Simple & Delicious Indian Recipes
Second week of New Year is the time when large parts of the country are shivering under intense cold waves, the fields are green again and the harvest is beckoning. This time of the year is celebrated with different names in different parts of India (Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Uttarayan, Magh Bihu and Poush Sankranti etc.)
Being winter time, sweets made out of jaggery are made and distributed among family and friends. I tried laddus using puffed rice and jaggery and it came out very well.
Naan, flatbread and a must eat at an Indian restaurant is traditionally baked inside blazing-hot clay ovens (Tandoor). I am presenting a homemade version that is actually quite easy to make on a hot skillet and stove top and is fluffy, crispy outside/ soft inside and very tasty.
Dal roti is a staple food in North India. It is a wholesome food, and usually people eat it for dinner or lunch. Dhabas are roadside restaurants and dal roti is the most famous and popular dish there. Dhabas serve dals with tandoori roti (flatbread made with whole wheat and traditionally cooked in tandoor (cylindrical clay oven) hence the name tandoori). It’s almost always served with some ghee or butter on top.
Dal roti is fairly easy to make and I tried making tandoori rotis at home (using a toaster instead of the usual tandoor) and it came out pretty well. All the ingredients are typically available at home.
Turmeric, ginger and garlic are considered superfoods and supposed to have multiple health benefits including remedy for digestion, inflammation and viral infections. This recipe of finely chopped ginger, garlic and turmeric seasoned with ghee/ butter and dry spices is not only good for health especially colds and flu but also extremely tasty (though a bit spicy) when taken as a relish or side dish. But then sometimes we need alternatives to spicy pickles.
Lauki ka Raita is so good and incredibly easy to make; it takes less than 5 minutes! As the weather is getting warmer, this is a great way to cool down!
With Holi coming around, now is a great time to make sweets! One of my favorite desserts is mawa gujiya. Gujiya is a delicious Indian sweet with a crispy outer crust, stuffed with a sweet filling. It’s made with flour, sugar, ghee, nuts, and most importantly mawa. It can also have stuffed sooji but the mawa taste is better to me. It takes a little patience, but it’s definitely worth it!