Food, travel and life stories…
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to sample some Sindhi food at Sindh Kitchen, Malleshwaram, at a bloggers’ table. It turned out to be an enlightening experience, my first proper introduction to Sindhi cuisine. We had a lovely time admiring the simple decor of Sindh Kitchen and, of course, gorging on some delicious food!
Do check out my detailed post about the experience, just in on my photo blog!
This post has been a long time coming.
The Dal Moradabadi at Punjab Bistro has been on my mind ever since I tried it out, a couple of months ago. I fell in love with this dish at first bite, and have wanted to try making it at home ever since. Somehow, I never got around to doing that. When ‘Tradtional Dals of India’ was chosen as the theme for the Foodie Monday Blog Hop this week, it gave me the perfect foil to try my hands at making Dal Moradabadi, Punjab Bistro-style, at home. I was thrilled by just how beautiful in taste it turned out. It was a huge hit at home, with the family loving it to bits, and every bit of it getting polished off. It is such a simple dal, but one that is bursting with flavour, something that would make a beautiful addition to any meal.
Head over to my photo blog to check out this step-by-step recipe for this very flavourful Dal Moradabadi and the fascinating history behind its origin!
Growing up in Ahmedabad, I never knew something called Bonda Soup existed. It was the husband who introduced me to it, a while after we were wedded. One bite into it, and I was hooked. I fell in love with the neither thin-nor thick broth, the fragrance of the ginger, green chillies and coriander in it, the way it turned slightly tangy with the tomatoes, the way the crisp shell of the bondas soaked the broth in. Years later, I’m still in love with this beauty.
Over the years, I have taught myself to make Bonda Soup at home too, because the husband loves it so much and because I have grown to love it too. It makes for a gorgeous snack for lazy weekends and can even double up as a weekday dinner. It is absolute comfort food on gloomy winter days and dark rainy days alike.
Today, I present to you the recipe for Karnataka-style Bonda Soup. Do let me know how you liked it!
The husband and I are big fans of tandoori dishes. Give us a well-made plate of tandoori tikka any day, and we would be two grinning Cheshire cats. On rainy days like today, straight-off-the-pan tandoori tikka couldn’t be more perfect. Today, I present to you the recipe for Tandoori Mushroom & Paneer Tikka, one of our all-time favourites.
Head to my photo blog for the step-by-step recipe!
A lot of foodie hearts broke when Made In Punjab in UB City gave way to BBQ’D. Many missed the gorgeous, authentic North Indian food of Made In Punjab, with its unique twists. Well, if you are one of those broken-hearted ones, there is good news for you!
Some of the old favourites from Made In Punjab have been brought back to the BBQ’D menu, on popular demand! Along with a few of the city’s foodies, I thoroughly enjoyed sampling this ‘Made In Punjab Revival Menu’ at BBQ’D, recently.
Check out a detailed account of my experience with the revival menu, just in on my photo blog! 
Kerala has been on my mind a lot lately. This beautiful land has had to face the wrath of nature in the past two weeks, with lashing rains flooding the state. There has been so much devastation – so many people losing their lives, so many losing their homes, so many losing their near and dear ones. Watching the news about the Kerala floods has been heartbreaking.
Onam this year is going to be a lacklustre affair, in Kerala and elsewhere, if it is celebrated at all that is. I pray for Kerala to rise above the waters that now flood it, to get back to being the beautiful, happy, healthy place it earlier was. Today, I share with you a beautiful Kerala-special recipe, my way of sending good wishes and positive vibes Kerala’s way.
The recipe I present to you today is that for Pineapple Pulissery, a delicacy from Kerala that is often part of the Onasadya (the full-fledged plantain-leaf meal that is served on the occasion of Onam). Pieces of ripe, juicy pineapple are cooked with a fragrant, flavourful, freshly ground paste, and then mixed with curd. Sweet and salty and tangy and sour all at once, Pineapple Pulissery makes for a wonderful accompaniment to a meal.
Check out the recipe, just in on my photo blog!
Last weekend, The Girl Next Door Club was at InAzia by Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center, to experience their ongoing Thai Food Festival. We had a lovely time here, sampling various known and lesser-known Thai delicacies by expert chef Rungtiwa Sorlae.
Do check out my blog, for a detailed account of the experience!
Sindhi Koki is a flatbread that is quite simple to make. With just a few ingredients required, these can be made within a matter of minutes, with no prior preparation needed.
The koki might look deceptively simple from the outside – just like any ordinary flatbread – but one bite into it will surprise you. This flatbread is rich with flavours! The finely chopped onion, green chillies and coriander that go into it render it super flavourful, as do the other aromatic dry spices that are added in.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making these beauties called Sindhi Koki.
I consider myself incredibly lucky for having had the chance to visit Kashmir, the land touted as ‘Paradise on Earth’, not once but twice so far. I am glad I have had a chance to explore a little of the cuisine of this beautiful place, to delve deeper into the food that nourishes the people of this land. Kashmiri cuisine has always surprised me with its out-of-the-box (at least for me) preparations, the use of spices to make food magical, and its simplicity. So, when I was recently invited to partake of a Kashmiri feast at Saffron, Radisson Blu in Marathahalli, I absolutely had to go. I ended up having an absolutely lovely time here, with some great food being served.
Read all about my experience at the Kashmiri Wazwan food festival, just in on my blog!
This year, the festival of Onam falls on August 27. Till then, I plan to herald the festival on my blog through a series of Onam-special recipes, courtesy of my mother-in-law who hails from Palakkad.
Today, I present to you the recipe for Nei Payasam, a Kerala-style kheer made with matta rice. This payasam is typically served in the course of an Onam sadya. It is also commonly prepared during weddings and other festive occasions, and as an offering to God in the temples of Kerala.
All of us at home are huge fans of this Nei Payasam, which literally translates into ‘kheer with ghee‘, and, true to its name, this kheer is redolent of the goodness of ghee and coconut. Traditionally made with jaggery, this is a really sweet and rich and heavenly kheer, especially for those with a huge sweet tooth like us.
Check out the recipe, just in on my photo blog! 
