Click here to like! When it comes to parties, it is tough cooking everything on the same day. For me, the toughest part is getting something on the menu that kids will like. Yes, you can buy store-bought chicken nuggets or order a pizza, but where is the fun in that? I remember my dadContinue reading “Chicken Fingers”
Category Archives: Recipes
Tomato Rice
Click here to like! Tomato rice is a popular dish from the South of India. However, my version is inspired by Maharashtra. I developed this recipe when I had a lot of leftover tomatoes from a large harvest. Masale bhaat is one of my favorites and I decided to pair the tempering for masale bhaatContinue reading “Tomato Rice”
Vermicelli Upma
Click here to like! I am not a big fan of upma. However, Vermicelli Upma is different! It is light, easy to make, and tastes delicious! I am not sure how I came up with this recipe or where I got the inspiration from but I can remember making it for as long as IContinue reading “Vermicelli Upma”
Mangalore Buns
Click here to like! Mangalore buns are a popular dish from Karnataka, however, it is one of those things that the early immigrants from the state brought to Goa and it became a favorite among Goans too. It is not uncommon to visit a local breakfast spot in Goa and see these golden-brown buns inContinue reading “Mangalore Buns”
Shev
Click here to like! Shev is a versatile Indian snack that is great on its own or goes well with chaats. One of my favorite shevs is that from Goa which is slightly different from the ones made in the rest of India. The shev is made with “tarvoli mirsango” or spicy chilies. No functionContinue reading “Shev”
Namak Para
Click here to like! Though shankarpali is more famous, for a few of us who do not like sweet treats as much, namak para is the savory cousin. The best thing about this recipe is that you can customize it with spices and herbs of your choice. I used kalonji and ajwain here, however, youContinue reading “Namak Para”
Beet Arugula Salad
Click here to like! I love beets! Arugula and beet salad is one of my favorites. I usually serve this as part of the meal with some protein. However, it is a great side to make during house parties. You can also prep this ahead of time as the beets can be stored for atContinue reading “Beet Arugula Salad”
Shankarpali
Click here to like! Shankarpali or shakkar para, is a sweet fried dough snack. You will rarely find anyone that does not like this sweet treat. I have come to find that there is a similar version of this in Africa as well that uses eggs, similar to the Goan kulkuls. I remember this beingContinue reading “Shankarpali”
Raw Papaya Salad
Click here to like! This is one of my favorite salads to make and eat. It is inspired by “achara”, a raw papaya pickle from the Philippines. However, this fresh salad is easier to make and you don’t have to wait for it to pickle! Try out this fresh plate of rainbow veggie salad nextContinue reading “Raw Papaya Salad”
Fenoryo
Click here to like! Fenoryo… this wasn’t something I grew up eating during Diwali. However, my mother-in-law made these for most festivals and Mayur asked me if I could make them for him this Diwali. I could not deny him some nostalgia! My memories of fenoryo are during Datta Jayanti. When we brought the palkiContinue reading “Fenoryo”
Kung Pao Chicken
Click here to like! Kung Pao may arguably be one of the most popular Chinese dishes eaten in the USA. I was not a big fan of this dish, until my friend, Echo introduced me to authentic Schezuan cuisine! I was amazed and blown away by the complex flavors and mild numbing effect of thisContinue reading “Kung Pao Chicken”
Brioche Bread
Click here to like! I love making stuffed bread! When I started baking stuffed bread, the outsides would be crispy. However, it is sometimes difficult to get the soft spongy texture that you desire. It still tasted great but I wanted a recipe that resembles the softness of kolaches. After a lot of trial andContinue reading “Brioche Bread”
Ajvar Pasta
Click here to like! Ajvar is a popular Balkan dip/condiment. It is made with eggplants and bell peppers. When I spent a month in the Balkan, I fell in love with this simple yet delicious condiment! I tried to experiment with it besides eating it as is with bread. I hit the local farmers marketContinue reading “Ajvar Pasta”
Chocolate Cake
Click here to like! Do you love cake? What is your favorite kind? Ask anyone and the majority of them will say chocolate cake! Everyone needs to have a good chocolate cake recipe in their recipe book. I did not! Not sure why! So when a few years back Mayur asked me for a chocolateContinue reading “Chocolate Cake”
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Click here to like! I remember the first time I saw an artichoke. I was like what on earth is this? It was at a farmer’s market with my friend Shilpa. She explained to me how to cook with it and told me about this dip that she makes. The next time I went outContinue reading “Spinach Artichoke Dip”
Salad with Satay Sauce
Click here to like! This deliciously healthy salad with vermicelli, colorful veggies, and earthy peanut sauce will make you forget that you are eating a salad! As I always say, healthy eating does not have to be boring! Try this salad and you can thank me later! What you will need: Prep Time: 25Continue reading “Salad with Satay Sauce”
Chicken Satay
Click here to like! Chicken satay is always on the table when Mayur and I eat Thai food! This simple barbecue dish is famous all over Asia, be it Singapore, Thailand or Malaysia. However, did you know that this dish is actually Indonesian? Just like the famous Kebabs of India which have Middle Eastern roots,Continue reading “Chicken Satay”
Satay Sauce
Click here to like! My love affair with Thai food is an old one… But the paste and curries of Thai cuisine particularly peek my interest. If you walk down a market in Thailand, among all the chaos, you will find pockets of fragrances. Follow your nose to the aroma of freshly ground spices andContinue reading “Satay Sauce”
Meat Samosa
Click here to like! Samosas are a much loved appetizer all across India. However, what sets the Goan samosa separate, is the meat filling. Meat samosa are popular with Goans, be it after a laadin (prayer at a cross), picnics or just because. My Anil Kaka used to make really good mutton samosas. I rememberContinue reading “Meat Samosa”
Eggplant Pasta
Click here to like! Wait… don’t run away reading the title of this recipe! It is one of the tastiest pastas you will ever eat! On our trip to Albania, we ate a popular East European dish called imam bayildi. It deep fried and stuffed eggplant cooked in a tomato based gravy. I fell inContinue reading “Eggplant Pasta”
Kiwi Sorbet
Click here to like! Summer is here and with the rising temperatures, everyone craves something cold! Ice creams are always a summer favorite among all age groups. But with icecreams come the big calories too! What if you could still enjoy ice cream without the extra fat, sugar, and dairy? You can!!! Home-made sorbets areContinue reading “Kiwi Sorbet”
Pineapple Coconut Tea Cake
Click here to like! When you have too much pineapple jam on hand, you make a cake 🙂 This recipe was a result of too much jam laying around and us wanting to eat something new instead, kind of deal 😀 This cake has a subtle coconut flavor and chunky pineapple pieces that will leaveContinue reading “Pineapple Coconut Tea Cake”
Ansa Halwo/Pineapple Jam
Click here to like! Growing up, my granny’s fridge would always be stocked with different kinds of homemade jams. I never really had a sweet tooth. But I love fruits and pineapple is one of my favorites! Even though, maangad or Mango jam is famous in Goa, pineapple jam might be the only jam thatContinue reading “Ansa Halwo/Pineapple Jam”
Chocolate Chips Cake
Click here to like! Who does not like chocolate? And if you make a cake out of it even better! I wanted to try to make a chocolate chip cake and came up with this recipe. It was made as a surprise for a very nice gentleman for iftaar. This cake is sure to bringContinue reading “Chocolate Chips Cake”
Ribbon Cake
Click here to like! If you grew up in Goa, this cake is nostalgic! Every special event had to be graced by its presence. Independence Day celebrations, an annual day at school, sports day, a birthday party, picnics, or a family get-together were not complete without this delicious cake. It would be served on aContinue reading “Ribbon Cake”
Noon Tea
Click here to like! Noon tea is a pink tea from the Kashmir region of India. Usually a salty tea, it is more popular in Pakistan as a sweet version. This beautiful tea is served with pistachios and almonds. It is a long process to make the tea but the concoction once made can beContinue reading “Noon Tea”
Boiled Wontons
Click here to like! Wontons are perfect meat-filled dumplings that are not just delicious but healthy too. I love wontons as they are easy to make ahead of time and use as needed for a quick mid-week dinner. Boiled wontons are my favorite, though! The tangy and spicy dipping sauce takes them to a newContinue reading “Boiled Wontons”
Chicken Pizza Base
Click here to like! With my healthy living pledge, not eating things I love has been really hard! So I have come up with creative ideas to make them with healthy alternatives. Pizza is one of my favorite fast foods! I miss being able to pick up the phone and order a pizza on aContinue reading “Chicken Pizza Base”
Bourbon Biscuit Cupcakes
Click here to like! Cupcakes are just tiny bundles of joy in two bites. It is a perfect dessert for any occasion. But when someone does not eat eggs, it is really hard to make a good cupcake. There was a trend last year was to make cakes out of bourbon biscuits. This was soContinue reading “Bourbon Biscuit Cupcakes”
Middle Eastern Burger
Click here to like! Burgers are popular among kids and adults alike. On a perfect summer evening, nothing like sharing a juicy burger with a chilled beer along with friends and family. However, the ready-made burgers are greasy, made with poor quality meat which is why I avoid eaten them outside. My husband on theContinue reading “Middle Eastern Burger”
Thandai
Click here to like! Thandai… the word itself is so cooling. The purpose of this drink, to cool you during the hot summer that just begins in India during the festival of Holi. If you have been to India and not played Holi, you have missed out! The western world has adopted our festival forContinue reading “Thandai”
Shawarma Pockets
Click here to like! Once in a while, (if not often!) we all crave that yummy, unhealthy street food! For me it is chaat but for my husband who grew up in the Middle East, it is shawarma. He is so crazy about shawarma that he actually got some back from Bahrain to the USAContinue reading “Shawarma Pockets”
Whole Wheat Pita
Click here to like! It is very convenient to go to a department store and get some pita bread to make all your favorite pita bread recipes. But then you pick up that packet and see the list of ingredients that you do not recognize? Ever been to a middle eastern restaurant? I don’t knowContinue reading “Whole Wheat Pita”
Shawarma Spice Mix
Click here to like! Shawarma is a famous middle eastern street food that has gained popularity all over the world. Since Mayur grew up in the middle east, I make this food quite often. Shawarma is his all-time favorite! I have bought the spice mix from the market too many times just to hate it.Continue reading “Shawarma Spice Mix”
Mirsaanga Ros-Goan Chili Curry
Click here to like! When outsiders think of Goan cuisine, they mostly think of fish curry, and rice. However, our cuisine has some hidden treasures which, unfortunately, even some Goans have forgotten about. This chili curry or mirsaanga ros is one such gem! Vegetarian food was cooked on almost half the days of the weekContinue reading “Mirsaanga Ros-Goan Chili Curry”
Goan Varan
Click here to like! Varan and xit are comfort food on veg days for Goans! It is a must for every religious function. Varan is popular in Maharashtra as well. However, what sets the Goan varan apart is the coconut milk. This was one recipe that my friends absolutely loved! I remember one time IContinue reading “Goan Varan”
Anjeer Barfi
Click here to like! Figs are one of my favorite dried fruits. My mom would bring figs for me every time I went home from Belgaum or the USA. I love the figs from India that come dried on a string of some kind of grass. I do not have a sweet tooth and amContinue reading “Anjeer Barfi”
Sarson Ka Saag/Makki Di Roti
Click here to like! Sarson ka saag and makki di roti are signature dishes from the region of Punjab! Mustard greens are slow-cooked in an earthen pot for hours together with lots of ghee! Once ready, they are served with a simple corn flour flatbread cooked over an open flame. The last time I hadContinue reading “Sarson Ka Saag/Makki Di Roti”
Goan Rose Tea
Click here to like! Rose Tea is something unique to Goa. It is a popular evening time drink, mostly among the south Goans. I wasn’t much of a tea drinker growing up. Tea was reserved for the times I would feel under the weather. Cream cracker biscuit and a cup of this warm tea wouldContinue reading “Goan Rose Tea”
Sangria
Click here to like! Sangria is a drink that hails from Spain. It is a mix of brandy and red wine, along with infused fruit. The joy of sipping on this drink in Spain is inexpressible! I remember around this time last year we were in Barcelona, enjoying this drink by the beach with someContinue reading “Sangria”
Chicken Tikka
Click here to like! Chicken tikka may arguably be the most famous grilled Indian appetizer. They are perfect bite-size pieces of chicken, marinated in a heavenly combination of spices and yogurt. Be it a BBQ party, just a regular get together of friends, or a quick daily meal, these are some of my favorite thingsContinue reading “Chicken Tikka”
Bethem/Goan Khichdi
Click here to like! Khichdi is made in some form or the other throughout India. It is hard to pinpoint where it originated from. It is a one-pot meal that was filling and nutritious. Maybe that is why it is so popular all over the Indian subcontinent. So what is the Goan version of khichdi?Continue reading “Bethem/Goan Khichdi”
Butter Chicken Lasagna
Click here to like! Who does not like butter chicken? It is one of the most popular Indian curries in the entire world! Growing up, butter chicken was something we only ate at a restaurant. I am not a big fan of the butter chicken you get in the restaurants in the USA. So IContinue reading “Butter Chicken Lasagna”
Rasmalai Tiramisu
Click here to like! Tiramisu is a popular Italian dessert. I had friends over for the weekend and decided to make an Italian- Indian fusion meal. I was thinking about what to make for dessert when tiramisu popped into my mind. After a lot of thinking of how to “desi-fy” this dessert, I thought whyContinue reading “Rasmalai Tiramisu”
Komola Kheer
Click here to like! I came across this unique and beautiful recipe by accident. A picture of orange kheer popped up on my Pinterest and it intrigued my interest. I had to research it more! After reading a little bit about this recipe, I decided to try making it this weekend. I love oranges butContinue reading “Komola Kheer”
Kholatlyo Amblyo
Click here to like! If you grew up in Goa like me, the title of this recipe itself must have made you salivate and remember the salty- tangy taste of this delicious pre-summer pickle. My granny would make stuffed mango pickle every summer. The first step to making this pickle was to make kholatlyo amblyo.Continue reading “Kholatlyo Amblyo”
Fish Tikka Salad
Click here to like! My goal is to make this blog a little healthy this year. I am going to try to pen down some of my favorite protein-packed recipes for all those health nuts and for myself to refer back to. I recently invested in an air fryer and have been loving it soContinue reading “Fish Tikka Salad”
Saffron Rice
Click here to like! Saffron rice is a flavorful yet simple, no-hassle side dish. I love making saffron rice to go as a side for my Middle Eastern, African, or Indian curries. It is a one-pot side dish and the flavors will leave everyone wondering how much effort you put into making it. The floralContinue reading “Saffron Rice”
Lamb Tagine
Click here to like! Tagine is Moroccon earthen cookware, made with a wide base and a conical top with a small outlet for steam. It is also the name of a meal that is cooked in it. The tagine is mostly used to cook meat. The rotation of steam within the vessel lets the meatContinue reading “Lamb Tagine”
Spiced Hot Chocolate
Click here to like! If you ever lived in a cold place, you will know the value of warm drinks. Hot chocolate is a drink that is loved by adults and children alike. It makes for a perfect drink for those cold winter nights, when everyone is snuggled in their blankets and sitting by theContinue reading “Spiced Hot Chocolate”