Recipe: Homemade Garam Masala Homemade Garam Masala is a blend of spices that is an essential part of the Indian Cuisine. Garam means hot, not temperature wise but as in taste. However, it is not that hot, but adds a subtle heat to any curry or masala. Masala is spices in Hindi. While garam masala is easily available in the market, I find it lacks the flavour and aroma of certain spices. To me it usually tastes of just coriander powder and cloves. Uses Of Garam Masala Mostly garam masala is used in curries, be it fresh vegetables ones, with lentils and beans or in non vegetarian curries. I love adding them to the following: Why Make Garam Masala At Home? Every Indian household…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY THEME: SRI LANKAN RECIPES RECIPE: CASHEW CURRY | KAJU MALUWA Cashew Curry | Kaju Maluwa is a mild, vegan coconut based Sri Lankan curry where generous amount of cashew nuts are used to prepare this dish. Usually prepared for special occasions, it is served with plain rice. And it is both gluten free and vegan. In fact, this curry is very easy to make. I think for me the hardest part was to remember to the soak the cashew nuts overnight! Kept on forgetting for three consecutive days. Finally, left the cashew nut container out on the kitchen counter near my sink so I remember when I clear up after dinner. Though I added homemade Sri Lankan curry spice, the curry…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY THEME: MANGO MANIA RECIPE: FAJETO | GUJARATI MANGO KADHI Fajeto | Gujarati Mango Kadhi or mango curry is a delicious, sweet, tangy and spicy mango and yogurt curry. In fact, Fajeto is often made along with aamras. Also, aamras or thick mango puree or pulp is often enjoyed as a part of a thali. Usually, Shaaks or sabjis, poori or rotli, a farsan/farsans, plain rice, a dry lentil preparation and kadhi are prepared to go with aamras. Instead of plain kadhi, fajeto is prepared. In regards to fajeto, I feel the recipe probably came about as a way of not wasting any bit of the tasty and sweet mango when in season. In fact, I remember after cutting the mangoes into…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY THEME: HEALTHY IDEAS RECIPE: CURRIED CHICKPEA STUFFED SWEET POTATOES Curried Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes is a healthy, delicious, filling and easy to make healthy, gluten free meal. Enjoy it for lunch or dinner and it is a perfect hot meal for the cold season. Basically, I prepare a thick chickpea curry and stuff baked sweet potato with it and serve with some plain thick yogurt. Actually, I love sweet potatoes whether they are the whitish oriental variety or the orange flesh ones. The Oriental variety is commonly available in Kenya and India. However, sometimes they are quite small and not really ideal to stuff them. Usually, those ones I bake or boil and enjoy with some salt, chilli powder and generous…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: HOLIDAY DINNERS THAT ARE NOT TURKEY OR HAM RECIPE: MUGHLAI EGG CURRY Mughlai Egg Curry is an aromatic, rich, creamy, delectable curry that one can proudly serve during any festival or holiday. Spices, nuts, dried fruit makes this so different from the normal onion tomato curry based versions. What is Mughlai Style Curry? Mughlai Style of cooking or cuisine as it is more popularly known as, makes use of nuts, dry fruit, a variety of spices, dairy products to prepare food. Though a variety of spices are used, the overall flavour of the mixture is aromatic, delicate and not chilli hot. Curries or sauces tend to be thick and creamy. Mughlai Cuisine and India Northern India was ruled by the Mughal…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: MUSHROOMS RECIPE: MUSHROOM MASALA/ MUSHROOM CURRY Mushroom Masala/ Mushroom curry is an Indian style curry made with mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, spice mixture, herbs and a bit of cream or coconut milk. The flavorful, tasty and creamy curry is enjoyed with naan, paratha, roti or rice. What is a Curry? Before I lead you to the Mushroom Masala recipe, let us get one thing cleared and out of the way. Curry is a word coined during the British Rule in India. It originates from the Tamil word kari which means a sauce or relish for usually rice. Curry originates from the Indian Sub Continent. Although curry refers to both a dried or wet version of any dish prepared to enjoy with rice or…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: SUMMER GRILLING RECIPE: TANDOORI MASALA/SPICE MIXTURE Tandoori Masala/Spice Mixture is blend of various spices that is generally used as a marinade for food prepared in a tandoor (clay oven) or for grilling. The types of spices and proportions used makes it different from the other spice mixtures like the famous garam masala. I always prepare a small batch of tandoori masala/spice mixture and keep it handy in an airtight jar. Though I don’t fire up the grill outdoors, my grill in my kitchen is often busy. I love to marinate cauliflower, mushrooms or paneer in yogurt with tandoori masala and then grilling it. How To Use Tandoori Masala Use it for tandoori chicken, fish, any other meat or even vegetables, paneer…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: CHILDHOOD FAVORITES RECIPE: MUM’S BUITONI/ MASALA PASTA Mum’s Buitoni/ Masala Pasta is a pasta with an Indian twist. It has all the spices that would go into any typical daily curry. Mum’s Buitoni/ Masala Pasta is not only tasty but also never fails to bring back fond memories of my childhood and my mum. This post was first published on 16/05/2012. Redoing the post with fresh write up and photos. The recipe remains the same. My Mum and Pasta My mum didn’t know how to make pasta at all. She probably had never heard of pasta, spaghetti, etc when she was growing up in the village of Koyali near Vadodara, India. But how she managed to make this pasta dish for…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE THEME : AN INGREDIENT BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER Y RECIPE: DAHI BHINDI/OKRA YOGURT CURRY Dahi Bhindi/Okra Yogurt Curry is creamy, slightly spicy and tangy curry that goes well with any Indian Flatbread like roti, paratha, naan or rice. An easy curry to prepare, it is a different way to enjoy okra or bhindi from the usual dry preparation. What is Okra? Okra also goes by the name lady’s fingers or gumbo. It is a flowering plant and okra is the edible seed pod of the plant. Did you know that it belongs to the same family as hibiscus and cotton? Popularly known as bhindi or bhinda in India, it is a favorite of many, young and old. Raw okra can…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: COOKING WITH CHILES RECIPE: MIRCHI KA SALAN What is Mirchi Ka Salan? Mirchi Ka Salan, is a slightly spicy, creamy and tangy curry that is usually served with biryani or any other rice dish. It also can be served with any Indian Flatbread like roti, paratha, naan. Mirchi Ka Salan is one of the popular traditional Hyderabadi dishes. Mirchi is the Hindi name for Chiles or Chillis and Salan refers to a curry. Some prepare a thin curry while others like a thick creamy one. Generally, for this dish we do not use any of the thin or round, more hot variety of chiles/chillis. If possible it is best to use the Bhavnagri Chillis. However, if you don’t get Bhavnagri…
