Indian As Apple Pie

     I HAD A TEN POUND BAG OF CARROTS. SO, I decided to take a shot at a delicious carrot soup. My first batch was good, but not great. For the next few batches, I added sweet notes from an overly-ripe pear and golden raisins. I also wanted some creaminess, but dairy-free. So, I went with cashew cream, which also lends some sweet notes. I could have also used coconut milk, but I'm just not a fan of the added taste profile in this kind of soup. I do like the addition of fresh turmeric. I feel like it...

  The Indian Pressure Cooker Project is ON! Now I just need you to cook along with me as I recipe test full-flavored family-style Indian recipes in my pressure cooker. This one is for black chickpeas. If you are not Indian, you've probably never heard of them. They are smaller and meatier than their white chickpea counterparts. AND lower on the glycemic index. More on that later. First, the recipe.  RECIPE Instant Pot Black Chickpea CurryElectric Pressure Cooker Size: 6Q or largerWarm-Up: 20 minutes - Cook: 30 minutes - Cool Down: 33 minutesTOTAL: 1 hour 23 minutesMakes: 10 cups 2...

I was raised outside Philly. I like a good Hoagie. And, even though I prefer eating plant-based, what's not to love about a good meatball sub?  Why I'm always looking for ways to make my favorite comfort foods vegetarian delicious. And, I'm always thinking about ways to take my current recipes and elevate. It's what happened with my meatless meatballs recipe I posted previously. Sure, they were tasty. But they would be even healthier and more delicious with a little quinoa flour, on a bed of Tikka Masala, and made with Tandoori Masala instead of just garam masala, right? At least it's...

This idea grew out of frustration. While my husband loves my version of lamb kabobs - I needed something for me. As most of you know already, I am more of a plant-based eater. But, I'll never sacrifice flavor. It has to be delicious - and typically has to be a dish that will satisfy even my omnivore of a husband. The answer? These beautifully scrumptious meatballs based on the kabob recipe in my third book, Indian For Everyone. If you have my cookbook already, check out page 87 and follow along.* The first step was developing a 'meat-ier' platform...

Hyderabad is the capital of two states in Southern India and is known as a center for India's pearl and diamond trade. And, biryani. Hyderabadi Biryani is known throughout India and beyond, made special by the mix of spices including mace, dried fruit, and nuts.  Traditionally, there are two ways to cook this one-pot meal. One is to place your raw, marinated meat and other ingredients in a clay pot and seal it - opening only when perfectly cooked (this takes some serious practice). The other is to cook your ingredients partially and then put them together to finish up...

This past weekend demoing at the Whole Foods in Willowbrook, I showcased one of the best-kept Indian food secrets - kala chana, or black chickpeas, high in protein and meatier in texture than their white counterpart. Not one person knew what they were trying, but once they did, they were sold! Here's an easy recipe for kala chana made with my Punjabi Masala, which is just onion/ginger/garlic/turmeric ground down into a paste.  Kala Chana Chaat with Punjabi MasalaMakes 6 cups  2 cups dried kala chana, cleaned and washed½ onion, finely chopped2 – 3 Thai, serrano, or cayenne chiles, stems removed and...

I first saw a turmeric plant as a little girl visiting my grandmother's home in Chandigarh, India.  All of my cousins and I loved playing and climbing the lychee and mango trees in the back of our huge home in Sector 9. It was always a special time for me visiting from America - getting to pluck juicy, ripe lychees right off the stem and wander into our beloved gardner's patch of okra, eggplant, and turmeric.  Mali, as we would refer to him, would complain about the grassy plant overtaking his garden, and mumble under his breath as he cut away...

Chaat means so delicious that you want to lick your fingers clean, and why Indian small plates are called chaat. At once spicy, savory, and with hints of sweet notes, the dishes like papardi chaat, samosa chaat, and aloo chaat all make you want more and more and more. One of my favorite spots to try Indian chaat is Kamdar Plaza on Devon Ave. in Chicago. Tell them I sent you!  Most Indian street vendors put together their own spice blend, called chaat masala. It's used to give street foods a pop in flavor and extra punchiness. A few key spices are...

Garam Masala is becoming one of the most-commonly found Indian spice blends on your grocery store shelf. But, what is it?  I hear that constantly when I'm teaching cooking classes. Even from folks who use the spice and cook Indian food on a regular basis. They know they need it. They know where to find it. But, they are not exactly sure what it it.  It's a spice blend - that's what masala means. A mixture of spices. Garam means warm or hot. This blend is basically a combination of spices that are considered warm, earthy, and robust.  This is a blend also typical of...

This past week, I became a banner hanging from every corner of the largest Whole Foods in North America, I cooked enough Chana Masala for over 100 people, I was on just about every TV and radio station in Chicago, I persuaded Whole Foods - a major retailer - to celebrate Diwali the Festival of Lights, and we sold books, shook hands, and signed even more copies of 'Indian For Everyone'. I love this pic..credit for it goes to David Acevedo. Needless to say, it's been an amazing fun-filled week. I just wanted to share some of the pictures and...