My twin married a Mangalorean & has learnt some interesting traditional recipes from his native state; Here’s her super-aromatic and deliciously-spicy dry chicken dish.     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 20mins Ingredients:   1 large chicken, cut into small pieces 1 onion, chopped finely A sprig curry leaves A small lemon sized ball of tamarind 3 tablespoon ghee(clarified butter) Salt to taste For the masala powder: 6 kashmiri chillies( or dry red chillies) 1 tsp coriander seeds [...]

I’ve had lunch at Sumedha’s once & I must say, her daal-makhni was simply  out-of-this-world; Seems like I can taste it just as I think of it!     SoakTime 6-8hrs – Serves 3-4 – CookTime 25mins     Ingredients: 1 cup Whole urad dal 1/3rd cup kidney beans (rajma a tiny cinnamon stick 2-3 cloves 2-3 garlic cloves 2-4 spoons of oil 1/2 tsp cumin seeds a pinch of hing 1/2 inch ginger – finely chopped 1 dried red [...]

A good friend of mine here in California, Fiona, shares her take on a South-Indian fish curry – A medium-spicy gravy with a coconut-milk base.  Me thinks this is SO-YUM Thanks, Fi!!   PrepTime 8mins – Serves 4 – CookTime 20mins       Ingredients: Oil- 1 Spoon( the fat ones) Small Sambhar Onions-12- slice them 1 Kg Fish- about 12 pieces-Only Sea fish Fenugreek-6-8 Curry Leaves- 10+ 5 Garlic-1 whole clove- peel it and put it in as whole [...]

Here’s how my lovely twin Pearl makes a “Yum-mo” Mutton Biryani.. I am SO proud of her & her cooking skills!!       PrepTime 2hrs – Serves 6-8 – CookTime 30mins     Ingredients: Mutton 1kg shoulder Potatoes 2 medium peeled and cut into quarters Onions 2 large thinly sliced Cashewnuts 6 Oil 1 cup Salt to taste For the marinade: Ginger  1″ piece Garlic about 20 flakes Green chillies 6 Tomatoes 1 medium Red chilli pwd 2 tbsps [...]

This recipe is from my SIL’s SIL, Damandeep, who shares my passion for cooking. Its her version of Punjabi Channa/ garbanzo beans, which she describes as easy & yum!     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 20mins   Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas/ garbanzo beans (or soak a cup for 6-8hrs/overnight & boil with 1/2 tsp salt) For the dry masala/spice mix: 6-7 Dry Red Chilies 6-7 5-6 Green Elaichi (cardamom) 2  Black elaichis 1/2 tsp black peppercorns 1″ [...]

Here’s a rather unusual but excellent idea for vadas by my good friend Ajit Marathe – made with grated cabbage! Kobichi means ‘of cabbage’  & Vadi is an Indian cutlet.     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 15mins     Ingredients: 1 cup finely ground cabbage 2 cups jowar flour 1 cup besan/ gram flour 1/2 tsp cumin pwd 1/4 tsp red chilli powder 1/4 tsp turmeric pwd salt to taste 1 clove garlic – crushed oil for [...]

This is my SIL, Venus’ very own ‘Lazedaar’ Chicken – The name, she says, has been coined as this was her husband’s first word after he tasted this dish! Quite simply delicious. PrepTime 3-4hrs – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 25mins       Ingredients : Chicken – 1kg For the marinade : 1. 400g Yoghurt 2. Garlic 3-4 medium flakes 3. Ginger 1inch 4. 1 green chilli (you could increase depending on your taste). 5. 1/2 an onion 6.Salt 1.5 [...]

This is my sis’ Chicken Biryani made in a traditional Mughlai style – rich-n-moist, authenticly elegant & yet, SO easy! Try it – U’ll love it!!     PrepTime 10mins – Serves 4-5 – CookTime 35mins       Ingredients: 1 chicken (about a kg, skinless and cut into pieces) 1 inch piece of Cinnamon 2 cardamom plus a tsp of cardamom powder ½ inch piece of ginger julienned plus 1 tsp garlic paste 1 tsp ginger paste 2 green [...]

A brilliant, aromatic & simple dish of white rice fried with cumin seeds & basic condiments and cooked in a stock of your choice – chicken or veg.         PrepTime 2mins – Serves 2 – CookTime 20mins     Ingredients: 1 glass white rice 1/2 cup frozen peas 2-3 bayleaves 1 cinnamon stick 2-3 cardamoms 1 stock cube – chicken or veg a cup of milk 2 tsp jeera/ cumin seeds 2 tbsp ghee/ clarifying butter/ olive [...]

If you know what Daal-Palak is, then you know how this idea came about.. Its quick & unique and very nutritious!       PrepTime 5mins – Serves 3 – cookTime 20mins   Ingredients: 1 bunch spinach – washed & chopped 1 large can (2 glasses) garbanzo beans (or soak a cup of it overnight & boil with some salt) 1 medium onion – chopped 2 tbsp ghee/ clarified butter 1/2 tsp garam masala 1/2 tsp mango pwd/ Amchur pwd [...]