Simplified Indian Cooking
Spunky, spicy and intense in flavor, mustard greens originated in the Himalayan regions of India where they are a winter vegetable. In Spring you can see miles and miles of bright yellow fields when the mustard plant starts to bloom! Fortunately mustard greens are available almost all year round in America. A cruciferous vegetable, they […]
I love the caramelized taste of Laal Burfi. It reminds me of the Burfi or Peda sold in Mathura and Ayodhya in India. I have tried many ways to accomplish this flavor and color in my Laal Burfi until I started using brown sugar. This allowed me to get the right color without having to […]
Rabri Malai Burfi is a creamier, baked version of Milk Burfi and an easier version of Ras Malai. Adding half-and-half reduction sauce to the Burfi at the end makes it taste like Ras Malai without the hard work! Traditionally, Rabri is made by cooking sweetened milk and cream in an open, wok-like pot. The layer […]
Gulab Jamun is one of the most popular Indian desserts. It is a rose flavored, reddish-brown dumpling which is fried and then dipped in syrup. Gulab means rose, which is the flavor used in making this dessert and Jamun is a purple berry that Gulab Jamuns resemble. Gulab Jamun is traditionally made with ‘khoa’ which […]
Gul Gula or Pua is a deep fried, crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside, sweet treat that my mom made on my birthday and other special occasions. It is also one of the sweets prepared on the festival of Karva Chauth. Even though Gul Gula is deep fried, it does not soak up much oil if the temperature […]
Palak is spinach in Hindi and Paneer is home made cheese or Farmer’s cheese. Palak Paneer is as popular and familiar as chicken curry and a favorite of vegetarian food lovers. My Palak Paneer recipe is easy to prepare, whether you use fresh or frozen spinach. You can make Paneer by following my recipe or […]
Paneer or Chhena is an acid-set, non-melting, unsalted cheese made by curdling hot milk with lemon juice, white vinegar or tartaric acid. It does not require aging or the use of rennet. Also known as Farmer Cheese or Curd Cheese, Paneer is a popular ingredient in Indian cooking, specially for the many vegetarians in India. […]
Sooji or Cream of Wheat Halwa is a popular dish in India. It is a comfort food and can be served for breakfast, lunch, dessert. It is also a popular ‘Prasad’ (food offered to God during pooja, or prayer session, and shared with everyone at the end). Traditionally, cream of wheat is roasted in butter […]
Carrot Halwa is a popular Indian dessert, specially during the winter season when it is served warm. My mother made it with ‘black carrots’ which are darker, almost like beets in color, giving Gaajar Halwa a deep, ruby-red color. (Black carrots are available at the local farmer’s market sometimes). Traditionally, grated carrot is cooked in […]