Avocado Paratha
Avocado Paratha, these days I’m spending a lot of time at home, so I decided to experiment in the kitchen. I had one extra avocado left after making some guacamole dip. Avocados seem to be very popular these days most often served as “Avocado Toast”. I decided to put an Indian twist and use the extra avocado in delicious flavorful parathas. It actually turned out great and I enjoyed, but I think it needed a few tweaks. I added some extra spices and it turned out even better.
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Crispy Vegetable Pakoras
Crispy Vegetable Pakoras are probably my all-time favorite and satisfying appetizer. They are perfect for any occasion, not to mention they are a favorite with all –young or old! These bite-sized snacks are fried to crispy golden-brown perfection. I serve pakoras with tamarind or cilantro chutney. When cooked right they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. These pakoras also have the added benefits of being vegan and gluten-free.
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Palak Pakora (Crispy Spinach Fritters)
Palak Pakoras are a crispy and flavorful snack, and quite possibly the tastiest compliment for your afternoon tea.
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Pithla (Besan Curry)
Pithla is a variation of Kadhi. Kadhi is made in many ways. In North India, Kadhi is made like a thick soup with pakoras dumplings. Another popular variation is Gujarati Kadhi, which is sweet and sour and made watery with a soup-like consistency. When first time I had gujrati Kadhi, I thought it was yogurt hot and spicy drink, and enjoyed very much, still my perception has not changed. Pithla, however, is thick in consistency. Sometimes I call this is Besan Ki Sabji. This is a quick and easy recipe to make. Pithla is made with few ingredients. It’s also gluten-free and vegan. Traditionally Pithla is served garnished with hot ghee (clarified butter). Pithla is a complete and satisfying meal.
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Punjabi Samosa
Samosas are probably the most popular Indian snack, and street food. Samosas when paired with cilantro chutney are simply out of this world. I think they are universally loved and hard to resist. I have made variations and minor changes to my samosa recipe over the years. Check out my new and improved recipe for this family favorite!
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Ras Malai Cake
Ras Malai Cake is a twist on a very popular Bengali dessert “Ras Malai”. Ras Malai is made with homemade cheese known as “paneer” or “chana”. It consists of soft paneer balls immersed in chilled creamy milk. Ras Malai has been always my favorite dessert for as long as I can remember. Back when I came to the U.S. many years ago, Indian cooking was a challenge as there were very few Indian ingredients available. Indian groceries weren’t as plentiful back then. To top that off, I was also a new cook. I remember my friends and I would always experiment with different recipes for Indian food using whatever ingredients we could find. We knew we had to make do with what we had by being creative and learning to cook using the ingredients were available. One thing we discovered is using ricotta cheese as a substitute for paneer as it was the closest in consistency to paneer. We started using ricotta cheese to make many milk-based Indian desserts. It was then that I learned how to make Ras Malai. While it certainly was not the same as the “real thing”, it was super simple to make and very tasty! Most importantly, I got to enjoy a little taste of home with my favorite Indian dessert! I have done one more recipe using Ricotta cheese Microwave Milk Cake. Enjoy!
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Spicy Corn, Corn Salad, (Tasty Snack)
Spicy Corn is a very enjoyable snack and not only that, but this is a quick and easy recipe to make. Make it as spicy or as mild as your heart desires. Best of all, you can also serve this as a side dish. Enjoy the spicy corn for a beautiful picnic or outdoor get together. You can also serve this over crisp slices of bread.
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Sweet and Sour Guava Curry
Guavas, or “amrood” in Hindi, are simply delicious and probably one of my favorite fruits! This year I have an abundance of guavas growing in my backyard. I like to sprinkle chaat masala on guavas. The spiciness really brings out its flavor. Since I have so many delicious guavas, I decided it was time for me to make Guava Sweet and Sour Curry (Amrood Ki khati Methi Sabji).
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Vegan Rice Kheer (Payasam)
Kheer is a very traditional Indian dessert and is enjoyed by people of all ages. Kheer is made in many different ways using rice, different nuts, and vegetables but milk is the main ingredient to make kheer. I have been wanting to make rice kheer for my son who happens to be vegan and loves kheer. This is my version of vegan kheer: instead of milk, I used almond and coconut milk. After trying many different dairy free milk, this was the best combination I enjoyed. This recipe is also quick and easy to make and is delicious. You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy this kheer.
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