Pesarapappu Timmanam Recipe / Andhra Style Moong Dal Phirni Recipe / Husked Split Mung Beans And Coconut Pudding Recipe

Eons ago when a lady looking like an Indian Goddess from my childhood mythological books, resplendent in a fuchsia coloured Kanjeevaram saree, with her tresses adorning jasmine flowers stringed together, had taken my hand and welcomed me into an abode which she had for years nurtured with love, care, discipline, traditions and deep rooted values, little did I realise that one day she would become my biggest strength and I would emulate her in all aspects of my life. As a coy demure bride, seeped in apprehensions, with a fluttering heart, I had held her hand as she led me one step at a time into her world, a world which she had created brick by brick through rain and sunshine, filled it with smiles, a world where love was genuine, selfless, a world which would become my refuge of comfort and solace for my entire life.

Bengali Style Beetroot Chutney Recipe / Beetroot Relish In Bengali Style Recipe

Whenever my eyes gaze through the bountiful colours around, which the Creator keeps filling in, on this huge canvas called nature, I wonder what magic and love the Creator combines to be able to paint each and every bit of this vast landscape with exotic colours. I remember watching this Disney movie called Tinker-bell where fluorescent pattern winged fairies are responsible for all the enchantment we see around. Whatever be the reason of their nemesis the hues of nature cannot be matched ever with the manmade artificial colours. The colours of the pink dragonfruit or the minty green from the spear mint leaves, the tangerine hued Oranges, the Gold dusted turmeric, the amber kissed saffron or the ruby red painted beetroot, nothing oh nothing can bring the smile upto my eyes than a hand with tinted fingers, splashed with gorgeousness from these brilliant shades.

Potato Ghee Roast Recipe / Mangalorean Potato Ghee Roast Recipe

Most of us have at some point or the other heard or seen in a restaurant menu the Bunt Tuluva Mangalorean delicacy Chicken Ghee Roast. I wanted to replicate this speciality dish by substituting the chicken with a vegetable. I however wanted to retain the fiery colour, the spicy aromas and the stellar taste of the original dish. So here I am with a vegetarian version Potato Ghee Roast. I have tried my best to retain the originality both visually and in terms of flavour. My friends and family were delighted after tasting my Potato Ghee Roast and I received a positive feedback from them. Now, I sincerely hope that my readers, too will give a thumbs up both after they have seen the pictures of my Potato Ghee Roast and tried out the recipe.

Kundapur Masala Powder Recipe / Mangalorean Spice Mix Powder Recipe / Taal Masala Recipe / Bunt Style Masala Powder Recipe

Kundapur Masala Powder is an indigenous, versatile spice mix which is used to flavour and give a distinct charater to the universally popular Mangalorean Bunt Community specialty dish known as "Chicken Ghee Roast". This spice mix powder is said to have originated in the Southern Indian state of Karnataka from a coastal town called Kundapur. The Kundapur Masala Powder is believed to have had its genesis in the kitchens of the very popular Shetty Lunch Homes. So if you happen to visit Kundapur do surely take time out to sample the Chicken Ghee Roast at Shetty Lunch Home. Till then, you can refer to the ingredients given below and get the spice mix ready to be able to prepare Chicken Ghee Roast or Potato Ghee Roast (for my vegetarian friends) in your kitchen easily no matter whether you are located in Boston, Brussels or Borneo.

Padampuri Murg Recipe / Khoya Chicken Recipe

Padampuri Murg is a Chicken delicacy from Padampur located in the princely state of Rajasthan in India. This is probably one of the creamiest chicken dishes that you might have ever tasted. The Khoya/Khoa or milk solids used to cook this dish is primarily responsible for the rich silky texture of it's gravy. Along with yogurt and pure desi Ghee (clarified butter) added generously, this dish is not at all for the faint hearted . The indigenous spice mix which is added to the curry is resplendent with fiery red chilies, black cumin (kalonji) and other spices that gives the dish a perfect balance of flavours, a unique taste and a light lingering aroma. One spoonful in your mouth and your taste buds will dance to the power house of flavours which makes this dish truly befitting to be served at any Royal fare.

Jaozi Halwa Recipe / Nutmeg Halva Recipe / Jaiphal Halwa Recipe

I am heralding the third anniversary celebrations of my Blog with a very Royal, laced in history and immensely loved sweet Jaozi Halwa. Preparing this sweet confection to mark the celebrations was a befitting ode to my labour of love, my reservoir of food passion and my journal of culinary stories. My Blog holds an extra special place in my life and I have nurtured it with fervour and fueled it with the love and encouragement from my dearest readers, my co food enthusiasts and zealous gastronomic friends.

Kolkata Style Chicken Biryani Recipe / Calcutta Chicken Biryani Recipe

Kolkata ~ the city of Joy, for me, apart from being the city where my family and extended family have lived for decades, is the city where food and sports are woven into the very fabric of the life of the people. A city which breathes football and cricket, a city where food is a passion and a way to express the rich cultural heritage of this vibrant city. Today let's take a virtual tour through the essence of the most famous and popular dish from here, Calcutta Biryani or Kolkata Style Chicken Biryani.

Kolkata Biryani Masala Recipe / Calcutta Style Biryani Spice Powder Recipe

KOLKATA BIRYANI MASALA holds the complete essence of the much loved Kolkata or Calcutta Style of Biryani. Without this indigenous spice mix you will not be able to achieve that flavour or aroma which is quintessential of Kolkata Biryani. By using the Kolkata Biryani Spice Powder you will get similar results with your Kolkata Biryani in terms of taste and fragrance as that of Kolkata residents, no matter in which country of the world you live. All you have to do is diligently note down the ingredients, which luckily, nowadays are available in an Indian store near you or online, dry roast, hand pound and voila have your own bottle of Kolkata Biryani Masala Powder.

Hyderabadi Dum Ka Murgh Recipe / Hyderabad Style Slow Steam Cooked Chicken Curry Recipe

Dear Culinary Enthusiasts and Food Adventurers here I am again, though after a long interval, sharing with you a very dear recipe from my mum-in-law's repertoire, HYDERABADI DUM KA MURGH. As the name suggests this dish originates from the Indian city, known worldwide for its royal past, the magnificent monument Charminar and lipsmacking cuisne, HYDERABAD. This is a chicken dish where the chicken is marinated in distinct but simple spices and aromatics, then cooked on Dum, meaning its own steam, very slowly, resulting in a ridiculously delicious Chicken Curry, which I can bet will have you cooking this dish again and again, on demand, in your kitchen till you loose count of it.

Churmur Recipe / Kolkata Street Food Churmur Chaat Recipe / Indian Street Food

Churmur or Churmur Chaat is a tasty street side snack from Kolkata, India. It has boiled potato as its base and the tongue tapping build up of this snack is done by adding veggies, condiments, fritters, flavoured liquids etc. resulting in a flavour bomb which is sure to delight your senses. There are different ways of making this and every street food vendor selling Churmur has his own touches added to this. What's wonderful about this snack is that you do not have to visit Kolkata to experience that immense flavour burst. You can make it in your home by following my easy step-wise pictorial recipe, given right below. But one thing I must tell you, whenever you visit the City Of Joy, Kolkata do surely stop by at a roadside Phuchka Cart and try Churmur from there.

Cauliflower Burfi Recipe / Kabishambardhana Barfi Recipe / Cauliflower Fudge Recipe

Hello Beautiful People. A sizeable portion of my lovely readers worldwide must be immersed in the preparations of celebrating Diwali ~ The Festival Of Lights. The number of sweets that has swept over Social Media has already kick-started the festivities a week back. Going through the numerous sweet and savoury recipes I was thinking to myself, thanks to Social Media we get to see Recipes from every nook and corner of India and try them in our home kitchen without having to travel to that part right away. Wonderful isn't it? 

Nolen Gurer Payesh Recipe / Patali Gurer Payesh / Rice Pudding Made With Date Palm Jaggery Recipe ~ Rejoicing My Culturally Rich Roots

I have always loved rituals, customs, traditions that we follow as a part of celebrating our festivals in India. It's these little little things that make the whole event so exciting and enjoyable. I have inevitably looked forward to festivals so that I could be a part of these wonderful customs that they observe. I am sure many of you, beautiful people, will echo my thoughts. No matter which part of the globe you belong to, you must also be having your own sets of rituals and age old traditions. In my numerous travels I have repeatedly found that people all over the world, while celebrating festivals follow each and every ceremony religiously, which has been passed on through generations, till date, with equal fervour and joy. 

Tava Aloo Kulcha Recipe / Stuffed Leavened Indian Flatbread Cooked On A Griddle Recipe ~ Just Recipes

I am truly ecstatic to be back to what I love doing. Blogging is a different high altogether. Not that in my long absentia here have I stopped my kitchen adventure for a single day, but certain personal work took precedence and I just simply couldn't mange to squeeze in the time, to capture the steps pictorially while cooking nor could I collect and pen my thoughts here. But that's history now and hopefully(keeps fingers and toes crossed) I hope to regularly (at least twice a week) share my kitchen and food adventures here with you. Thank you my dear readers, for taking out the time, visiting my blog and checking out my posts during this interval. It is your love and enthusiasm for food and your continued encouragement of my work, which makes me and this Blog going. 

Cholar Dal Recipe / Bengali Style Chana Dal Recipe / Split Bengal Gram Lentil Curry (Bengali Style) Recipe ~ Just Recipes

Cholar Dal is an extremely popular Lentil Curry which is served with many a Bengali Meal. It is a very simple lightly spiced lentil curry made using split bengal gram. In Bengal Cholar Dal is served along with Luchi / Puffed Deep Fried small round breads or other popular Bengali Breads like KOCHURI / RADHABALLABHI for breakfast or at the start of a meal during lunch. Cholar Dal is also served with steamed white rice along with JHURI ALOO BHAJA (very finely grated deep fried crisp potatoes) or other BHAJAS (deep fried fritters or deep fried fish etc.). It is quick, delicious and filling. You can simply have it with any breads with a salad on the side for a hearty quick fix meal any time of the day. 

Bhaja Moshla Recipe / Bengali Dry Roasted Spice Powder Recipe ~ Just Recipes

Bhaja Moshla is the Bengali word for Dry Roasted Ground whole spices that are used in many a dish from Bengal. Unlike the Southern part of India, where there are a number of different combinations of dry roasted ground spices, either used in cooking or eaten as an accompaniment with food, Bengal has only a few, Bhaja Moshla being one very important mix among them. Now there are a number of variations of Bhaja Moshla as you can find out, by either searching online or offline, by taking to your Bengali friends or reading Bengali cook books. 

Bhapa Aloo Recipe / Steamed Potatoes In Mustard Coconut Sauce Recipe ~ Just Recipes

Bhapa is the Bengali word used for steamed. Bhapa Mach or Steamed Fish is a Bengali delicacy which finds its way to many a Bengali Feast Menu. Everytime we had a lunch or dinner gathering at my home, Ma or Thakuma (paternal grandmother) would inevitably dish out these lovely looking green parcels with a large fish fillet doused in a pungent yet aromatic concoction of mustard and coconut sauce infused with mustard oil and green chilli paste. This would not only be polished off the plate in no time but often there would be a demand for more servings of these flavour laden green parcels. Unfortunately my vegetarian friends would always miss out on this ubiquitous Bengali meal offering and would only have to do with the explanation of how these parcels came into being.

Murshidabad Mutton Tikia Recipe / Mutton Mince Patties Recipe (Murshidabad Style) / Mutton Keema Tikia Recipe ~ Just Recipes

I am quite smitten by the culinary fare of Murshidabad. Mutton Tikia (Murshidabad Style) is the third dish from the region, to be posted on my Blog. Have you checked the other two unique dishes from this region yet ? If you haven't, do most definitely check out CHICKEN KORMA (MURSHIDABAD STYLE) and POPPY SEEDS HALWA (MURSHIDABAD STYLE) . Such culinary treasures are to be savoured and documented for posterity and I am glad that I have had the good fortune of not only savouring these delicacies from Murshidabad but have cooked them many a times in my kitchen and now have them documented forever in my Blog. A hearty thank you to CHEF DEVRAJ HALDER for initiating my foray into this wonderful world of Murshidabad Cuisine.

Hariyali Keema Recipe / Green Chicken Mince Curry Recipe / Keema Hara Masala Recipe ~ Just Recipes

With this post I am starting the Just Recipes series. This series will comprise of the dishes which I cook and post instantly. I have decided to keep the prelude to the recipe as brief as possible. Unlike my other posts, the posts in the Just Recipes series will contain only pertinent trivia about the dish presented to you. My culinary stories and travel stories will continue in my other posts. 

Strawberry Italian Cream Soda Mocktail Recipe ~ Creating My Own Igloo

Shriek!!!! Scream !!!! This cannot be true. " Temperatures across the UAE will peak at around 45C over the next few days, but the soaring humidity will make it feel as if it's, wait for it.... a whooping 64 degrees." Information courtesy What's On , Dubai. Please please Mr.S can we take a holiday to a place of cooler clime? He frowns and with the sternest no looks away into his news paper, too annoyed to be called out of his morning ritual of piping hot South Indian filter coffee and the freshest edition of Gulf News, which he, I think reads line by line. I get up looking for Mum-in-law, my saviour in situations like this on most earlier occasions. She, too, is busy in her morning invocation of the Almighty and I meekly recede back into my own cocoon. But I am so unable to concentrate on anything. The next best saviour after my Mum-in-law has always been the refrigerator. On occasions such as this, when things don't go my way, a peek into the refrigerator has always ended, with me cooking up a fire (oh no nothing hot seems to feel good this morning) or alternately digging into some comfort food or chocolates sitting pretty in my refrigerator. Oh dear gadget friend, please pull me out of my despondency this morning. I open the door of the refrigerator and the chill whiff coated with a white smoke that greets me is good enough to bring a kind of solace to me.

Shorshe Keema Recipe / Mutton ( Goat) Mince In Thick Mustard Sauce Recipe ~ Basking In Festivities

It is Eid here in Dubai today and many parts of the world. In India Eid will be celebrated tomorrow. On this auspicious occasion I would like to wish all my dear friends, readers and everyone celebrating A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED EID.

Murshidabad Postor Halwa Recipe / Khus Khus Halva Recipe / Poppy Seeds Halva Recipe ~ Rejoicing Two Fulfilling Years Of Blogging

Two years of a fulfilling journey into the culinary world of everything extraordinairé and I am all the more charged up to unravel further and further. This unending enthusiasm of mine to delve extensively into this fascinating world of food seems to be on an upscale even more now. As I sit back, retrospecting, the realisation dawns on me that so much has changed since this voyage began exactly two years from today. I have in my own little way learnt so many facets and things related to food which I would have never known had it not been for this Blog. My Blog propels me to constantly be on the quest for new cuisines, ingredients which I have never heard of before, connects me to the glorious past of countries through their food and also gives me the confidence to try recipes in my kitchen which I perhaps would not have done otherwise. Truly, this culinary adventure of mine has become so fascinating with each passing year.

Surti Locho Recipe / Gujarati Street Food Recipe / Healthy Gujarati Snack Recipe ~ ' Locho Thai Gayo Re '

I write to liberate all the beautiful, confused, happy, sad, bad and good thoughts which remain in the closet of my mind. Mind, I say cause, the heart has a strong filter and allows only thoughts laced with love. For me writing in this blog, is totally like adding wings and letting my thoughts fly out into the realms of my dreams, traverse lands where simplicity and goodness abounds. Whenever I write, almost all the time I like to dwell in a beautiful life full of simple joys, multiplying laughter, subtracting hatred. Well, at least the time my fingers flies over the letters on the keyboards, I like to believe that such a land exists.

Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad With Sunflower Seeds And Curry Leaf Pesto ~ Hello Summer

Have you tried clasping sunshine in your palms ? I used to do that often as a child. With the onset of the summer months, the commencement of the summer holidays from school, life would be one joyous ride, with a dozen cousins of all sizes, who too would come visiting during their summer holidays. Playing hide and seek in one such hot summer day, I had hidden behind the huge grand old banana tree in our backyard. As the sun peeped through its long ribbed green leaves it created different types of pattern on my legs. Small triangles, circles, squares and a solo hexagon , tiny golden patterns all over my legs and I had forgotten all about the game I was in , too busy in my attempt to clasp these golden shapes of sunshine in my palms. Thinking about that afternoon and how simple and full of innocence the ways of the mind were, never fails to light up a smile on my lips, as radiant as the sunshine, eons away under the banana tree. 

Murshidabad Murgir Korma Recipe / Chicken Korma ( Murshidabad Style ) Recipe / Poila Boishakh Special Recipes ~ Shubho Nobo Borsho

The day after the grand Ugadi celebrations and a whole week of feasting, one would have thought that everyone in the family would want to cool off their heels and also give the tummy the much required rest. But, my family, always supercharged, both in terms of activity and food is already ready for action and has by now expressed their desire to have a non-vegetarian lunch, as a week of savouring on vegetarian fare has given rise to their carnivorous appetite. I was sitting at the table sipping into my cup of ginger tea and contemplating what to cook, when the phone rang. It was my Ma calling and I was elated because not only would I get to pour my heart out to her, as I always do in each and every conversation, but also she would give me the idea of what to cook for lunch. The conversation started with Dia (as it always does ), Ugadi celebrations and then went on to Poila Boishakh ( Bengali New Year Celebration ) which is on the 15th of this month. 

Atukula Payasam Recipe / Ugadi Recipes / Poha Kheer Recipe / Flattened Rice Pudding Recipe ~ Ugadi Special

UGADI SHUBHAKANKSHALU, HAPPY UGADI, HAPPY GUDI PADWA ~

Dear friends and my valuable readers, wishing all of you who are celebrating the advent of New Beginnings today, loads of Success, Smiles, Good Health And Life's Finest, always for you. This is my final post in the Ugadi Special celebrations series for 2016. As we dawn our fineries and head out to pray and wish others, I am enveloped with gratitude and hope. Truly thankful for all the blessings, love and support I have received from all quarters. Very Hopeful that the New Year will bring with it loads of peace and shower my life and that of my loved ones and every person who has touched my life in some way or the other, with Good And Happy things. Both me and Mum-in-law have been up at the crack of dawn, to give final touches to all the things which will be included in today's celebrations and prayers. Also, we have got most of the food ready, so that right after the completion of rituals, we can head to the scrumptious spread of my mum-in-law's fares and some of mine too.

Challa Punugulu Recipe / Ugadi Recipes / Refined Wheat Flour And ButterMilk Fritters Recipe ~ Ugadi Special

ON THE EVE OF UGADI (THE NEW BEGINNING)...

New beginnings always brings with it a lot of hope, happiness and a sense that everything around you will take a turn for the better. I too am hoping for the same as Ugadi heralds its way into our lives once again, bringing with it good luck, health, prosperity and all round joy. Sitting amidst a bunch of friends who have come home to commence the Ugadi celebrations, even in all the din and chatter, my mind still walks out with a loud wish that there will peace in the World and my little one will grow in a surrounding of love and compassion, where every person is only judged by his/her deeds and not by any other parameters and violence and senseless acts paining others are unheard of. Honestly dear friends if Ugadi can bring in with it a wave, which would wash away any trace of hatred from every part of our globe, how wonderful it would be. A wave which splashes ever child in this world with warmth and smiles, a healthy environment where they grow to spread harmony and well being of one and all. I truly hope that this Ugadi brings with it this and much much more.

Holige Saaru Recipe / Ugadi Recipes / Obbattu Saaru Recipe ~ Ugadi Special

UGADI PREPARATIONS IN FULL SWING...

Dear friends, Ugadi is just a day away, so the festive fervour has reached it's crescendo in my home. All the silverware, copperware & brassware are out, polished and shinning, ready to be part of the celebratory rituals, the day after tomorrow. New clothes are being paired with bangles, neckpieces and bindis, even nail paints, to get the right match, in time to be donned on the festive day. Few friends will be visiting today, tomorrow and offcourse on the day of Ugadi, there will be lots of friends coming over to share with us the festivities. Overall there is not a single dull moment in my home. Lots of things happening in all sections, but as usual the prime activity is totally kitchen centric. The whole house is being flooded with the aroma of ghee, which my mum-in-law is smearing  lavishly over the bobbatlu or Indian flatbread stuffed with spiced fragrant lentil and jaggery paste, which she is dishing out one after the other, making my taste buds dance with glee. I simply loooovvveee this festive fervour and eagerly wait for it.

Menthya Soppina Chitranna Recipe / Ugadi Recipes / Lemon Rice With Fenugreek Leaves Recipe ~ Ugadi Special

Continuing with the Ugadi Special Recipes here, as we inch closer to the Ugadi celebrations with each passing day. My entire home is undergoing a deep cleaning and every nook and corner of my home is being spruced up. There is a lot of din throughout the day as from ceilings to a/c vents to sofas to carpets, you just name it, everything is being sprayed, soaped, mopped, wiped and made squeaky clean. All this intensive cleaning will be over by this noon and then immediately after, the entire family will get into a shopping spree including little D. The excitement is so clearly visible on each and everyone's face. This is what I love about festivals, the joy and happiness it brings with it, even days before it arrives.

Bajra Chi Bhakri Recipe / Bajra Roti Recipe / Indian Flat Bread Made With Pearl Millet Flour Recipe ~ Maharashtrian Cuisine

Bajra Roti is an Indian flatbread made out of the flour of Bajra or Pearl Millet Flour. This is gluten free flour and very rich in fibre. Tastes delicious when served with any curry. Making these Flatbreads with bajra flour requires a wee bit practice. As there is no gluten in this flour therefore rolling out the breads needs to be done carefully as cracks might appear all over the bread and finally the bread might break into pieces even before reaching the griddle.

Raw Mango Halwa Recipe / Ugadi Recipes / Kachche Aam Ka Halwa Recipe ~ Ugadi Special

Ugadi or the Telugu New Year is on the 8th of April and the hustle bustle in my home is quite palpable. I am so glad that little D is learning about the diverse cultures that she belongs to with her parents hailing from different parts of India. Little D gets to enjoy and celebrate so many different festivals and she is lucky that her grand~mum enriches her with all the legends behind the various celebrations and rituals. I can see that her tiny fingers still have faint traces of the colours of Holi, which she joyfully celebrated only a few days back and here she is again getting ready to revel in the festive spirit of Ugadi. This weekend she will go shopping for new dresses, ornaments and many other things with her grandparents as we all will get ready to welcome the New Year with great pomp and joy.

Shahi Tukra & Moong Dal Halwa Canapés Recipe / Holi Recipes ~ Holi Hai !!

Happy Holi to all my dear friends and precious readers. Whether you are celebrating the festival of colours or not, I will wish you joy and smiles on this day and everyday of your life. We are having a Holi Party tonight after all the fun and frolic with colours throughout the day today. Before all the fun begins and I am sprayed with colours all over, I decided to finish all the dishes for tonight's Holi Dinner party. So I woke up this morning even before the sun and finished all the preparations and most of the cooking for the party. I just left the Appetizers ready to be just grilled and served. Since this is a party of very close friends and family only and not a very big gathering, I decided to cook everything myself and not hire a professional chef or maharaj, which I would have done for a larger gathering.

Pichkari Pulao Recipe / Holi Recipes / Vegetable And Cottage Cheese Balls Pilaf Recipe ~ Holi Hai !!

Continuing the Holi Celebrations here on My Tryst With Food And Travel, let me tell you all lovely people, a little about another place in India which is on my must visit list , to experience first hand Holi Celebrations. This small hamlet in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is very famous for its Holi celebrations, known as Lathmar Holi. Barsana, a small town in Uttar Pradesh , is known as the Holi Hub of India and is the place to watch Lathmar Holi being played. Even this Holi legend revolves around Lord Krishna and Radha. Barsana is the birthplace of Radha. The legend of Lathmar Holi goes, that on this day, many many years ago, Lord Krishna visited Barsana and playfully teased Radha and her friends, the Gopis. They all got angry on his act and chased Lord Krishna away from the village using sticks. Lath stands for sticks and Mar means to beat.

Dahi Gujiya Recipe / Holi Recipes / Stuffed Moon Shaped Lentil Dumplings In Yogurt ~ Holi Hai !!

The festival of Holi will be celebrated in India with pomp and vigour in less than a week. As we all Indians, no matter in which part of the world we live, gear up for the festival of colours, Holi, one can easily see the preparations, to stock up on different types of snacks and sweets have already begun in most Indian, Hindu households. As my kitchen too starts to revel in the holi festivities with the woks emanating a sugary aroma sometimes, sometimes spicy, my kitchen becomes a place where the moment you step in the salivary glands go into a frenzy.

Matki Chi Usal Recipe / Moth Bean Sprouts Curry ( Maharashtrian Style) Recipe ~ Flavours Of Maharashtra

Dear friends and readers, this post is a continuation of my earlier post on Maharashtrian Cuisine. I will share with you some more facets of this very delicious cuisine. Mumbai as we all know is not only the capital of Maharashtra, but is also the financial capital of India. Apart from leaving a distinct mark on the world map for its very prominent and extremely popular film industry, Mumbai is home to two very popular dishes namely 1) Vada Pav and 2) Pav Bhaji. Vada Pav is basically deep fried Potato dumplings coated in gram flour batter, served inside a square bun or pav with liberal servings of coconut chutney and a very spicy yet yummy dry garlic chutney. Pav Bhaji is basically a vegetable mish mash, wherein vegetables are steamed, spiced and mashed finely with a masher and served along with a soft bread roll or pav. Starting from Mumbai Airport , you will find the city dotted in every nook and corner with shops selling these two fast food dishes.

Zunka Bhakar Recipe / Jhunka Recipe / Bajra Chi Bhakri Recipe / Gram Flour Curry Recipe / Bajra Roti Recipe ~ Flavours of Maharashtra

I never tire writing this that how lucky I am to be born in a country where within every few miles there is a change in cuisine. Countless number of dishes abound this traditionally rich culturally diverse country. I don't think one lifetime is enough to be able to gather knowledge of all the different types of dishes that exist in the nook and cranny of India. I am thankful to the Culinary Hoppers because of whom it has been possible to cook so many different dishes from different regions of India in the realms of my kitchen every single month for the past one year and two months. This time the regional fare to experience was Maharashtrian food and I must say that I loved doing the research online and taking to friends and reading books to know more about the food and the nitty-gritties that go into making it in this particular region.

Chicken Chettinad Recipe / Chettinad Chicken Curry Recipe ~ Chennai Food Adventure Series / Eat Like A Local Series

As promised, here I am with the recipe of Chicken Chettinad, the first among the 10 dishes which I think is a must eat when you visit Chennai. To get the taste of Chicken Chettinad similar to the one that I had eaten in Chennai, I must have cooked the dish 4 or 5 times, till I was able to nail the exact taste or let me put it, very close to the exact taste of the Chicken Chettinad I had in Chennai. There must be a number of versions that this dish must be cooked. I too had a few recipes with me which I tried and also got my Tamil friends to eat and give their opinion about. The one which was approved by all including my own senses, I am putting down that recipe here, so that no matter in which part of the world you are, you will be easily able to create the dish with a taste very close or maybe almost similar to the one which is cooked in Chennai or Chettinad.

10 Must Eat Food In Chennai (My List) / 10 Famous Food Of Chennai / My List of 10 Things You Must Eat In Chennai

Chennai to me has been a city with a very rich culture and deep rooted traditions which have touched all spheres of life there including food. During my engineering course in Bangalore, Chennai would be the transit station for my journey and in the time gap that I would get between alighting from one train to boarding the next, there would be many a stolen moments to quickly bask in the diverse attributes and gorgeous seascape of this city.

Instant Doughnuts Recipe ~ Celebrating Valentine's Day With A Platter of Edible Love

Whenever someone has asked me, what is love, I have always said the same thing. I have deciphered love as that feeling, which you have for someone, for whom you want the best every single time, worry about their well being, want them to be happy, hale and hearty and in any given situation think about them before you think about yourself. The people who feature in priority in your prayers are the ones you love, is what I believe. 

Bengali Vegetarian Thali ~ A Splash of Unassuming Nuances And Striking Flavours

Bengali Cuisine has the nuances which have been imbibed from a very long and rich history with strong influences from the Mughal style of cooking, the British Babus, whose khansamas (male cook) modified the existent Bengali cuisine to suit their palates. Not only that, the style of cooking dishes, also varied as one passed through the length and breath of Bengal itself. Then there are also many dishes from Bangladesh which was earlier a part of Bengal, India. 

Shorshe Dharosh Recipe | Sarson Wali Bhindi Recipe | Okra in Mustard Gravy Recipe

Shorshe Dharosh or Okra in Mustard Gravy has been my most desired way of cooking and eating okra. I have an immense liking for the Mustard Gravy which is infused with the pungent and strong smelling mustard paste cooked in mustard oil flavoured with nigella seeds, Bengal's indispensable whole spice Kalo Jeera. Another jewel of a dish from my paternal grandmother's treasure trunk of recipes. With this dish I continue my series on Bengali Vegetarian dishes.

Plastic Chutney Recipe | Kachche Papite Ki Chutney Recipe | Bengali Style Raw Papaya Chutney Recipe

Continuing the series on Bengali Vegetarian dishes, I bring to you, dear readers, a tongue tapping side dish called Plastic Chutney. This chutney is made with raw papaya and has a very unique texture . I don't know why this Chutney came to be called Plastic Chutney. I assume it must have been to do with the thinly sliced papaya slices, used in this Chutney and their close resemblance to small pieces of plastic sheets. Even my Ma and aunts think the same. I am yet to come across either a folk lore or any history associated with this nomenclature. If any of you my valued readers know how this chutney came to be called Plastic Chutney please leave me a comment on this post and I will happily include the trivia. 

Posto Narkel Bora Recipe | Khus Khus Aur Nariyal Ke Vade Recipe | Poppy Seeds, Coconut Fritters Recipe

Unlike the common belief that Bengali Cuisine is mostly about non-vegetarian dishes, there is a huge repertoire of Vegetarian dishes too. Many of my friends have asked me about these vegetarian dishes which abound Bengali cuisine and so I deceided to do this post and a series of posts after this one, to take you all, my dear readers into this treasure trove of Bengali Vegetarian fare. There are Blogger friends who are documenting and sharing vegetarian recipes and one such Blogger whom I immensely admire is Soma Saha Ray. Do check out her Blog Curry And Spice by clicking on the title of her Blog here. You will get many vegetarian Bengali dishes there right out of her kitchen and also those dishes which her Mother, Mother-in-law and grandmothers have passed on to her. 

Masala Prawn Popcorn Recipe

It's the weekend and my time with little D. We do are Mummy daughter things mostly on the weekends. But this weekend my little darling is down with a nasty cold. To make things worse, the anti histamine syrup prescribed by her doctor is making her drowsy and grumpy. My poor darling has lost her priceless smile as she is tucked away under her favourite tinker bell blanket, clinging to her tinker bell doll, as if almost hoping that this fairy doll will sprinkle some magical powder on her which will make her feel better. For a mother nothing can be more heart wrenching than seeing her little one unwell, even if it's just a common cold.

Garbanzo Beans, Apricot, Dill Meatballs Recipe | Vegan Meatballs | Kabuli Chana, Khubani, Suva Meatballs Recipe

In a world full of different people, we do not realise how many have touched our lives, influenced our thinking and shaped the person we are today. Even before we realise they have encircled us with a whiff of beautiful thoughts, sprinkled invaluable ways to improve ourselves and we without even realising, have been imbibing a little from each of them and evolving into who we are at this moment. But, that point of time, when this realisation dawns on us, we should without much ado, thank these priceless individuals and treasure them in our lives.

Pomegranate, Jalapeño, Mango Leather Chutney | Anardana, Jalapeño, Aam Papad Chutney Recipe

Chutney's from the Indian Subcontinent is that side dish which always enhances the flavour of the dish it is paired with. Chutney's are very versatile in nature and you can let lose your creativity to put together Chutney's of your imagination. You can dish out a relish or a yogurt dip with condiments or grind together roasted lentils with coconut or many other things to get the platter you serve it along with totally pepped up.

Pulihora Podi Recipe, ( Andhra Style ) / Tamarind Rice Powder Recipe

There is nothing better than Homemade, hand pounded spices to be used for cooking. Indian food is all about the magic we create with our spices. Unfortunately due to lack of time and also because most spice mixes are easily available in the Super Markets or with our Local Grocers, making freshly ground spices at home has become rare. Today, homes where mortar and pestle or the dual grinding stone or sil batta is still used to make spices is mostly in our vilages. That is the reason why the food cooked there is so pure and loaded with flavours.

Keema / Qeema, Sabut Malka Masoor, Methi Biryani / Chicken Mince, Whole Red Lentils, Green Fenugreek Biryani ~ My Ode To The Ingenious Chef Sara Riaz

The Biryani love affair is growing stronger and stronger with each passing day in my family. Whether it's that special meal in the weekend, or that one symbolic dish to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or the star dish at any family get together or house parties and even for potlucks, the one dish that is chosen with total majority is Biryani. My eternal gratitude to the queen who first had Biryani cooked for her famished soldiers when she visited their barracks. This one pot dish which houses the flavour of each of the ingredient you would have used, with full vigor to reveal to you a decadent gush of aroma, the moment you remove the lid and allow the fragrant smoke to take over your senses and of those with you at the dinning table.