nut-free Archives

Instant Pot Rigatoni with Mascarpone Cheese

rigatoni pasta served in a white round bowl, garnished with basil

February 8, 2022

Make this fancy looking (and tasting!) rigatoni in your pressure cooker in 30 minutes! This Instant Pot Rigatoni has a luxurious creamy sauce flavored with mascarpone cheese making it the perfect meal for special occasions and date nights!

I am back with yet another Instant Pot pasta recipe and this might just be my favorite one so far! I know I have shared so many Instant Pot pasta recipes in the past (this tomato basil is universally loved!) but I truly never get tired of them. I love...

Air Fryer Onion Pakoda

onion pakoda in a plate with a bowl of cilantro chutney

January 24, 2022

Onion Pakoda are onion fritters made with onion, gram flour (besan) and spices and are a very popular Indian snack. They are traditionally deep fried but this air fryer version of onion pakoda turns out just as good! These are crunchy, so flavorful and make a delightful snack with a cup of chai!

Most Indians will have fond memories associated with pakoda and rains. I remember whenever it would start raining during monsoon season, mom would make all sorts of pakodas made...

Til Chikki (Sesame Brittle)

til chikki squares placed in a blue plate with bowls of jaggery and sesame seeds placed in the background

January 13, 2022

Til Chikki is a brittle made with sesame seeds and jaggery and especially popular in northern Indian during winters! It’s easy to make at home with only 2 main ingredients. It keeps good for weeks in an airtight container and makes a nice snack or a little treat when the sweet cravings kick in!

Til (sesame) is something that’s consumed a lot during winter months in Northern India. I know it’s used in a lot of dishes in western and eastern parts of India but in my home, the most...

Cranberry Maple Rosemary Mocktail

red color drink in a glass topped with fresh cranberries and rosemary

December 16, 2021

If you are looking for an easy and refreshing drink for the holidays that even the kids can enjoy, then try this Cranberry Maple & Rosemary Mocktail. The vibrant red color makes it perfect for the festive season!

This year we have been actually able to go to a few small holiday parties (unlike last year) so that has been nice. But whenever we go to these parties, we always struggle with the drinks option. Needless to say there are always lots of alcoholic options on the menu but not much it comes to...

No-Bake Biscoff Cheesecake

slice of biscoff cheesecake placed on a blue color plate with 2 biscoff cookies and a spoon placed on the side

December 10, 2021

Creamy, no-bake Biscoff Cheesecake is the ultimate cheesecake for all Biscoff lovers! Sweet crust made with biscoff cookies is topped with a creamy cookie butter cheesecake for that ultimate indulgence!

This cheesecake should have made an appearance on my blog way earlier. Sarvesh is the biggest biscoff fan, he eats it every single day by dipping it in my chai (yes he doesn’t drink chai himself but that doesn’t stop him from dipping his favorite cookie in my...

Eggless Thumbprint Cookies

thumbprint cookies arranged on a white plate with more cookies placed in the background

November 30, 2021

These Eggless Thumbprint Cookies are one of the easiest cookies that you can bake with basic pantry ingredients. Made with a simple cookie dough and filled with jam, these are really festive and can be filled with so many things!

I love baking cookies in my kitchen and if you have been around for a while, you are fully aware of this! :). In the past I have shared these eggless danish butter cookies, eggless cake rusk and many more! These eggless thumbprint cookies or...

Sweet & Spicy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts

roasted brussel sprouts served in a pink color plate

November 24, 2021

This Sweet & Spicy Brussel Sprouts comes together easily in the air fryer. The crispy Brussel sprouts are tossed with a sauce made with olive oil, maple syrup, sriracha. Makes a quick, easy and vegan side or appetizer!

Ever since I got my air fryer, I have been air frying tons of vegetables in it. I always thought I loved roasting veggies in my oven (and I still do) but the air fryer has completely replaced it for this purpose.

The fact that...

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes Chaat

hasselback potatoes sliced into thick slices and drizzled with chutneys and topped with cilantro, mint

November 19, 2021

This Hasselback Sweet Potatoes Chaat inspired by Indian flavors might be your new favorite way to enjoy sweet potatoes for the holidays! Garnished with cilantro chutney, tamarind chutney, pomegranate and fresh herbs this is also vegan and gluten-free!

I love chaat anything and everything and I think I have mentioned that so many times on the blog. I make a chaat out of everything from pizza to kala chana to potatoes to my favorite sweet potatoes. I have shared a sweet potato chaat recipe on the blog...

Paan Cheesecake Truffles

green color balls coated with candied fennel placed in a round plate with paan leaves and some tealights placed on the sides

October 22, 2021

Bite sized version of Paan Cheesecake, these Paan Cheesecake Truffles are made with cream cheese, parle-g crumbs, real paan leaves and flavored with gulkand and garnished with candied fennel. If you love meetha paan, then you are going to love this fusion dessert.

It’s super easy to make, no-bake and great to make for your Diwali party!

And it’s Diwali yet again and I am back with yet another paan dessert! 😀...

Gulab Jamun Cheesecake Truffles

9 pieces of truffles coated with white chocolate placed in a pink color mithai box

October 21, 2021

These no-bake Gulab Jamun Cheesecake Truffles combine cream cheese, pargle-g biscuit crumbs and gulab jamuns into one bite size treats! Dipped in chocolate, these truffles are so much easier to make than a full cheesecake, carry and share! Give these a try this festive season.

Combining Indian mithais with cheesecake always sounds like a good idea for fusion desserts. Indian sweets are typically very sweet so when you combine them with cream cheese, it cuts into the the...

Achari Mathri (Air Fryer or Oven Baked)

mathris arranged with glasses of chai in a glass holder

October 20, 2021

These mathris are made with atta (whole wheat flour) and stuffed with a achari filling. They are great for snacking and go well with chai. I cooked these Achari Mathri in the air fryer but you can also bake these. These are air fried so they make a healthier alternative to the traditional mathris.

For Diwali, if there’s one snack that I always make then it has to be mathri. They are my favorite and I never miss an opportunity to make these for the festive season. Earlier I would always deep...

Whipped Paneer Dip with Spicy Honey

whipped paneer dip served in a antique bowl topped with honey and chopped mint

October 18, 2021

Looking for a fun appetizer for the holiday season? Try this Whipped Paneer Dip with Spicy Honey! Made with paneer, feta, mint, jalapeños and topped with a spicy honey (the best part!), this is a crowd pleaser. Serve with naan, pita chips, baguettes for everyone to enjoy!

Appetizers are my favorite part about a holiday meal. That and desserts! I can skip the mains but I never skip on my appetizers and desserts. Every year, I try to come up with one interesting...