Ginger Garlic and Chilli Paste and Turning 25

The long absence from the blog needs a post of its own. And that I’ll save for another day. Today though, I wanted to talk about turning twenty five. Truth is, I have never been a date person. That one can see from my lack of really celebrating blog anniversaries which apparently falls in this month too. 

Paneer Tikka With Grilled Vegetables

In matter of a month  decisions were made, suitcases were being packed and for the first time we were not shopping till we dropped before heading to India. The less things we take, the less we will miss the place, my mom said in her soft yet confident voice. We were leaving Kuwait for good. And not enough words were being exchanged.  There was the pressing question of 'Where am I going?'. Am I really going home or leaving home?

Kheema Pav - Indian Sloppy Joes

Hiding our smiles with little or no show of excitement, we exchanged glances - the type which only sisters understand the secret language of. Later, we would discuss feeling guilty for being happy about dad's immediate business plan to Thailand.

Dad's travel plans meant late night movies, television soaps and parties with friends but most of all it meant dinners could be sandwiches, burgers and other quick bites. Within a week, we wanted to eat everything that dad wasn't fond or approved of.

Masala Egg Scramble - Anda Bhurji

I sat on the staircase cuddling the bundle of clothes I had tied in my mom's dupatta (a multi purpose long scarf worn by South Asian women). The scent of my mom's on the dupatta was reassuring that I wasn't far from home. Far as much as a couple of metres feel like when you are a 10 year old. Dad and I had got into an argument over the volume of the television which disturbed his precious afternoon nap. I protested as I always did until dad went ahead the unplugged the wire. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I went to my room.

Zarda - Sweet Saffron Rice - Guest Post for Shayma of The Spice Spoon

In blogging world like in real life, ups and downs are as permanent as they can be. Shayma Saadat from the blog - The Spice Spoon, is one friend who has supported me from the beginning and never failed to encourage and brighten my day with her generosity and friendship. She brings her multi cultural roots from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran into a beautifully written memoir style food blog, which has recently made it to the list of  top 50 food websites by The Independent, UK.

Sweet and Spicy Kumquat Pickle

The cold has finally subsided, giving way to a spring like weather. The blankets and woolens are rolled back into the closet for next season. The windows are kept open all through the day, without the fear of cold air braving into our head. Until all of a sudden the sky turns to a neon orange, visibility goes down to zero and our little apartment is flooded in dust. We sigh, we go to bed promising each other to wake up to watch the sun rise if the country wasn't bathing in dust storm.

Flaky Blood Orange Tart with Salted Caramel Sauce

Friday brings mixed feelings to surface every single week. It is the only day of the week we get to spent together. Yet, before the day starts, fear of the day ending too fast starts evading my mind. The idea of sleeping through the day without having talked enough, cooked enough and done enough just scares me. Friday has to be special, something I can hold onto all week and look forward to the next.

Baked Dulce de leche Yogurt - Mishti Doi - Guest Post for Indian Simmer

Today’s recipe is inspired from a traditional sweet recipe from the city of Kolkatta called Mishti Doi, which M has childhood memories of. Mishti Doi is also called Lal doi meaning red yogurt due to it characteristic reddish color. It is made by caramelizing milk and then setting fresh yogurt in earthen pots. Considering I always have dulce de leche on hand, sweetening my hot chocolate and drizzling it over everything I bake, I figured it will work great for adding that caramelized flavor for Mishti doi. 

Beetroot with Mutton - Chukhandar Gosht

Growing up I only remember occasional traces of shredded beetroot in our salads, often overshadowed by many other ingredients, such that I could barely remember their taste. In my own kitchen, I often bought beetroot because 'I need to eat healthy stuff', but not until recently have I started appreciating it. My favorite juice these days is beetroot juice, that says something.

Sumac Roasted Carrots, Fresh Zaatar, Tomatoes and Feta Salad

"I need to eat Irani kebab" that was precisely the first thing I demanded to eat when I landed in Kuwait to live with M. I had spend three years of graduation in India only imagining Arabic food. Four years since, my love for kebabs has not reduced one tiny bit, but my appreciation for salads have grown many folds.

Masoor Dal with Bell Peppers and Avocado Ginger Mash

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What is your favorite lentil?  Indian brown lentil also called masoor dal, is my absolute favorite. There is something about the mild earthy flavor with aromatic Indian spices and spicy hot ginger, that is so comforting. It reminds you of how simple food that mother earth has blessed us with can be far more soothing and warming, warmth that comes from within, that no food out of box can do. That is the beauty of real food.

Lemony Coconut Milk and Sweet Corn Soup

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I was fifteen or may be sixteen, when I realized I could live ten days straight just on chicken soup. In a desperate attempt to lose couple of pounds I declared a ten day soup diet. Of course, in my not so well developed mind of fifteen, soups meant chicken soups, nothing more and nothing less.

Turmeric Milk - Indian Home Remedy

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It is humbling to know anyone would think I would know anything about Ayurveda. Honestly, I don't. What I do know nevertheless is simple Indian home remedies, which almost every Indian household has. One such remedy is haldi ka doodh which translates into turmeric milk, which is simply that, turmeric (haldi) with milk (doodh).

Sprouted Mung Bean Salad with Spicy Clementine Dressing

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I'm such a winter person. Winter means hot spicy comfort food, standing near the stove while cooking a pot full of soup, hot chocolate every morning, lying on the bed all day with a warm cozy blanket and not worrying about what to wear at work (everything can hide behind a coat including the not so in place curves). Yes its all about eating, hiding curves and sleeping. Not very ideal I see. 

Chocolate Clementine Mousse with Caramelized Clementine

 

Eating fruits somehow always makes me nostalgic. Every season, after every meal, we would sit around my mother while she meticulously peeled and chopped the fruits for us. Summer were often more labor-some for her as she sliced oranges and watermelons for a family of six. In winters though, we each would be handed a custard apple, clementine or  tangerine right after the meal.

Mung Dal With Fenugreek Leaves

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M can pretty much eat anything that's presented in a snack form. When I learned this, I started stuffing his hate foods into invisible pockets of puff pastry, in sandwiches and meatballs. Like you might know by now, I have an obsession about such things. When I have my obsession under control, I also serve his love food such as lentils as snacks.