nut-free Archives

This Paneer Tikka Corn Chaat makes a flavorful vegetarian appetizer which is great to serve at Holiday parties and festive get-togethers. Marinated paneer cubes are cooked until golden (just like the paneer tikka recipe) and then tossed with corn, onion, tomatoes and a bunch of spices in this appetizing chaat. You can serve it in bowls or in small glasses like I did!

I always find that the main course is easy to plan when deciding on a menu for a Diwali party, or any Holiday party. It...

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...

Tawa Pulao

rice with vegetables like potato, pepper garnished with cilantro served in a paper plate

September 14, 2022

Spicy and full of veggies, Tawa Pulao is a popular street food from the city of Mumbai in India. It has rice cooked with vegetables, butter, pav bhaji masala and garnished with cilantro and fresh lemon juice. The addition of a chili-garlic paste made with Kashmiri red chilies gives it that bright color and also adds to flavor.

I have been to Mumbai a few times in my life and every time I go there, I feel like I am always eating. From vada pav, to pav...

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...

Iced Mocha

July 26, 2022

Make this easy and refreshing Iced Mocha on a hot summer day! It’s made with easily available ingredients and is the perfect way to cool down on a hot day. Add a scoop of ice cream to make it creamier.

Cold coffee is one of my favorite summer drinks. It’s easy to make and tastes great every time. When I used to live in India, I would make cold coffee and mango milkshake during summers all the time. They would be my evening treats as I didn’t like drinking hot chai in 115...

Mango Milkshake

July 13, 2022

Sweet and creamy Mango Milkshake is a great way to enjoy the sweet mangoes in season. Made with just few ingredients, you can enjoy this milkshake for breakfast or evening snack. Make it plain or jazz it up by adding some vanilla ice cream to it.

As soon as summer kicks in and the mango season arrives, I make mango milkshake pretty much everyday in my kitchen (along with Mango Lassi). Sarvesh is a huge mango fan (I have mentioned that several times on the blog) and his favorite way to...

Homemade Choco Bar Ice Cream

two choco bar ice creams on top of each other with top one revealing the inner vanilla ice cream

July 7, 2022

Beat the heat with this homemade Choco Bar Ice Cream. Soft vanilla ice cream bars dipped in chocolate makes the ultimate summer treat. Keep them plain or roll in nuts for added texture!

Which ice cream immediately takes you to your childhood days? For me it is Choco bar and Feast! For those who grew up in India during the 90s would totally get what I am talking about. That ice cream cart vendor selling choco bar, mango twist, cornetto and feast would be my favorite person during...

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...

Masala Parle-G Cheesecake Ice Cream

scoops of ice cream in a container with 2 parle-g biscuits placed on one side

June 30, 2022

You need only 15 minutes to make this no-churn Masala Parle-G Cheesecake Ice Cream. Filled with spices like cardamom, cinnamon and crushed parle-g biscuits, this ice cream is a crowd pleaser and perfect for summers!

I am back with yet another no churn ice cream and this time we are combining a childhood favorite biscuit of mine- the classic parle-g into a cheesecake ice cream. The inspiration for this ice cream comes from parle-g cheesecake which I had at Farzi cafe in Gurugram,...

Dahi Puri

golgappa topped with cilantro and sev arranged on a plate

June 21, 2022

Dahi Puri is a popular Indian street food where golgappas (fried small balls made from semolina/flour) are filled with potato, cilantro chutney, tamarind chutney, yogurt and sprinkled with spices. It is crunchy yet soft from the inside and is like a flavor explosion in the mouth. It’s hard to stop at one when it comes to Dahi Puri!

I don’t think it’s wrong to say that you get some of the best chaat in Delhi. Whether it’s aloo tikki, golgappe or samosa,...