Recipes by Method Archives

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...

Namak Para Recipe

namak para served in a bronze plate with glass of chai on the side

March 14, 2023

Namak Para is crispy fried savory Indian snack made with flour, spices and ghee (or oil). These are best enjoyed with a cup of masala chai. My mom would often make a batch of these crunchy namak para during festivals like Holi & Diwali. But if you ask me. you don’t need an occasion to munch on them. They are highly addictive! They are traditionally deep fried but you can also air fry or bake them for a healthier option.

When mom used to prepare for Indian festivals back home, I used to...

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...

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...

Lauki Kofta (Air Fryer & Stove-top)

lauki kofta curry served in a copper dish with one kofta cut to show the inside

August 27, 2022

This easy Lauki Kofta curry is a simple vegan dish made with lauki (bottle gourd) koftas which are dunked in a tomato-onion based curry. The koftas are traditionally deep fried, but I like air frying them. This makes a simple and comforting meal which can be served with boiled rice or any bread of choice.

One of the ways I enjoyed lauki as a child (other than lauki kheer) was when mom made Lauki Kofta. In Indian cooking, we refer to koftas as small dumplings which are deep fried and...

Instant Pot Vegetable Daliya (Broken Wheat Khichdi)

vegetable daliya served on a white plate with spoon on the side

August 19, 2022

Simple one-pot and nutritious Vegetable Daliya made with broken wheat and veggies is my go-to meal for busy days. It’s easy to make, vegan, minimally spiced and very filling with all the veggies and fiber.

When I was a kid, I wasn’t very fond of daliya aka broken wheat (it is also known as cracked wheat). My mom always made daliya for breakfast and it was made in 2 days in my house- meetha daliya (sweet daliya) and namkeen daliya (savory daliya). The sweet version...

Instant Pot Lemon Quinoa (South Indian Style)

white bowl with yellow color quinoa topped with peanuts, with a wedge of lemon in the background along with a bowl of peanuts

August 15, 2022

Here’s a fun take on the traditional south Indian Lemon Rice- this Lemon Quinoa has the same flavors as the rice but is more wholesome and protein-packed! Its a one-pot, vegan meal which requires minimal prep-work and can be easily made on busy weeknights.

Quinoa is something I have grown to like over the years. At first, I wasn’t a fan but then I developed the palate for it and now I enjoy it in various forms.

Sarvesh on the other hand...

Crispy Air Fryer Tofu

crispy tofu arranged in an air fryer basket

May 2, 2022

Make Crispy Air Fryer Tofu with this easy recipe in 15 minutes or less! This tofu is great with dips or in salad, grain bowl or simply to snack on!

If you have never air fried tofu, then you are seriously missing out. I cook with tofu often and for most stir fry like kung pao tofu or tofu broccoli stir-fry, I like cooking the tofu first to crisp it up. Earlier, I would always do that step in the pan and while that works, air frying is even easier and my favorite way to do...

Instant Pot Jackfruit Biryani (Kathal Biryani)

jackfruit biryani served in a black bowl garnished with mint leaves and fried onions

April 26, 2022

This jackfruit biryani aka kathal biryani is made with jackfruit, basmati rice and flavored with whole spices like cardamom, cumin, cinnamon and peppercorn. Topped with crispy onion, saffron milk and fried cashews, this vegetarian delight will make showstopper of a meal at any table!

I don’t cook with jackfruit very often but when I do, I almost always end up making my mom’s kathal and chana dal kebabs. Those melt-in-mouth kebabs are probably my favorite way to...

Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

April 4, 2022

These air fryer chickpeas are super crispy and make the perfect snack! You can season them anyway you like and enjoy them as a snack or on add as a topping to your soups, salads.

I have been so obsessed with my air fryer and the reason is that there are so many things I feel it does way better than a traditional oven. For example fries, they are so much better in air fryer than in an oven. And these chickpeas are next...

Air Fryer Gujiya

March 16, 2022

Gujiyas are like empanadas filled with dried milk solids, nuts and often dipped in sugar syrup. This popular sweet is the quintessential Holi dessert. I have very fond memories of making batches of gujiyas with my mom few days before holi, the festival of colors. While it’s traditionally deep fried, this air fried version is just as good. These Air Fryer Gujiya are dipped in a saffron flavored sugar syrup for that ultimate indulgence!

What’s Holi without gujiya? This is the...

Instant Pot Gajar Halwa

gajar halwa served in a bowl and topped with cashew

February 20, 2022

This Instant Pot Gajar Halwa is an easy to make popular Indian dessert made with carrots, milk and sugar. It’s often flavors with cardamom, nuts and mawa (dried milk solids) and makes an indulgent treat!

While the traditional way to make gajar halwa yields amazing results, you can get the same results with less work using the Instant Pot!

I have very high expectations when it comes to...