Recipes by Diet Archives

Schezwan Paneer

paneer cubes tossed in sauce garnished with green onions

June 1, 2023

Schezwan paneer is an Indo-Chinese dish where crispy paneer is tossed in a sauce made with schewzan chutney/sauce. It’s tangy, spicy with a hint of sweetness. Serve it as an appetizer or with hakka noodles or fried rice for a complete meal.

Paneer based Indo-Chinese dishes are very popular. If you are a vegetarian, they are your go to when eating out Indo-Chinese. While Chilli Paneer is the most popular, another crowd favorite is the Schezwan paneer.

This dish uses schezwan sauce/chutney for that depth of flavor in the sauce. Schezwan sauce is a condiment made with Kashmiri red chili chilies and the sauce is spicy, tangy and sweet. In the past I have shared recipes using my homemade schezwan sauce like Schezwan Noodles and Schezwan Paneer Momos.

For this recipe paneer is coated in cornstarch slurry first and then deep fried to make it crispy. It’s then tossed in a flavorful sauce along with onions, bell peppers. I have also included directions to air fry the paneer in case you don’t want to deep fry and are looking for a healthier version of this dish.

Ingredients Paneer (Indian cottage cheese): for this recipe, I have used store-bought paneer. Since the paneer that we get here isn’t as nice as the paneer we get in India, I always recommend soaking it in warm water for 20 minutes and then using it...

Sabudana Vada Recipe

5 pieces of sabudana vada arranged in a plate with a small bowl of cilantro chutney on the side

May 24, 2023

Sabudana Vada is a popular Indian tea time snack made with sabudana (sago), potatoes and peanuts. They are crunchy and crispy and are best enjoyed with a side of cilantro chutney and chai. The vadas are traditionally deep fried but you can also air fry them for a healthier option. These are also popular during fasting and Navratri and are also vegan and gluten free.

In India whenever we would invite someone over for chai, mom would always make...

Chole Recipe (Punjabi Chole Masala)

chole served in a copper kadai and garnished with cilantro

April 24, 2023

Punjabi Chole Masala is one of the most popular vegetarian curry dishes in India. It is a chickpea curry cooked with onions, tomatoes and lots of spices. Chole is one of those core curries in northern India without which no party or wedding festivities is complete. I remember whenever we would call someone over for lunch or dinner, mom would almost always make chole (or rajma or dal makhani).

Chole is often enjoyed with bhatura (a deep fried bread). Chole bhature and chole chawal aka chole...

Quinoa Upma (Instant Pot & Stovetop)

Quinoa upma served in a plate topped with curry leaves, lemon wedge and a copper spoon placed on the side

March 28, 2023

This one-pot Quinoa Upma is a simple vegan, wholesome meal that packs more protein than the traditional Rava Upma. It makes a filling breakfast or lunch and can be enjoyed as such or with a side of cilantro coconut chutney or peanut chutney. You can make it either in the Instant pot or stove top.

I grew up eating a lot of lentils and beans and they are an integral part of my everyday diet. Quinoa wasn’t something I grew up eating but over the years it has become a part of my diet and I like...

Easy Aloo Palak

March 23, 2023

Aloo Palak (Spinach & Potato Curry) is one of the most popular Indian dishes where spinach and potatoes are cooked together with spices. Naturally vegetarian and vegan, my easy homemade version of aloo palak uses minimal spices which makes it so comforting. Tastes best with flatbread like roti or paratha!

Potatoes are added to a lot of Indian curries and gravies. I think we have this habit of adding potatoes to anything and...

Moong Dal Recipe (Moong Dal Tadka)

moong dal tadka in a copper kadai with a garnish of cilantro and cumin

March 20, 2023

This simple and comforting Moong Dal is one of the simplest Indian dals made with split petite yellow lentils. This wholesome dal has a tadka (tempering) of cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and curry leaves making it flavorful. This dal is vegan, easy to digest and light on your stomach and pairs well with rice, roti or any grain of your choice. You can make this moong dal recipe in 30 minutes using a traditional pressure cooker or Instant Pot.

Of all the dals that I grew up eating at home on a regular basis like...

Khaman Dhokla Recipe

khaman dhokla arranged on a black board with bottle of chutney in the backdrop

February 21, 2023

Khaman Dhokla is a steamed Indian savory snack which is extremely popular in the western state of Gujarat. It is made with besan (gram flour) and leavened with leavening agents like baking soda and eno. A tempering of curry leaves, mustard seeds is often poured on it after it’s done. Khaman is best enjoyed with a side of cilantro chutney and a cup of masala chai.

Khaman dhokla or simply khaman is a popular snack not only in Gujarat but all...

Homestyle Punjabi Rajma

February 9, 2023

This is my mother-in-law’s simple homemade Punjabi rajma recipe. It has no frills, no special ingredients yet it makes the most comforting bowl of rajma. The kidney beans are pressure cooked and then an onion-tomato masala is added to them and they are cooked again until the masala and the rajma are very well combined with each other.

Like they say a good punjabi rajma should be “rassa hua” meaning the spices, masala, rajma should be intermixed so well with each other and the rajma...

Instant Pot Masala Macaroni (Indian style Macaroni)

masala macaroni served in a bowl and garnished with cilantro

January 25, 2023

This one-pot Masala Macaroni has macaroni flavored with Indian spices. It’s spicy, packed with flavors, made in the Instant Pot and makes a great, easy meal for busy days. This was something that I would take in my lunch boxes during my high school years.

Back then, pasta had recently become popular in India and so we would demand pasta in our lunch boxes. My house help in India would make this masala macaroni aka Indian style Macaroni. Sometimes he would pack the masala macaroni as such in our...

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

white hot chocolate dripping from the sides of the mug and topped with crushed candy cane

December 12, 2022

With the weather getting cold, it is time for some hot chocolate. This Peppermint White Hot Chocolate has an intense white chocolate flavor with a touch of peppermint. Served with homemade whipped cream and crushed candy canes, this is the perfect drink for the holidays!

Right now, every coffee chain has some peppermint drink on the menu. I will be honest, I am not the biggest fan of peppermint or peppermint flavored drinks. It’s not that I don’t like it at...

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup

broccoli cheddar soup topped with croutons served in a big bowl

November 29, 2022

Thick, creamy and cheesy, this Broccoli Cheddar Soup makes a cozy and comforting meal on a cold day. It’s also a great way to include broccoli into your diet. Pair with a crusty bread for a hearty meal that you would want to make over and over again.

When it’s cold and snowing outside, there’s nothing more comforting than a bowl of creamy soup and this Broccoli Cheddar Soup hits the spot every single time. It’s so thick, creamy and with all that cheesy...

Paneer Eggplant Roll-Ups

paneer eggplant rolls garnished with fresh basil

November 15, 2022

These Paneer Eggplant Roll Ups are stuffed with a paneer and spinach filling and topped with a spiced tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. This gluten-free recipe is perfect for entertaining during the holidays!

Colder days call for comforting dishes and when you think of comforting food, pasta definitely makes it to the top of that list. Isn’t it? The tomato sauce, pasta and all that cheesy goodness screams comfort.

These eggplant...