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California Days, Recipes, Something Olde, Something New

Swiss Chard-Potato (Aloo) Sabzi 0 (0)

There is Aloo-Methi Sabzi (Potato-Fenugreek Sabzi), a classic. Then, along the same lines, there came along Aloo-Palak Sabzi (Potato-Spinach Sabzi). Evolving from the classics above, and celebrating the beautiful Swiss Chard abundantly available in California is this recipe. The Swiss Chard gives you a little bit of sweetness from the beet-like stems, a little bit […]

California Days, Recipes

Fire-Roasted Tomato-Basil Rasam 0 (0)

When tomato and basil are mentioned together, we tend to immediatley think Italian. Although the strong Italian connecion is undeniable, it’s also an understated fact that some form of basil is present in several cultures in the world. There’s tulsi in India, Thai basil in Asia, blue basil in Africa, cinnamon basil in Mexico…..and that’s […]

California Days, Recipes

Hari Bhari Sabzi 0 (0)

Assembling the Ingredients: What’s in the Curry The following greens should be finely chopped: 1 1/2 cups spinach, 1 1/2 cups mustard greens and 1 cups beet greens or swiss chard 1 tbsp. oil 5-6 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 tsp. salt. 1/2 cup bell peppers, cut into small dice 1/2 cup frozen peas 1/2 […]

Veggie Stocks

Demystifying Veggie Stocks 0 (0)

Lets start with the conventional wisdom on veggie stocks, broths and brodos. The inspired version–roast vegetables with some aromatics and boil the heck out of the them, layering with desired spices along the way–opinion seems to vary on whether 40 mins. is sufficient or to extract max. flavor, you stoke the fires for hours on […]

New York Specials, Recipes

Mexican Tomato Gumbo 0 (0)

This recipe is inspired by the Veggie Gumbo at Qdoba Mexican Eats. A generous ladleful of gumbo, topped off with your choice of green or red enchilada sauce/sour cream/grated cheese. It’s something that drew me back lunch after lunch after lunch. It was the love child of a Mexican tortilla soup and Louisiana gumbo, chunkier […]

California Days, Indian Classics Revisited, Recipes, Something Olde, Something New

Walnut Aviyal (Mixed Veggie Walnut-Yogurt Curry) 5 (1)

Aviyal is an Indian stew with a base of coconut and yogurt. In this version, I’ve swapped the coconut out with walnuts. The first version of this recipe, I used 1/2 cup fresh coconut and 1/2 cup walnuts. I was amazed at how a complex layer of flavor was added, without compromising the basic avialness […]