Kalia is a style of cooking prevalent in Oman and, as I have discovered, in Afghanistan and Northern India. It is a slow-cooked meat dish...

Drumsticks, or moringa, are popular in India. These long stems stick out obtrusively in vegetable markets and shops and are quite...

Mirza Dawood Ali Khan was titled Jung Bahadur by the Nizam and was commonly referred to as Dawood Jung. He was one of the most colourful characters in Hyderabad's history. The family originated from Iran in the early 1800s and settled in Hyderabad. There was significant immigration from Persia during that period, driven by India's strong economy under the Mughal empire. They were traders and prospered in Hyderabad, building monuments and mosques.  Dawood Jung, himself a succe

Sometimes the simplicity of a recipe belies its beautiful flavour. This is one of those dishes. This is a simple wok stir-fry of soft...

Dhal is core to Indian cuisine. There are infinite versions of dhal, varying from the type of lentil used to spices and cooking...

When we think of an eggplant dip, the first one that jumps to our minds is baba ghanoush. But this is a versatile dish, and there are...

Great ingredients make for great salads. This is a very simple salad with just a few ingredients, but it's oh-so good. The soft, creamy...

Slow braising is an art. The meat, or vegetables, are cooked for an extended time period in the sauce allowing the spices and herbs to...

With the monsoon season upon us, I have been craving fritters of any kind. Here is a simple version that can be shallow-fried and hence...

I absolutely adore mushrooms. They are diverse and earthy in flavour and my go-to vegetable on any restaurant menu. Oyster mushrooms, in...

During the Eid celebrations, my grandmother always had a large bowl of sheer khurma ready, and I would sneak into the kitchen and have a...

Mastic is a resin that is extruded from the pistachio tree. It is seen as small drops letts shaped like tears and is often called "Tears...

An atjar is an Indonesian vegetable pickle. Unlike sambal, which is a ground chilli sauce, an atjar is made of vegetables as the base....

Stir-fried chicken is a classic. Wok dishes are simple to make and enjoyed by the whole family. Here is another recipe that fits this...

Gourds are common in the Indian diet. There are several varieties commonly available in the market, including  bottle gourd (lauki or...

Sumac is a red berry that grows abundantly in the low mountains of the Mediterranean and North Africa. It is usually used as pulverized...

I love wok frying. It's quick and delicious, and it uses a super hot flame. Most Asian countries have some form of wok frying adapted to...

I love a good egg curry, and this one hits the spot. It is very simple to make and takes minimal time. The curry is beautiful, mild,...

Every non-vegetarian region of India has a version of kheema or khima. Kheema arose from the need for the butcher to sell meat ground in...

South India has a number of one-pot rice dishes. These dishes were developed for a couple of reasons: for the farmers to take a filling,...