OUR FOOD BLOG
Cooking Vegetarian: 2,600+ Recipes
Basil-Nutmeg Butter JAIPHAL MAKHAN
Basil-nutmeg butter, jaiphal makhan, is a savory herb compound butter with a secret — fresh basil and coriander whipped into soft unsalted butter with freshly grated nutmeg and a touch of salt, finished with optional black poppy seeds. It's savory where most...
Mint-Lime Butter PODINA MAKHAN
Mint-lime butter, podina makhan, is the easiest upgrade to summer vegetables I know — soft unsalted butter whipped with chopped fresh mint and a squeeze of lime. Three ingredients, one bowl, and it makes everything taste like a decision rather than an afterthought....
Cardamom-Orange Butter ELAICHE MAKHAN
Cardamom-orange butter, elaiche makhan, is soft unsalted butter whipped with frozen orange juice concentrate, coarsely crushed cardamom, and an optional whisper of orange flower water. It's a compound butter that turns plain toast and scones into something...
Homemade Butter MAKHAN
Homemade butter, makhan, is nothing more than cold heavy cream churned until it breaks into golden butter and buttermilk, then rinsed in ice water until the water runs clear. The flavor is sweeter and cleaner than anything from a carton. A pinch of salt is the only...
Bitter Melon Vegetable Stew in Poppy Seed Gravy KHAS KHAS SHUKTA
Bitter melon vegetable stew in poppy seed gravy, khas khas shukta, is a weekend project worth every hour — bitter melon, potatoes, yam, and radishes simmered in a gravy of white poppy seeds and mustard seeds soaked and ground silky, finished with cream. Four hours of...
Bitter Melon Vegetable Soup with Dal Badi DAL BADI SHUKTA
Bitter melon vegetable soup with dal badi, dal badi shukta, is a cold-weather bowl with backbone — bitter melon simmered with crunchy urad dal badis in a broth built on cumin, mustard, nigella, and fennel seeds, finished with smooth whisked yogurt. The badis go crisp...
Pleasingly Bitter Vegetable Stew SHUKTA
Pleasingly bitter vegetable stew, shukta, is a dish for people who've learned to love the flavors most recipes run from — a slow stew of waxy potatoes and tomatoes with ginger, brown sugar, and a fenugreek-flecked tempering of mustard, cumin, and fennel seeds in...
Summer Squash and Green Peas with Poppy Seeds TORAY HARI MATAR CHARCHARI
Summer squash and green peas with poppy seeds, toray hari matar charchari, is delicate cooking dressed as everyday food — young squash and peas simmered with cinnamon, cardamom, and whole green chilies in butter, finished with warm cream and toasted poppy seeds....
Char-Flavored Vegetable Medley with Crunchy Dal Badi SABJI BADI CHARCHARI
Char-flavored vegetable medley with crunchy dal badi, sabji badi charchari, is my cold-weather workhorse — carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli left to toast in ghee alongside crispy urad dal badis, with tomatoes melting into a light gravy. Turmeric and garam masala...
Char-Flavored Spiced Eggplant and Potatoes BAIGAN ALOO CHARCHARI
Char-flavored spiced eggplant and potatoes baigan aloo charchari is the no-stir dinner I rely on when I want big flavor with almost no technique. Waxy potatoes and eggplant cook undisturbed in ghee with mustard seeds, ginger, and curry leaves until a deep crust forms...
Char-Flavored Curried Potatoes and Green Beans ALOO BARBATTI CHARCHARI
Char-flavored curried potatoes and green beans aloo barbatti charchari brings together waxy potatoes and fresh green beans with peeled tomatoes, curry leaves, and whole dried chilies, all left alone in ghee until the bottom toasts. Fresh basil and coriander finish it...
Char-Flavored Eggplant and Green Peas BAIGAN HARI MATAR CHARCHARI
Char-flavored eggplant and green peas baigan hari matar charchari is built on one brave instruction: don't stir. Cubed eggplant and peas rest undisturbed in ghee with crushed coriander and cumin until the bottom layer toasts into a deep, almost smoky crust, with...