Indian As Apple Pie

Chaat Masala is one of those spices that if you know it, you can't get enough of it. But, what is it? Chaat in Hindi literally means to 'lick'. The thought is that something is so delicious that you want to lick your fingers clean. It's used in most North Indian street foods. Most vendors create their own unique blends, but most blends have a few common ingredients including kala namak (black salt), black pepper, and dried mango powder. The citrus taste element from dried mango powder gives you a lemony base and profile that pairs perfectly with corn. So, Get your...

No doubt, the hottest spice these days is Turmeric. Warm, earthy, bold in flavor. Healthy for you. But how do you actually eat it? And why should you really?  Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory. In the most basic sense, think of how you feel when you wake up with a sore throat. It hurts to swallow. The tissue in your throat is swollen.  The curcumin in turmeric helps fight the infection and inflammation.  A very easy way to get fresh turmeric into your day? Pickle it!  You can find fresh turmeric now in many specialty grocers. In Chicago, I head to...

"So, what makes an Indian omelette?" asked C.  It was a fair question. We were standing in the buffet line at the Marriott in Racine, Wisconsin the morning of a soccer tournament for our girls watching someone making fresh omelettes to-order. And, as usual, I was bragging that no one can top an Indian version of the everyday omelette.  I'm still shocked it has yet to go mainstream in the American foodie world. It's hard to believe that something as amazing as this has been kept a secret all this time. The Mexican version of the omelette has been on...

The perfect snack, wrap, bread. Naturally vegan, gluten-free, and absolutely delicious, besan poora is a common breakfast item and snack food in North India. It is traditionally made from besan, or flour made from ground black chickpeas.  As we head into 2016 and aspire to eat healthier, I added some quinoa flour. With 4 grams of protein per 1/4 cup it's a fantastic way to boost protein in your family's diet without compromising flavor. It's an especially important component for the Indian community - where we eat largely vegetarian, but still want and need protein.  2 cups besan (chickpea flour) *1...

DIY. So not my thing. Do-it- yourself projects give me hives - they assume the luxury of time. Life is way too busy and the house too messy right now to add another thing on my plate. But, when I spotted these Brussels Sprout stalks at my local Whole Foods in Lincoln Park - Chicago, I just had to buy them. I was going to make something out of this! But, what?  The first thing I noticed was how excited my girls were. They do eat Brussels Sprouts, but these were a whole new level of eating. They look FUN....

When visiting India, most folks immediately envision eating Indian food. I, on the other hand, think Chinese. Strange? Not really, if you know and understand the amazing tradition of Indo-Chinese cuisine.  The concept of Chinese prep with Indian spices is thought to stem from the small Chinese community living in Kolkata (Calcutta) in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal.  Most of this now about 2,000 member community is of Hakka origin. Their cuisine is delicious and well celebrated in many parts of India and Asia, but the food now popular in India and known as Indo-Chinese cuisine has very little to...

  Veggie burgers at home? Way too much work, right? Absolutely wrong. So utterly simple you'll kick yourself for not trying this sooner. I make mine from cooked chickpeas and help them bind with besan, or chickpea flour. This easily makes them vegan, gluten free, and super high in protein and fiber.  Chickpea-Quinoa Masala SlidersYield: about 27 patties (2 1/2 inches in diameter, 1/4 inch thick) 4 cups cooked chickpeas*2 cups cooked quinoa, preferably red2 cups grated uncooked sweet potato1/3 cup grated raw carrot1 cup grated white cabbage1 medium yellow or red onion, finely diced1 (2-inch) piece ginger, peeled and...

Not to worry if you've never heard of Kala Chana. Many non-Indian have not. For us Punjabis especially, though, black chickpeas hold a special place in our hearts. They are tiny, hearty, and give off a delicious aromatic broth that the more commonly found cousin, the white chickpea or garbanzo bean, just can't go up against. They are also slightly higher in protein and fiber than their white counterpart. For example, 1 cup of kala chana has about 15 grams of protein and 13 grams of dietary fiber.  Many folks just soak and boil them to add into snack foods and...

May I confess? I've been bored with green chutney of late. I know! I know! Blasphemy. But, I've been making and eating mint-cilantro chutney for so many years that it's become a bit mundane.  Until this.  My dear friend Ami brought it over for one of our family potlucks. And, I have to say, I fell back in love with green chutney. The apples in this recipe just give you the perfect amount of sweet combined with tartness that will layer well on a spoonful of basmati rice, as a side to a samosa, or as an accompaniment to a...

Mushrooms. Yum. Add spices, cream, and some heat to them, and you'll have a curry on your hands that will be a weekly staple. It's at once decadent and healthy, especially if you substitute cashew cream for the typical dairy version. If you want to use cashew cream, you want to ideally soak your cashews overnight. You can still make it successfully without soaking, but if you take that extra step you'll have a creamier product, so plan ahead. While you can use any mushroom, I love using the cremini (or crimini), sometimes referred to as a 'baby portobello' or 'baby...