OUR VEGETARIAN BLOG
GULAB JAMUNS IN SAFFRON SYRUP
Diwali is great for two reasons. It’s a celebration of good over evil, and it’s the one time of the year that dentists and doctors in the Indian community keep quiet while the rest of us wade thigh-deep into our sugar-spun fantasies, eating googras, cham chams, kaju…
BENGAL BAKED CURD WITH TAMARIND BERRIES
My dad’s favorite dessert is cheesecake. While the rest of us plan our meals around mains, he’s already sidled up to the dessert trolley. American style, Italian, and even Greens Original (the packet stuff): he loves them all. But this year, I thought I’d create a…
SALTED JAGGERY KULFI WITH BANANAS
Jaggery is one of my special weapons in the kitchen. It’s a gorgeous, deeply toffee-flavored, fudge-like sugar made from the unrefined sap of date palms or sugar cane. It also lends itself well to a little salt, which brings out an inexplicable deliciousness. NOTE:…
PAN-FRIED PINEAPPLE WITH CARDAMOM ICE CREAM
The joy of this dessert is in the beautiful contrast of the spiced, hot, tropical pineapple with the cold, sweet, exotic cardamom ice cream. I tend to whip this up after dinner when friends come over, because the ice cream can be made in advance and the fried…
RHUBARB + GINGER
You can serve this rhubarb in a few different ways. I prefer to eat it with yogurt, sometimes with some “nankatai”, or shortbread, crumbled over the top. Or, if I want something a bit more special, I whip up some heavy cream and add a drop or two of rose water and…
BEET RAITA
This beet raita is loud and proud in color and flavor. I like to eat it just by itself with a little naan, or as an accompaniment to kebabs, dals, or greens. Serves 4 as a side (and can be doubled easily) 2 tablespoons canola oil1 clove of garlic, sliced wafer thin½…
SMASHED PINEAPPLE+ TURMERIC RAITA
A new pretender to the raita throne is this sweet, hot, earthy number. Sunshine in a bowl. Serves 4 as a side 1 tablespoon canola oil1 teaspoon black mustard seeds¾ cup fresh pineapple, cut into small chunks2–3 teaspoons sugar1 tablespoon lemon juice1/3 teaspoon…
CUCUMBER + MINT RAITA
Serves 4 as a side (and can be doubled easily) 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, plus extra to serve½ cucumber, plus extra to serve (about 4 ounces)1 generous cup plain Greek yogurtlarge handful fresh mint leaves, shredded1/3 teaspoon salt Place a frying pan over medium heat…
FRESH PICKLED TURMERIC
This is a great delicacy, and also a pickle with a purpose. Turmeric has been heralded as a hero in the kitchen, a fighter against all ills. A little of this earthy pickle on your plate will go a long way. Watch out when you’re cooking with it, though: turmeric will…
SOUR MANGO + JAGGERY CHUTNEY
This chutney is a Gujarati favorite, made when the first mangoes of the season arrive. I asked my 83-year-old grandmother to show me how to make it. “I don’t remember how to,” she said, but amazingly, her hands rhythmically chopped the mango and stirred in the…
MYSORE LEMON PICKLE
This is a wonderful pickle. Tangy, pungent, and delicious, it’s long-lasting too. Makes a large jar (around 32 ounces) 2 pounds lemons½ cup canola oil30 fresh curry leaves2 teaspoons mustard seeds½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds¾-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated5…
RHUBARB + GINGER CHUTNEY
In this time of being able to access most fruit and veg all year round, forced rhubarb remains staunch in only making a brief appearance each year from late January to April. When it does, I want to preserve as much of it as possible, but despite my best intentions,…