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A preparation of pulses (dried lentils, peas or beans), dal is a regular accompaniment with Indian meals. Dal recipes of varieties such as toor, chana, moong or masoor.

Pumpkin Kala Chana, Bengali Style

20 Sep

Pumpkin Black Chickpea Curry

A pumpkin kala chana (black chickpea) preparation infused with the Bengali flavors of panch phoron and mustard oil. Dried bay leaves lend a subtle aromatic base to the curry, jaggery brings out the pumpkin’s sweetness, raw mango powder gives it tang. (more…)

Drumstick Raita: Moringa Pods in Chili Yogurt

16 Sep

Drumstick Raita

Boiled drumstick (moringa pods, or sahjan in Hindi) swathed in a chili yogurt base for an unusual drumstick raita. With very few add-on flavors, this recipe lets the drumstick shine.

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Mooli Fry: Masala-Coated Fried Radish

7 Sep

Mooli Fry Sabzi

"Cannot handle the pungency of radish" – is that your rationale for staying away from radish-based curries? I know how you feel. Once upon a time, I was you. Till I discovered tricks to tame the mighty mooli. May I gently recommend to you my mooli fry recipe. With steps calculated to reduce the sharpness of radish, mooli fry presents to you this root veggie in its mildest form.

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Green Gram Sundal: Coconutty Whole Moong Bean

6 Aug

Green Gram Sundal

Sundal is a simple legume preparation from south India – a style of cooking in which boiled legumes are tempered with spiced oil and fresh coconut. The sattvic ingredient profile of sundal makes it a popular prasadam (i.e. blessed by the Gods) dish. During the nine days of Navarathri, south Indian homes traditionally offer sundal to their guests, prepared with a different legume each day.

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Kaddu Rajma: Pumpkin with Red Kidney Beans

1 Aug

Kaddu Rajma - Pumpkin Red Kidney Bean Curry

Pumpkin (kaddu) and red kidney beans (rajma) make a hearty, richly flavored kaddu rajma curry. Dry red chilies give it heat, tamarind lends it tang, jaggery balances it all.

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Bihari Aloo Chana: Potato and Black Chickpea Curry

28 Jul

Bihari Aloo Chana

Aloo chana is an easy-to-cook recipe from Bihar that uses kala chana (black chickpea) – the smaller, thicker-skinned sibling of the chickpea used in channa masala or hummus. Black chickpea has an earthy, dense flavor and high roughage content. This dish is filling, a good source of carbs, protein and iron – besides being really tasty.

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Dal with Raw Mango: Tangy Yellow Lentils

13 Jul

Raw Mango Dal

With garlic, curry leaves and ghee for company, dal with raw mango is like heaven in a bowl. What’s more, it doesn’t take much to give your workaday yellow dal this exotic tangy twist. Let me show you how.

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