Matar Paneer When in season, I made optimum use of fresh green peas and froze a kilo for the summer months. Combined a small cup of peas with paneer and prepared a tomato based curry to go with rotis for our mid day meal. Matar Paneer, a culinary gem of North Indian origin, is a [...]

Home grown pudina along with fresh coriander leaves and plump, ripe, juicy red tomatoes from farmer’s market, sauteed with cumin, green chillis and split gram dal, blended to a coarse paste and tempered with asafoetida and curry leaves. Yields a simple, quick and satisfying pachadi that went down really well with Idli, our morning breakfast.

During summer, most mid day meals are usually light and many a time, its salad and large glass of a summer cooler or buttermilk, especially during the month of May. Today, I prepared a colorful, crunchy salad and a mint flavored lemonade for our mid day meal.

Comfort food, Egg biryani, makes for a perfect weekend meal with raita and curry. Yesterday, I was inspired to make a flavored rice and since our family loves eggs, I decided on Egg biryani which has a striking resemblance to Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani. Its easy to put together, substantial and full of flavor.

High on the nutritive quotient, Karela, is a vegetable that is available all year round at our local farmer’s market and a regular at our home. Few takers for this knobbly, humble, bitter tasting vegetable. But the few who chose to go beyond the outward appearance and bitter flavor, were won for life once they savored its true taste, appreciating it health enhancing benefits.

The winning combination of roasted eggplants and tart-sweet tomatoes is a match made in heaven. Roasted eggplant lends a deliciously smoky edge while balancing out the tart flavor of tomatoes. Works great as a dip, or pachadi to go with rice or side with rotis. Whatever you have it with, its culinary bliss.

A mild and sweet flavored stir fry using amaranth leaves and potatoes. I have used the leaves and tender stalks of amaranth that were par boiled and sauteed along with boiled potatoes in a paste of coconut, green chillis, ginger and cumin. Makes for a good side with rice or rotis.

A chunk of paneer was sitting in the refrigerator crying out to be used. As to what to make with it was easy. Paneer Bhurji.

Nehal’s done with his exams a week ago and is having his friends drop by. Yesterday, while they played, cycled and screamed their lungs off, I got myself to bake in the sultry weather, quickly took pictures of the final outcome before they barged in with hunger pangs.

I usually make this roast recipe using chicken legs and Nehal is extremely fond of it. Few spices go into its making and ensure you marinate the chicken for at least 3-4 hrs if not overnight and roast the chicken well. You can play around with the spices of your choice and add herbs like mint and rosemary.