chicken or fish, on a burger, and of course with idli or dosa; any way you eat it, it will be delicious. Here is the recipe. Continue reading Devi’s Carrot Coconut Chutney

Rajma. North Indian Spiced Kidney Beans

Rajma is a North Indian kidney-bean curry that is usually eaten with white rice. Rajma is one of those dishes I make when I’ve run out of fresh veggies or don’t feel like cutting a bunch of veggies. It’s quick and easy yet nutritious and delicious all at the same time. If you are like me and always have a few non-perishable goods on hand like a selection of canned beans and tomato sauce, rajma will become one of those go-to meals to make in an instant.
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Roasted Mushrooms, Peppers, Paneer Curry

Every time I roast mushrooms for a pasta dish or quiche or even as an appetizer it always occurs to me that these gorgeous roasted mushrooms would taste wonderful with some Indian spices. I finally decided one day to make that roasted mushroom curry I’d been thinking about for a long time. I added paneer (pressed curd cheese) to the dish to give it some substance, but you can also use tofu or any meat of your choice instead.  Here is the recipe.

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Celebrating the Indian Harvest Festival of Shankranthi. A harvest inspired vegetarian feast.

After days and weeks of solid good rain here in Northern California, we finally see some sunshine 😊🌞.  It seriously feels like spring – Not! Birds are chirping as if it is spring, little do they know that rain and cool temperatures are coming back very soon – within a few days 🌧.

Continue reading Celebrating the Indian Harvest Festival of Shankranthi. A harvest inspired vegetarian feast.

Uma’s Spiced Coconut Quinoa

This coconut quinoa dish is a variation of a traditional South Indian Tamil rice pilaf called Thenga Sadham (coconut rice). In this version my cousin Uma made the same coconut rice but with quinoa instead of rice when we went for lunch one weekend. Continue reading Uma’s Spiced Coconut Quinoa