dairy-free Archives

Bhakarwadi is a crunchy snack popular in the western parts of India. These pinwheels are stuffed with spices, coconut etc. and have a spicy, tangy and sweet taste. These are deep fried and go well along with a cup of chai!

I love all things crispy and crunchy with my chai like mathri, samosa etc. Most chai time Indian snacks are deep fried and crispy and I am low key addicted to them. I have zero self control when it comes to Indian snacks, I just cannot resist them and often end up eating the whole packet in one...

Spicy Mango Mocktail

yellow color drink served in a glass garnished with mint and jalapeño

September 26, 2022

Festivities are incomplete without a refreshing drink and this spicy Mango Mocktail is a drink that can be enjoyed by everyone alike. Made with mango juice, coconut water, ginger and fresh mint the drink gets the kick from jalapeños. Serve plain or top with sparkling water!

I love making mocktails for my dinner parties especially during the festive time. Whether it’s Diwali, Thanksgiving or Christmas, the addition of a good mocktail...

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 Fig Chutney

fig chutney served in a small bowl with crackers and almonds on the side

August 25, 2022

Seasonal fresh figs, spices, sugar and vinegar are combined together in this delightful fig chutney which is good on just about everything. It’s vegan, made in the Instant Pot and can be enjoyed with any bread or crackers of choice. It will also make a fantastic addition to your charcuterie board!

I love making chutneys with in season fruits like peaches, apples etc. These chutney go well with so many things and make a great accompaniment to Indian breads. With figs being...

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...

Easy Vegan Pesto

bowl of pesto garnished with a fresh basil leaf

July 28, 2022

Easy vegan pesto comes together in 10 minutes and makes a great sauce for pasta, salads, sandwiches and more. I keep a bottle of this versatile sauce in my refrigerator at all times to make easy dinners!

Pesto is one of my favorite sauces. I didn’t know about it 10 years ago and got introduced to it only when I moved to the US. It quickly became my favorite sauce and I started using it over my pasta and salads...

Dal Palak (Spinach Dal)

July 5, 2022

Hearty and wholesome Dal Palak (Spinach Dal) is lightly spiced and makes a great comforting meal. It can be served with any grain of choice and is also vegan.

Adding spinach to your dal is a good way to include some greens in your diet, don’t you think? I have always been someone who loves their greens, saag is my absolute favorite. However, I remember my brothers not being too fond of spinach and...

Fresh Corn, Kale & Quinoa Salad with Tahini Dressing

bowl of salad with kale, corn, cherry tomatoes

June 28, 2022

This Fresh Corn Salad with Kale, Quinoa is filling, wholesome and great for summer picnics and potlucks. Drizzled with a tahini-lemon dressing, the salad is also vegan and gluten-free. Toasted walnuts add a nice crunch to the salad.

I love biting into sweet juicy corn this time of the year. Every weekend we go to the farmer’s market and come home with these sweet corn during summer. Our most favorite way to eat is the Indian way- by roasting it directly on heat and...

Easy Tofu Lettuce Wraps

tofu lettuce wrap topped with green onions with bowls of sauce in the background

June 23, 2022

These easy tofu lettuce wraps make a light and flavorful lunch or dinner and are easy to make at home without much prep work. The tofu filling can be made in advance and so these are great for meal prep as well.

The first time I had tofu lettuce wraps was at PF Chang’s. I instantly loved them, though Sarvesh didn’t fancy them (but then he never fancies anything with tofu), and ever since they are my go-to order when we eat at that restaurant. I also had tofu...

Mint Chutney

green color chutney served in a copper bowl with mint leaves, cilantro scattered in the background

June 8, 2022

This quick and easy Mint Chutney is easy to make at home and makes a great dip for a variety of Indian snacks like samosa, pakora etc. It’s also great as a spread for sandwiches, wraps. You only need 15 minutes to make this chutney which is also vegan!

I have often talked about how important chutneys are in Indian cuisine. I grew up with having some sort of chutney on our lunch table everyday. The kind of chutney that was there on our table varied from season to season. There was raw...

Nimbu Pani | Shikanji

glass of lemonade topped with mint leaves and lemon

June 4, 2022

This Nimbu Pani aka Indian style lemonade makes the perfect cooling summer drink. I grew up drinking nimbu pani during brutal summers in Delhi. It is easy to make with few ingredients and is seriously refreshing.

Summers in India (most parts of India) get brutal. I grew up in north India where temperatures constantly stayed above 100 F through summer. We made a lot of homemade drinks to get through those days (like lassi) and nimbu pani was always a top...