Shrimp Polao

A family favorite Bengali rice dish with shrimp using simple pantry ingredients is served with salad and raita. This fancy one dish rice and shrimp meal can be served for weeknight dinner as well. The rice gets a very rich shrimp flavor prepared with the shrimp shells stock transforming this dish into an aromatic Polao. The shelled shrimp are gently cooked in the spice mixture, then topped over the almost cooked rice and simmered for a while making this one pot rice dish utterly flavorful, delicious and comforting. It may sound daunting but it's not. A must try for shrimp lovers!

Black Eyed Peas Curry

I love Black Eyed Peas in salad, stew and curry. I make this hearty curry with fully plant-based ingredients, so flavorful and tasty to be paired with Indian flat bread, plain rice, quinoa or as is. This wholesome gravy based curry made with onion, ginger, garlic, tomato and some dry aromatic spices. Black eyed peas are also known as Cowpeas, Lobia (in North India) and Ramakolai(in Bankura district,West Bengal). It melts in mouth, full of nutrients, fiber and protein rich. There are many variations to this curry and I make it simply Bengali way. It's very colorful, tasty and comforting dish.  

Strawberry Ice Cream

Here's presenting easy homemade 4 ingredients  no-churn Strawberry Ice Cream. I make this simple dessert when strawberries are in season. Nothing is better than homemade ice cream in hot summer days. This rich and creamy ice cream bursting with fresh strawberry flavor is one of the best summer treats. 

Medu Vada/Sambar Vada

Famous South Indian doughnut shaped Medu vada also known as Sambar Vada, crispy on the outside, soft fluffy on the inside is one of the breakfast staples served with Sambar and  special chutneys. These fritters are made from soaked white lentil paste and some herb and spices. I never failed making these fritters. Only challenging part is making a hole in the center of the fritter. I am sharing three easy tips that I learned over the years. If it is still difficult to shape like a doughnut just make regular fritter. Try your best and if it is not perfect looking Medu Vada they will still be very tasty fritters. I make three flavorful super easy chutneys great for Medu Vada, Dosa, Idli, Uttapam and Paniyaram. 

South Indian Sambar

A bowl of Sambar  goes best with Idli, Medu Vada, Dosa, rice etc. This delicious slightly tangy South Indian lentil and vegetable stew recipe varies in different regions of South Indian households. Traditionally it's made with split pigeon peas also known as toor dal or arhor dal. Popular vegetable choice for Sambar is moringa drumstick, carrots, squash, shallots, eggplant, green beans etc. A special spice mix called sambar masala and tamarind pulp give the Sambar a unique South Indian sour flavor and finishing with 2nd time tempering adds wonderful aroma to Sambar.  Here is my version of the Sambar  recipe using opo squash, chopped onion, and green beans. 

New York Cheesecake

Father's day is just around the corner. Lets celebrate Father's Day with this elegant and super tasty New York Cheesecake topped with summer's best glazed mixed berries! It has heavy cream in the cream cheese batter for richer taste and bit dense texture. A slightly sweet sour cream is topped over hot baked cheesecake and baked again until sour cream topping is set. The secrets to the best New York Cheesecake that doesn’t crack are room temperature ingredients, using spring form pan, proper mixing technique, water bath method, chilling completely before removing form the pan and last but not least patience!

Dahi Bhalle Chaat

Doi Bora/Dahi Vada or Dahi Bhalle is a very famous Indian street food. White lentil fritters are soaked in whisked seasoned yogurt and delicious chutneys and topped with some crunchy sev/gram flour fritters. I usually make a big batch of fritters and serve some for lunch or dinner and another day I make chaat with some salad ingredients. This recipe is more like a salad where soaked fritters/vadas are broken into small pieces, mixed with boiled peas, boiled potatoes, cucumber, apple (optional) onions and tomatoes, chilies, cilantro/coriander leaves and and some dry spices then drizzled with whipped seasoned yogurt, green chutney, tamarind chutney and topped with crunchy fried crackers and gram flour fritters. It can be served as a starter or just as a meal.