I have a confession to make. For someone who adores Indian food like I do, I really don’t like most Indian desserts. I generally find them too syrupy sweet and too liberally dosed with cardamom and rose water – tastes which I like but require a restrained hand. So I am always on the hunt…
On our numerous trips to India, my husband and I are always wowed by the kebabs. Whether it is a seekh kebab made with brightly spiced minced lamb or a tender chicken boti grilled perfectly, we can’t get enough. On our last trip in April, we had the good fortune to stay at the ITC…
Sadly, my mom’s visit drew to a close this week. She has been a tireless, patient grandmother, not only reveling in my son’s every action but also cooking all our favorite foods. Time to return the favor. I turned to one of my all time favorite, fairly quick and yet delicious Indian main courses –…
Typically, Indian lentils bring to mind something a little heavy, creamy and hearty. This dish is the absolute opposite of that – light, tangy and refreshing. Growing up dal was not my favorite (sacrilege considering I grew up in an Indian vegetarian home) but whenever my mother made moong dal chaat I would willingly gobble…
Growing up we always had a huge barrel of mint planted in our backyard just for this chutney. As far as I can remember I don’t recall my mother using the herb for anything else. It was my job to go cut the mint and bring it to my mother whenever she would get ready…
My father would request these crispy veggie fritters whenever the summer sky would grow dark with thunderclouds and the smell of rain would saturate the air. They are a quintessential monsoon treat – although you don’t need the excuse of rain to make them. My son, Shiv, first enjoyed pakoras (pu-KOE-raw) when we were in…
I first had these chops in Delhi made by Didu, my husband’s maternal grandmother. She was an absolutely fabulous cook, and incredibly particular about her cooking process and ingredients. That attention to detail really showed in the food she prepared. These chops I remember very distinctly. We were in Delhi at the end of December…
This past April my family and I traveled to India for three weeks. The highlight of our trip was the week we spent on a converted tea estate called Wild Mahseer in Assam. Assam is in the north-east corner of India very close to China. The people here start to look more East Asian and…
Last weekend I had the best luck with cantaloupe. In my experience, cantaloupe is either under ripe and totally bland or juicy and unforgettably sweet. I had the latter and it inspired me to create a cocktail that would pair beautifully with or before an Indian meal. Ginger Melon Fizz is the perfect summer cocktail…
Okay folks, here is a recipe that is going to make use of that beautiful garam masala you (hopefully) just made. My mother would prepare these red beans at least twice a month when we were growing up. They are robust, spicy and easy enough for a week night dinner. Although the dish is totally…