Aam panna or kairi sharbat is a refreshing drink made from kairi or unripe green mangoes, sugar and spices. It is a popular drink in India and Pakistan and an effective remedy to prevent heat and sunstroke in the summer. What is kairi / keri / kacha aam? Kairi, keri or kacha aam is another word for unripe or raw green mangoes in India and Pakistan. Raw green mangoes are eaten as a snack and are a popular ingredient in…
Today I am sharing a Sindhi style vegan recipe using okra / bhindi. In the Indian sub-continent, okra (or ladyfingers) is called bhindi and is made in a variety of preparations – on its own, with other vegetables and with meat as well. The first time I had this crispy bhindi was at my in-laws house, and that too for breakfast. The idea of having bhindi for breakfast was completely foreign to me, but after trying it once, I fell…
Fruit chaat is the Pakistani Indian version of a fruit salad. It’s made with seasonal fruits, sugar, orange juice, and chaat masala for a hint of spice. In Pakistan, fruit chaat is an essential Ramadan recipe and is served during Iftar. Read on ahead for my fruit chaat recipe, including tips on what fruit to include, as well as variations on the traditional fruit chaat. What is fruit chaat? Think of fruit chaat as the Pakistani and Indian version of…
Air fryer pakora is a healthy version of the pakora or pakoda, a popular Indian and Pakistani snack which is traditionally deep fried. This air fryer pakora recipe has all the flavor of a regular pakora, with a fraction of the calories. Plus, no wastage of oil, and no having to deal with the oil splatter after frying. The recipe that I am sharing is for an air fryer onion pakora, but you can use other vegetables. What is a…
Today I am sharing a family favorite – my mother’s recipe for kairi ki meethi chutney (sweet and sour mango chutney) or as my mother calls it nauratan chutney. This is a popular Indian and Pakistani mango chutney made by cooking unripe raw green mangoes or kairi with sugar and other spices. It has a sweet and tangy flavor and goes well with savory dishes such as daal chawal (lentils and rice) and kebabs. It is also called ‘kairi ki…
This vegetarian mulligatawny soup recipe is made with red lentils, carrots, onions, potatoes and seasoned with Indian spices. With origins in India, it is a rich, hearty, and comforting lentil-based soup that is also vegan and dairy free. What is the meaning of Mulligatawny? To learn about the history of Mulligatawny soup and how to make it, I consulted two cookbooks. One “Classical Indian Cookery” by Julie Sahni and the other “Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery” by of course Madhur Jaffrey.…
A guide to roasting vegetables – things to keep in mind when deciding to roast vegetables, how to roast different types of vegetables, and how to serve and use the super delicious roasted vegetables. Let me be honest. I have struggled with roasting vegetables many times – it’s not a common technique in a Pakistani or Indian household. Even when we make full chicken (or charga) we cook and fry it, but rarely roast. It’s only in the last few…