Zucchini Eggplant Stir Fry Curry
Ingredients:
Coconut chutney is such an ubiquitous side condiment in every South Indian home that at any given time there is almost always coconut chutney available and ready to be had with any food of one’s choice. Naturally with such a common dish every family has their own variation. I posted a recipe for a quick and easy coconut chutney a while back, in this new version I would like to share with you my friend Shalini’s coconut chutney recipe which has the added dimension of fresh cilantro and fresh ginger. Continue reading Shalini’s Coconut Chutney with Cilantro and Green Chili
If you are looking for a great way to use up a large quantity of summertime tomatoes and veggies then this dish is the one! That’s the dilemma I faced that inspired this veggie-laden dish. I had loads of peppers, zucchini, carrots and tomatoes, and I knew it would take a few days to use all these up, but these veggies were ready to be had ASAP. I decided to make a giant pot of Indian stew/curry type of dish with all the veggies I could collect from the refrigerator. I also wanted this to be a saucy dish as I had soooo many tomatoes too. Indian Ratatouille, is the name the kids gave this stew. The name sounded pretty cool to me as this stew made with summer vegetables and Indian spices would have otherwise been called Carrot, Zucchini, Pepper Curry; but somehow the name Indian Ratatouille just sounds better. Continue reading Indian Summer Ratatouille
Moong beans are one of the healthiest dishes around. Packed with nutrients, low in calories, filling, and extremely healthy, this dish is a super food for vegetarians.It’s so good for you that many times it’s made as a side dish to go with any Indian meal. Continue reading Warm Moong Beans with Fresh Mint and Turmeric
I had just learnt how to make this delicious Indianized vinaigrette from my friend Padmini and I couldn’t wait to try it out on a salad of my own. When I first tried this rather eclectic salad dressing made with asafetida and cumin, Padmini had tossed it in a golden beet salad for a picnic we had gone on with friends. Continue reading Broccoli Zucchini Salad with Asafetida Cumin Vinaigrette
Upma is a savory South Indian pilaf usually made with cream of wheat and vegetables. Upma is made by roasting cream of wheat which is then seasoned with spices and veggies and then cooked until fluffy and soft. The spices in upma are minimal making it a simple dish that kids really enjoy. Upma can me made with any variety of vegetables such as cauliflower, spinach, potatoes, green beans, and carrots. Upma makes a delicious lunch or brunch option served with a side of plain yogurt or raita. Here is a recipe for a quick and easy upma that my Mom used to make with frozen mixted vegetables. Give it a try!
This Indian spinach dish called saag paneer is usually made with spinach, garlic, onions and paneer, but in this variation I thought I would experiment with leeks instead which gives this dish more of a green onion flavor. When leeks are in season I like to use them in leu of onions as they add a different type of onion flavor and a creamy texture to whatever dish they are used in. Leeks and spinach are a great combination and in this saag paneer they taste great together with all the spices and paneer. Continue reading Spinach and Leek Saag Paneer
You’ve heard me mention asafetida many times as I have used it in plenty of my Indian recipes, but this is the first time I am sharing a recipe with asafetida in salad vinaigrette, and it tastes awesome! I love asafetida, I grew up with this spice in our South Indian cooking, and I love how it brings back warm memories of Mom’s cooking every time I get a whiff of asafetida. In a salad dressing this rather eclectic spice really adds an unexpected fragrance punch that I love. Continue reading Asafetida Cumin Vinaigrette
Broccoli sauté with turmeric and asafetida is the simplest side dish to make with the most delicious of results. Doesn’t take long to cook, tastes amazing, and is healthy as it gets. With just a couple good for you spices broccoli gets a flavor kick making it a wonderful veggie to have as a side dish or serve it along a side daal and rice for a delicious light dinner. Asafetida adds that uniquely asafetida flavor while turmeric gives the broccoli that golden color, then add a bit of garlic – well because garlic just makes everything taste better, and you get a delicious broccoli stir fry. This is always a hit in our family and I hope it becomes your new favorite way to eat broccoli. Give it a try! Continue reading Broccoli Sauté with Turmeric and Asafetida
Bhajias are deep fried Indian chickpea flour fritters that are a very popular snack and one of the most popular street vendor offerings in India. Bhajias are usually made with sliced potatoes that are coated in a lightly spiced chickpea flour batter and then deep-fried until golden and crispy. Continue reading Bhajias. Indian Chickpea Flour Veggie Fritters
