Sweet Potato Subzi | Shakarkand ki Subzi

We have a little love affair with Sweet Potato going on. This little subzi really hits the spot. Winter + Sweet Potatoes + Spice is a great equation that equals flavour and comfort.

Are you looking for other Sweet Potato dishes? You will like this Sweet and Sour Pumpkin, definitely. Also our Sweet Potato Poriyal. Try Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Figs, and Potato and Sweet Potato Curry.

Are you looking for other Subzi dishes? Try Kohlrabi Subzi, Potato Subzi, and Aloo Palak Subzi.

Browse all of our Sweet Potato recipes here and here. We have a categorised list of our Indian dishes too. Or simply check our easy Winter recipes here and here.

Kanda Poha | Onion Poha | Flattened Rice with Onions

Poha, a steamed and flattened rice (“steamrolled” I call it) is a great base for Indian snacks. In this poha recipe, it is teamed with onions and peanuts. Kanda Poha goes great mid afternoon with a cup of milky sweet tea (chai). Or it can be a great quick supper dish when you arrive just a little too late home from work.

There are several thicknesses of poha – Nylon (very thin and crisp), Paper, Thin, Medium, Thick and Dagdi (thick and chewy). This recipe uses medium or thick poha, which you can buy from your Indian grocery. Thick is preferred. Thin poha is not suitable for this dish.

Are you looking for other Poha dishes? Try Poha with Potatoes and Peanuts, Kolache Poha, and Poha with Banana, Honey and Coconut.

Browse all of our other Poha recipes and all of our Indian recipes. All of our Snacks are here. Or simply explore our easy Early Winter recipes.

Tomato Bharta | Roast Tomato Side Dish or Chutney

Bharta are North Indian (Punjabi) dishes where the main ingredient is roasted and then pureed with spices. The flavours are intensified by the roasting and the resulting dish is spicy and tangy. A commonly known bharta is Baingan Bharta (Eggplant Bharta).

This recipe uses tomatoes and it is amazing. It is great as a dip, served over rice, used as a sauce, or as an accompaniment to any curry. It can be served with dal-rice, kitchari or stuffed parathas. It also goes well with Chapatti, Roti. It has the best taste!

Looking for Bharta recipes? Try Baingan ka Bharta. 

Perhaps you are looking for other Punjabi dishes. Try Kohlrabi Subzi, Potato and Eggplant Curry, and Urad Dal with Tomatoes.

It is Tomato recipes that you are after. Try Potatoes Baked with Cumin and Tomatoes, Greek-Indian Tomato Pakoras, and Baked Tomato Pasta Sauce.

See all of our Bharta recipes here. Read all about Indian Chutneys here, and feel free to browse other Indian Chutneys recipes. See Tomato recipes here. Or simply explore all of our Punjabi dishes, our Indian dishes and our Early Autumn recipes.

This recipe can be frozen without the tadka – browse other Autumnal ways of preserving for Winter here.

Golden Rice | Simple Yellow Rice | Simple Turmeric Rice

Turmeric lends a sense of glamour to a rice dish, tinting it deliciously yellow. In this dish, the herbs and spices are subtle and compliment basmati rice’s lovely nutty flavour. It can be eaten with a soup or salad style dish and also goes well with a simple dal and some chutney and pickle.

You can read more about Turmeric here. It really is a wonder spice. If you would like to see some other rice dishes, we have Pepper Cumin Rice,  Lemon Rice, and Mango Rice. For all of our Rice dishes click here.

Browse our different methods for cooking rice. Our especial favourite is Buttery Steamed Rice.

You might also like to try Savoury Rice and Green Pea Pilaf, Potato Subzi and Urad Dal with Tomatoes. More of Yamuna Devi’s recipes can be found here.

Or simply browse all of our easy Mid Autumn dishes.

Aloo Baingan Wadi Ki Subzi | Potato and Eggplant Curry with Punjabi Wadi

There are many types of wadi/vadai from all over India — this dish takes large Punjabi ones made of sundried lentils and spices (urad dal, mung dal, black pepper, cumin, chillies etc.)

The wadis add flavour, but they also add a wonderful texture to dishes, and being so dry they soak up the wettest of gravies making the dish perfectly composed with a thickness that is delectable. You can get them at your Indian Grocer, but you might like to call first and ask if they stock them. Ask for the large Punjabi Wadi. Or you can make your own!

You might also like to try our Punjabi Dal Makhani recipes. You might also like to try other Subzi recipes. Browse all of our Potato recipes here and here, all Eggplant recipes here and here, or all of our Indian recipes here and here. Find inspiration in our easy Autumn recipes here and here.

White Peas Curry | Safed Matar

This is a thick spicy curry often served during social functions with Poori (deep fried bread). Today I am not making it with poori, rather serving it with some plain white basmati rice and a wonderful cucumber salad with garlic and onion. Note that this is very nontraditional.

The curry uses dried white peas. Don’t confuse these with chickpeas or with fresh or dried green peas. White peas, and indeed this dish, are popular in North India.  I find it a bit challenging to cook North Indian dishes as I love Sth Indian, particularly Tamil food, and am used to the fresher tastes with less spices. But periodically I venture out and construct a great North Indian dish like this one.

Jeera Lassi | Cumin Lassi | Traditional Indian Yoghurt Drink

Lassis are so beautiful to drink, they deserve special glassware. Enjoy!

A lassi is a blend of yogurt, water, often spices and sometimes, fruit. Traditional lassi (also known as salted lassi, or simply, lassi) is a savoury drink, flavoured with ground and roasted spices. Sweet lassi, however, contains sugar or fruits, instead of spices. Also there is a salted mint lassi that is highly favoured in Bangladesh.

Cumin Lassi is a much-loved beverage of Rajasthan. It is ubtly flavoured with dry roasted cumin seeds and limes or lemons. The zest of the citrus is often added to the milk before making yoghurt, and the oils infuse with it as the milk warms.

Lassis are enjoyed chilled as a hot-weather refreshment, mostly taken with lunch.

We have numerous Lassi Recipes for you. Or browse our relaxing teas here and here. Explore all of our Indian recipes here and here.

Chilli and Coriander Salt Lassi | Indian Yoghurt Drink

Another beautiful lassi, this time with a hint of chilli and green coriander.

A lassi is a yoghurt based Indian drink that cools the effect of hot summers. It is originally from the Punjab and Multan in India and is usually taken with breakfast or lunch. It really is an ancient smoothie, originating around 1000 BCE.

We have numerous Lassi Recipes for you. Or browse our relaxing teas here and here. Explore all of our Indian recipes here and here.

Lassi Khara | Neer More | Salt Lassi with Asafoetida (Hing)

Yoghurt is such a great food it is great to start the day with some. My preference in summer is to begin with a lassi taken slowly on the balcony, watching the sun rise, before the day begins. It sure beats a coffee!

A Lassi is an Indian sweet or savoury drink made from a yoghurt or buttermilk base, perhaps with water, and with flavourings. The flavourings are either fruits or spices. You may of course know the ubiquitous Mango Lassi, and perhaps the Salt Lassi (great in very hot weather).

Are you looking for other lassi recipes? We have numerous Lassi Recipes for you. Or browse our relaxing teas here and here. Explore all of our Indian recipes here and here.

The Simplest Lassi | Sweet Yoghurt Based Indian Drink | Raita Lassi

When you are feeling tired, when you have celebrated too much, when you need comforting or nurturing, when your digestion is playing up, when the sun has been too hot, or the food too hot, or just when you feel like one, you need a simple Lassi. Could I say, the best Lassi?

A Lassi is an Indian sweet or savoury drink made from a yoghurt or buttermilk base, perhaps with water, and with flavourings. The flavourings are either fruits or spices. You may of course know the ubiquitous Mango Lassi, and perhaps the Salt Lassi (great in very hot weather).

This recipe is very simple, but very delicious. Enjoy!

We have numerous Lassi Recipes for you. Or browse our relaxing teas here and here. Explore all of our Indian recipes here and here.

Mah di Dal | Kaali Dal | Creamy Black Lentils

Most Indian lentils come in four ways:

• Skinned, whole
• Skinned, halved
• Unhulled, whole
• Unhulled, halved

and amazingly, each one has a different taste, different properties, are best for different dishes. I was out of urad (black gram) this week, and my trip to the Indian grocer yielded four different packages.

Urad dal is quite special indeed. I love it a lot. Mostly Nth Indian in style, it takes to long and slow cooking very well. For Mah ki Dal we use whole unhulled lentils.

You might like to try different Dal Makhani recipes, and other Mah ki Dal Recipes.

There is also a Unhulled Urad and Rajma recipe, another sister to Dal Makhani. For more information on Urad, go here.

Other Urad Dal recipes include Urad Dal Rice, Amritsari Dal, and Urad with Coconut, Coriander and Tomatoes.

Try other Dals as well – Masoor Dal with Green Chillies, Mung Dal with Ghee and Spices, and Aamti.

Browse all of our Dal recipes and all of our dishes using Urad Dal. Our Indian recipes are here. Or find inspiration in our Late Winter recipes.

Dal Makhani Nilgiri

Anything with a hint of warmth certainly gives me much much joy.

 Dal Makhani is a Punjabi dish beloved all over India, indeed all over the world. There are a few Dal Makhani recipes that I love, all different and of varying degrees of difficulty. The Dal Makhani Oberoi Style Recipe that I received from the Kitchen of the Oberoi in Bangalore is a classic, a beauty, one that never fails to bring happiness to the lives of those who eat it.

This one is from the well known restaurant Nilgiri‘s in Sydney. Another classic, quite different to the Bangalore dish, and with its own beauty and inner sense of happiness. Try it, you will love it.

Our various Dal Makhani recipes can be found here. Browse our Dal Recipes here and here. Or explore our Winter recipes here and here.

Bengali Rice Kheer

This beautiful Indian dessert is a favourite dish made at Diwali, but it can be made at any time. It is quite wonderful, an Indian take on a rice pudding. One of the beautiful traditions of Diwali is the making and sharing of sweet things.

You might like to browse our dessert recipes here and here, or our Indian recipes are here and here. Find inspiration in our Spring recipes here and here.

Salt and Pepper Makhana | Salt and Pepper Lotus Seeds

Puffed Lotus seeds, or Makhana, are an unusual ingredient that is used in India and SE Asia. Makhana Palak is a wonderful dish of lotus seeds in a spinach gravy. But it is also beautiful to simply saute the puffed seeds in butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Are you looking for recipes for snacks? Have a look here and here. Our favourite snack is Bhajji. See our lotus seed recipes. Other Indian recipes are here and here, or find inspiration in our Spring recipes here and here.

Dal Makhani | Restaurant Style | Recipe from the Oberoi Hotel

One thing always guaranteed to melt the heart of everyone at your table is Dal Makhani. Boy is it good! This is one of several versions of Dal Makhani in our recipe collection. Another favourite is Nilgiri Dal Makhani – I hope that you try it too.

Makhani is the Punjabi word for “buttery”, and this sure lives up to its name of Buttery Lentils! I had this in India at the Oberoi hotel in Bangalore and it was so very very good. Along with their dosa, it was one of my first great discoveries when I began travelling to India.

Asking the Chef for the recipe, he kindly typed it out for me. It caused much hilarity in the kitchens – I am not sure whether that was because I asked for the recipe or their difficulty in translating it into English and/or into servings for 6 people when they are used to cooking for 600.

Are you looking for Dal Makhani recipes? Why not try some others too. We recommend Nilgiri Dal Makhani, Indian Bazaar Dal Makhani and Ma di Dal (Kali Dal). You might be interested in reading Why Mah di Dal is not Dal Makhani.

Or perhaps you are looking for Punjabi recipes. Try Quince Pickle, Potato and Eggplant Curry, and Baingan Bharta.

You might also browse all of our collection of Dal Makhani and similar recipes.  Our Punjabi recipes are here and our Indian recipes are here. Or find some inspiration in our Mid Winter recipes.