Over the holidays, I experimented with lots of dishes using various ingredients and vegetables. One of the pending tasks on my list was to use the recipes that my mom had left for me when she visitited us 2 years ago. There were quite a few recipes as she used to teach cooking classes in [...]
Over the holidays, I experimented with lots of dishes using various ingredients and vegetables. One of the pending tasks on my list was to use the recipes that my mom had left for me when she visitited us 2 years ago. There were quite a few recipes as she used to teach cooking classes in India. As I was going through them, I realized the measurements and instructions were very confusing. Also, what made it more complicated was the measurements were in metric. But it is not the metric system that confused me (since metric units are much simpler) but the directions and quantities used. I had to make quite a few adjustments to the recipe in order for it to come out tasting the way it is supposed to taste. Even after that I messed up quite a few dishes. One of the ones that I messed up was a dish that used Tapioca.
…continue reading Spicy Vegetable Cutlet
Tags: Appetizer · Snack · Vegan
In the last recipe, I had talked about making masala popcorn. This weekend, I have been craving for snacks that I used to eat in India. So I decided to make another of my favorite snacks. It is very easy to make and is made with puffed rice. The Indian name for it is Murmura. [...]
In the last recipe, I had talked about making masala popcorn. This weekend, I have been craving for snacks that I used to eat in India. So I decided to make another of my favorite snacks. It is very easy to make and is made with puffed rice. The Indian name for it is Murmura. Puffed rice by itself is bland but when combined with various spices and peanuts, transforms it into a tasty snack. Puffed rice is a form of rice in which the rice grains are expanded to a volume that is several times larger than their original size. In Indian cooking there are various other dishes that are made with puffed rice – chaat (spicy melange of various vegetables and spices), sweets (puffed rice dessert made with Jaggery or sugar and ghee) and various other dishes.
Another important ingredient for this recipe is good quality peanuts. The roasted and salted Spanish peanuts that they sell at PCC Natural Market in Seattle, Washington is my favorite.
…continue reading Murmura (Spicy Puffed Rice Snack)
Tags: Gluten-free · Snack
Indians are crazy about Bollywood movies in India. If the movie is highly anticipated and has a big star, there is a frenzy to see the movie on the day it is released. The lines for getting the ticket to the movie are long and you have to wait a few hours before the show [...]
Indians are crazy about Bollywood movies in India. If the movie is highly anticipated and has a big star, there is a frenzy to see the movie on the day it is released. The lines for getting the ticket to the movie are long and you have to wait a few hours before the show to get a good seat. Everyone has to see the movie the first day or they will not be able to sleep in peace. I am being sarcastic but it’s true. Due to the popularity of some Bollywood stars, their movie tickets are sold in the black market for 10-20 times the price of a ticket. And if you take the whole family of 4-6 people, good luck getting that many tickets. That is when you buy the tickets in the black market (usually from a guy who has connections to the clerk in the ticketing office and has bought a few tickets in advance). When you buy it for the whole family, you end up spending 10-20 times the cost of the ticket times 4 or 6 people! Talk about crazy! In case you are wondering, yes, I was one of the crazy people on occasions paying that much for a movie. This was, of course, when I used to live in India and I would look forward to the movies from a few of my favorite stars.
…continue reading Masala Popcorn
Tags: Gluten-free · Snack
Breakfast in India usually consists of a hot cup of masala chai (tea), tea cookies and a lightly spiced dish or a spicy dish. The type of breakfast you get to eat varies widely depending on which region of India you live in or visit. The southern part of India usually serves spicier dishes compared [...]
Breakfast in India usually consists of a hot cup of masala chai (tea), tea cookies and a lightly spiced dish or a spicy dish. The type of breakfast you get to eat varies widely depending on which region of India you live in or visit. The southern part of India usually serves spicier dishes compared to the northern or western part of India. I am mostly familiar with the culture in North, West and South India. I have never been to the eastern part of India. If any of you have been there or are from the eastern part of India, please add your comment as to the type of breakfast served there.
…continue reading Poha (Spiced Pressed Rice)
Tags: Gluten-free · Indian Breakfast · Snack
In the previous post, Aloo Gobi, I had mentioned my experiment to apply the technique learnt in the cooking class that I took in making Indian crackers, failed. I had messed up on the proportion of spices and forgot to add oil, an essential ingredient! I was determined to try again since I really miss [...]
In the previous post, Aloo Gobi, I had mentioned my experiment to apply the technique learnt in the cooking class that I took in making Indian crackers, failed. I had messed up on the proportion of spices and forgot to add oil, an essential ingredient! I was determined to try again since I really miss some of the crackers my mom used to make. She used to roll the dough really thin and then would cook it on the stove top by constantly pressing on the rolled out cracker on a hot pan with a kitchen towel. Basically, she was making sure that the steam generated from the heat would not make it puff up. After all the crackers were cooked, she would go on to make the world’s best garlic chutney.
…continue reading Khakra (Lightly Spiced Chickpea Cracker)
Tags: Gluten-free · Snack · Vegetarian
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