Lotus root fritters – Nadir monji or monji gul, served with a lip smacking Tamarind and onion chutney is a street food in Kashmir. Nadir monji is a cherished treat in all of Kashmir. It is a coveted snack. It is a required addiction – by law. Ok may be not by law. It is a requirement by virtue of being a true blooded Kashmiri. Any Kashmiri worth her salt should be obsessed with nadur. Full Stop. Thin slices of lotus roots are mixed with spices and rice flour and then deep fried until crisp. If that was not enough …
Butternut Squash Rolls
Oh how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin…. We anxiously anticipate it every year. ~Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer, October 2010 And we do too! Wait for the pumpkin season. My little pumpkin, eagerly awaits the pumpkin season so she could gobble up all the pumpkin goodies. Does that make you think that I have a child who does not give me grief about vegetables? You are SO Wrong! She does! Every now and then. But not during the pumpkin season. And I do have these squash rolls to …
Aloo Matar
Toasty cumin, roasted coriander, a dash of salt, a pinch of turmeric, a smidgen of fiery good red chili, a touch of black cumin, a few dancing pepper corns, a squirt of lime ! Amazing makeover!
Bharli Vaangi – Roasted Stuffed Eggplants
How does something so beautiful, glossy and downright gorgeous have the heavenly humility of complementing and balancing everything around it? I am talking about the Eggplant, Remember Ratatouille? What would Remy make if he had no aubergines to put in the dish? Aubergines as they are called in France, Brinjals as they are called in India and Eggplants as they are known in the US are terrific as complementary vegetable to a lot of ingredients. In the Indian cuisine we add them to almost everything. But once a while we let them shine on – All by themselves. They …
Masala Bhindi
Dark! Deep! Mysterious- This lady’s finger will make you twirl and sing to its tune and you will irrevocably be in a culinary love. It’s Feisty, Spunky and full of Flavor. Make this on a rainy day in spring with home made roti that has seen the touch of ghee and you will be truly madly deeply in Love. Why Okra or Bhindi is called the Lady’s finger – is a secret that many have tried to find out. The secret stays elusive – even to the modern tell-all looking glass ( Google and Wiki ). And if you thought the ritualistic macarena dance will …
Bagara Baingan – Stuffed egg plants
At the outset, I do not claim that this is an authentic bagara baigan recipe. But sometimes, one must deviate from the norm and suit one’s own palate and that of one’s dearest friends. This recipe has an interesting anecdote attached. I had invited my friend Jen over for some Indian lunch. Actually, we planned to cook and enjoy it together. For some weird reason I decided to make stuffed eggplants as one of the dishes for the day. I had no idea what Jen liked as we were just getting to know one another and wisdom suggested that I …