Wondering what to do with those yellow whole peas in your Lufa Farms fresh basket? You can use them exactly as you'd use chickpeas. So soak them in a bowl of cold water overnight and then drain them and boil them with about two inches of water (2 cups dried chickpeas = 4 cups … [Read more...] about Local Organic Yellow Pea Curry (Almost Chana Masala)
Indian
Spiced Fruit Chaat for a Sunny Spring/Summer Day
Feels like summer! And that means that while most people are craving a fruity, boozy drink on a terrasse somewhere, I'm craving exotic fruit, straight up.... ...which is very similar to the rest of the year, except now I get to eat it outside in the sunshine. And I'm taking my … [Read more...] about Spiced Fruit Chaat for a Sunny Spring/Summer Day
Once More, With Feeling
I liked the Indian rice and black-eyed pea dish with cinnamon, cloves, and cumin so much I decided to make it again with a mix of aged white Basmati and black rice. The only reason I'm posting this again is because I think the picture is pretty. Silly reason, yes. Delicious food … [Read more...] about Once More, With Feeling
What to do with Chili Peppers: Spicy Indian Chili Pepper Pickle, Take 2
I made this pickle for the first time last year and subsequently told everyone I know how good it was. One friend even started to worry about my obsession with heat. He figured steam would come from my ears, but the worst that happened was chili pepper heat exuded from my pores. … [Read more...] about What to do with Chili Peppers: Spicy Indian Chili Pepper Pickle, Take 2
Indian Beans and Rice with Cinnamon, Cloves and Cumin: Lobhiya Pulao
All this is is spiced black eyed peas and Basmati rice. "All this is"...yeah, right. I have a friend who says that Indian vegetarian cuisine is one of the only vegetarian cuisines worth eating. To him, everything else lacks flavour, but if you know how to work with spices - … [Read more...] about Indian Beans and Rice with Cinnamon, Cloves and Cumin: Lobhiya Pulao
Berbere-Spiced Sweet Potato Fries
"What's berbere and why is it on my sweet potato fries?" you're probably asking. Berbere is an Ethiopian spice blend that's made up of a ridiculous amount of whole spices, toasted, and ground. I'd like to say I keep the spices whole because it keeps them fresher until you make … [Read more...] about Berbere-Spiced Sweet Potato Fries
Lemon Rice with Peanuts from Hari Nayak’s “My Indian Kitchen”
I like the idea of lemony rice. So often rice is a foil - for a curry sauce, for a meat dish, for dinner's protagonist, etc. But if you add some protein to a rice dish it almost becomes a meal on its own, and then it needs some flavour. Most often in Indian cuisine that means … [Read more...] about Lemon Rice with Peanuts from Hari Nayak’s “My Indian Kitchen”
Best Roasted Eggplant Dip (Baingan Ki Chutney)
Another winner from "My Indian Kitchen". The recipe is here, so I feel okay about reprinting it loosely below. For more precise instructions see author Hari Nayak's website. So I mentioned I'm obsessed with eggplant in my last restaurant review of Bombay Choupati just outside … [Read more...] about Best Roasted Eggplant Dip (Baingan Ki Chutney)
Hyderabadi Mixed Vegetables (Hara Subzi)
This is a five-star recipe adapted from Hari Nayak's "My Indian Kitchen". The five stars are my rating, not the book. the book is much more humble than that. A rich coriander-coconut sauce envelops sweet green peas and beans. The carrots add colour and the potato adds just … [Read more...] about Hyderabadi Mixed Vegetables (Hara Subzi)
Slow-Cooker Chicken Vindaloo
This recipe's a doozy. It takes awhile, and needs to be planned at least one day in advance. But is it worth it? Emphatically, yes! Vindaloo is a sweet-and-sour sauce using vinegar and garlic. It's associated with the Portuguese influence in Indian cooking from Goa and comes … [Read more...] about Slow-Cooker Chicken Vindaloo