…are dumplings native to Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet & the Himalayan states of India. They are such cute little steamed treats wrapped in little dough packets & are so versatile. You can really get creative with various tasty fillings with meats & vegetables of your choice. They are popular & you find little shacks & counters serving these dainty finger eats steaming hot. In Pune, we have quite a few stalls & restaurants specializi…
…uses, medicinal & health value, is rich in vitamins & minerals. In India, especially in Maharashtra it is cooked as a vegetable/subzi & eaten with Indian breads (rotis, phulkas & bhakris). The chicken medallions with saffron sauce & colorful veggies is very nutritious, healthy & delicious! This recipe is elaborate but if you are organized in your pre-preparation then it is really very easy & quick… While browsing throug…
…g a very ripe banana & not wasting it is to use it in a milk shake… In India, people who fast do not skip but readily eat bananas. They make sure they include bananas in their fasting diet. In fact, they eat quite a few throughout the day! Bananas are cheap & also considered as fruit for the poor. The poor survive on this wholesome, nutritious & energy boosting fruit. When people serve food to the poor, they make sure that they include…
…fitness is tremendous & the mithai which always held its own in every Indian household is almost non existent. The sugar & the pure ghee which plays an integral role in the Indian mithai is replaced with substitutes & hence it may not even have the original traditional taste. But I feel one need not indulge in this lovely, traditional, pure & original sweets but one must eat in moderation, relish & enjoy the sweet moments. Diw…
…s, as this is my personal favorite besides some sweets. Murukku is a South Indian snack which is a savory crunchy twists. Murukku means twisted in Tamil. The town of Manapparai in Tamil Nadu is particularly known for its murukku. It is made in many varieties as a traditional treat for festive & auspicious occasions. It is often served on special occasions within Iyer (Tamil Brahmin) families. There are several varieties of Murukku & has di…
…l part of this preparation is high in vitamins. In general, most people in India prefer very spicy food. Since this dish mainly caters to labourers & farmers, they prefer hot & very spicy misal. To many, misal pav is an important meal which takes care of their daily dietary needs. In Pune, we have several way side stalls, small eateries & restaurants serving their very own signature preparation. Misal Pav is an extremely simple, easy &…
…nally a Persian dessert known by the name ‘faloodeh.’ It was introduced in India by the Mughals. Though this cooling dessert is prepared in summer as the ingredients used to prepare it helps to cool the body but can be enjoyed throughout the year as the flavors are very sweetly aromatic & soothing. Above all the assembled falooda looks very elegant, strikingly attractive, pleasing to the eye & irresistible! The moment you see the ravishing…
…rathi (Maharashtra). There are various ways of cooking stuffed brinjals in India. The Maharashtrian preparation is very delicious & tastes awesome with bhakri, chapattis & phulkas. Traditionally, the stuffed brinjals (bharli vangi) is usually cooked on clay stoves (choolah) in a kadhai with the lid closed. Some water is poured on the lid & the steam trickles in the kadhai which helps to cook the brinjals to make it tender & succule…