From Hari Nayak's "My Indian Kitchen", this squid curry is a pan-Asian flavour combo of soy sauce, coconut milk, and Indian spice blends. Says Nayak, street vendors add soy sauce to the dish in India now too. I made the dish because a friend gifted me fresh curry leaves from a … [Read more...] about Goan-Style Indian Squid (Goa ki squid kari)
Indian
The Other Dal: Yellow Mung Beans with Spinach from “My Indian Kitchen”
I guess I wasn't settled in yet because I had to make another dal. That, and/or I didn't want to spend any money and this is a ridiculously inexpensive dish. Or maybe I just wanted to review yet another cookbook, and that only happens one recipe at a time. "My Indian Kitchen" by … [Read more...] about The Other Dal: Yellow Mung Beans with Spinach from “My Indian Kitchen”
At (My New) Home Without Madhur Jaffrey: Sambhar Without Drumsticks
I've moved a lot. 9 places in 7 years, last I counted. Over 30 roommates. With the good comes the bad. In one I only had a mini fridge but in another I had a gas stove...until I got asked to leave because the landlord wanted to move back in with his psychologically troubled … [Read more...] about At (My New) Home Without Madhur Jaffrey: Sambhar Without Drumsticks
Two-Potato Vindaloo from “Plenty”
Normally I wouldn't turn to a general vegetable cookbook for an Indian potato recipe, but this one, "Plenty", from UK chef and newspaper columnist Yotam Ottolenghi has it all. More important, however, is what it doesn't have: No bought pre-ground spice blends or pastes! The … [Read more...] about Two-Potato Vindaloo from “Plenty”
Indian Tamarind-Fennel Tomato Sauce with Vegetarian Meatballs
I want to premise this with the fact that I never watch the Food Network. There was a point in the first year of my masters degree at Mcgill University when if I was having a really long day and desperately needed caffeine or a break I would go to Cafe ArtJava for a cinnamon tea … [Read more...] about Indian Tamarind-Fennel Tomato Sauce with Vegetarian Meatballs
Gluten-Free Naan Bread
I had a cup of yogurt from my favourite biodynamic Ontario dairy farm left with only a few days before expiration. I also had leftover stir-fried okra with shallots, stir-fried bitter melon, and a red lentil dal. To me that means it's time to make naan. Normally you never make … [Read more...] about Gluten-Free Naan Bread
Stir-Fried Okra with Sour Shallots
When I see a ton of fresh okra on sale I buy it. You might look at this vegetable and think what's the big deal? You might even taste it and not be impressed. Maybe you won't like the slimy quality of it that perfectly thickens gumbo and is oh-so-good for you because of its high … [Read more...] about Stir-Fried Okra with Sour Shallots
Stir-Fried Bitter Melon
Have you ever cooked with bitter melon? (I'm going to assume you just answered no.) Yeah, I hadn't either. It's a hard-to-find item because I've never seen it grown here in Canada and is generally used in Asian cooking, not North American cooking. I had absolutely no idea what … [Read more...] about Stir-Fried Bitter Melon
Wild Atlantic Cod in Fennel, Cumin and Fenugreek-Spiced Tomato Sauce
Sometimes it's nice to treat yourself a little, and I'm pretty sure Michael gets this. So we hit it off. To describe Michael as "well-groomed" would be an understatement: tailored, pleated pants, ironed shirt, and nails that were prettier than mine. But he almost immediately … [Read more...] about Wild Atlantic Cod in Fennel, Cumin and Fenugreek-Spiced Tomato Sauce
Bangladeshi Red Lentils
For the dal dish for my Indian dinner party I did the simplest red lentil recipe in the book (At Home With Jadhur Maffrey). It was so easy I figured it'd be bland and boring, but I knew there would be other flavours in the other dishes to pick up the slack in the meal. There … [Read more...] about Bangladeshi Red Lentils