Onion pakora, pyaz pakora or onion fritters are a Pakistani / Indian appetizer made with sliced onion and coriander coated with a spicy chickpea flour batter and deep-fried till crispy. What are pakoras? Pakora or pakoda are the Pakistani version of a fritter, but made with besan (chickpea flour in English). It’s a snack that is synonymous with the rainy season, and the moment it rains, what everyone wants is crispy crunchy vegetable pakoras with chai. It is also an…
Chana chaat is the Desi version of a salad. The base is chickpeas or chana with onions, tomatoes, green chilies and coriander as the supporting characters finished off with chaat masala and lemon juice for that necessary spice and khataaz! How to make chana chaat? Start off with boiling chickpeas or what is known as chana or sufaid chole in Hindi / Urdu. In fact, another name for chana chaat is chole ki chaat. You can also use canned chickpeas.…
With a sprinkling of Egyptian dukkah on top, this smooth and creamy dukkah hummus is the perfect dip to serve with raw vegetables or pita bread. What is Hummus? Hummus is a popular middle-eastern dip or thick spread made with chickpeas (sufaid chole), garlic, tahini, lemon and olive oil. It is popular in Middle Eastern cuisine, and the popularity of the cuisine has led to hummus being easily available in supermarkets. It is considered quite healthy as it’s main ingredients…
Black eyed peas curry or lobia ka salan is a Pakistani vegan recipe made with lobia / black eyed peas in an onion-tomato gravy base with garlic and aromatic spices. It can be made in a regular pot or in a pressure cooker / Instant Pot. Growing up, we always used to eat a lot of vegetables (still do, actually). My father is someone who believes in having a balanced & healthy diet, and would eat meat-less dishes in many…
Kaali daal or khari masoor ki daal is a popular vegetarian / vegan Pakistani lentil recipe made with black gram lentils. It can be served with chawal (rice) or roti. One of my favourite meals is kaali daal with chawal. The actual name of the daal is khari masoor ki daal or sabut masoor ki daal but it’s commonly known as kaali daal in Urdu. Probably because the type of lentils used are black gram lentils which are well…
Fresh mushrooms sautéed in garlic, avocado slices and of course lemon juice and salt come together to make this delicious avocado mushroom toast. Enjoy for breakfast, brunch or even dinner. The first time I tried avocado was as guacamole with tortilla chips and for years that was the only recipe I tried. As much as I loved them, avocados can be pricey and there is always that risk of them being under-ripe. Now that I am more comfortable with judging…
Roasted butternut squash is the simplest way to use this hearty winter vegetable. Just cut, toss in spices and bake till tender. Toast the seeds to make for a quick snack. Living in the land down under (aka Australia) requires a bit of adjustment. For instance, it’s the month of July and I cannot go out without wearing a proper fleece jacket or a wool coat. Yes, that cold! Why? Because the seasons are upside down here and so it’s…