Radhaballavi

It’s been eight years documenting various recipes I learned and tried over the years on my blogging journey. It’s fun but loads of work to post after managing my family. Today I bring you a heavenly delicious Bengali style fried stuffed bread Radhaballavi which is  served at Bengali wedding ceremonies and as a special treat for breakfast, lunch or dinner in many Bengali households.

Two Simple Potato Curries

Once upon a time we ate carbohydrate rich food for breakfast or lunch or dinner almost everyday without thinking twice about calorie. We never knew calorie counting back then. We were very active all the time, went to school by walking, played well in the alley or open space, visited friend’s house by walking and we did so many fun outdoor activities. So whatever we consumed easily got  burned out. Life style has changed now. Watching carbohydrate is very important these days for us. I am not saying giving up any of our favorite food but enjoying once in a blue moon. I don’t make just potato curries very often. They are so special that I we can enjoy with roti just for one meal then no carbohydrate for other meals during the day. It balances out pretty good and it satisfies our craving without feeling guilty.

Avial/Aviyal

Being a foodie I love to prepare different regional cuisines of India often. Recently I tried Avial/Aviyal for the first time, a signature Keralite mixed veggie medley and it turned out delicious. I think this is the easiest curry I had ever made. No sauteing required. It's just boiled veggies, then spiced coconut mixture mixed with yogurt and tempered whole spices in coconut oil stirred in the curry. Nothing can't be more easier that this one! 

Asparagus, Tomato, Chickpea and Apple Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

This colorful fruity salad is fabulous for lunch or dinner, made with lightly cooked asparagus, chickpeas, apple. tomato and pecans in a homemade orange vinaigrette dressing without oil. This is another delicious way of devouring  springs bounty. It's super refreshing and delicious, healthy, filling, full of plant protein and fiber. Have it as a meal or as a side for spring and summer gathering. This is gluten free, vegan and very easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.

Gondhoraj Pulao/Kaffir Lime Pilaf

Gondhoraj Pulao made with the most alluring flavor of Gobindo bhog rice (specially grown in West Bengal) and the distinctively fragrant Thai kaffir lime juice(close cousin of the gondhoraaj lebu), zest and leaves as a side dish that wonderfully pairs with any Bengali veg or non veg main dishes. It is super easy, quick to make and tastes amazingly refreshing! Use lots of kaffir lime leaves until the flavor really comes through. 

Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

Fall is pumpkin season and so many pumpkin inspired savory and sweet dishes are great treats to celebrate the spirit of the season with family and friends. No big Thanksgiving celebration this year though and it's important staying home, being healthy during this pandemic situation. So we are trying our best to enjoy holiday spirits with family this time!

Sabur Khichuri/Tapioca Pearl Mishmash

Sabur Khichuri is another comforting meal in Bengali households especially during Durga Pooja. People who observe fasting for any Hindu ritual, consume grain free pure vegetarian Satvik food afterwards. Bengali Sabur Khichuri is very different than Sabudana Khichdi from other states of India which is dry type. This one uses roasted mung bean along with veggies like cauliflower, potato, carrot, peas, green beans and peas etc.This no onion and no garlic recipe. The aroma of the roasted mung bean and the sauteed veggies with spices takes me down to memory lane. It tastes divine as is. You can always add fried eggplant, Papad and sweet chutney with it! Try this Sabur Khichuri. This is absolute one dish wonder whether fasting or not. 

Sabudana Khichdi/ Sago/Tapioca Pearl Pilaf

Sabudana khichdi is an easy and very popular Indian savory dish made with soaked sago/tapioca pearl, roasted peanuts and slightly spiced sauteed potato, served for breakfast, tea time snack and during Hindu rituals who observe fasting in the state of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and some other states. Sago or tapioca pearl is an acquired taste that is nicely balanced its chewy texture with crunchy peanuts and stir fried spiced potato mixture. This recipe makes 3-4 servings and it is satvik vegan, meaning no ghee, onion and garlic are used. 

Stir Fried Bitter Gourd & Pumpkin

Bitter gourd is an acquired taste that is complemented the way we cook in Bengali cuisine by using lentil, mixed vegetable(Shukto/Bitter Sweet Mixed vegetable Medly) and other ingredients. Bitter gourd is an excellent palate cleanser and any bitter gourd item is served in the beginning of any meal so that next delicious items can be savored wonderfully.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is char-grilled (on the BBQ grill or in the tandoor oven) boneless marinated chicken pieces smothered in the amazing rich & creamy gravy made of flavorful spices, ginger, garlic, onion, tomato, yogurt and cream. Chicken Tikka can be grilled in a oven or pan-seared on the stove top at home as well. The gravy is bit tangy-sweet velvety textured and the wonderful North Indian curry spices delivers exotic flavor. It's an incredible dish to devour with family and friends!

Bengali Fried Rice/Ghee Bhat

Aromatic Basmati cooked rice is stir fried with ghee, some veggies, cashew nuts, raisins and some dry spices is great side dish with lentil, vegetable, paneer, chicken or meat curries. We Bengali call this pretty, colorful and fragrant rice "Ghee Bhat/Fried Rice" ; it's so very tasty and simple to put together that can easily satisfy the crowd. The flavor is so excellent that makes the whole house smelling heavenly! This rice dish is often served at special occasions like bridal shower, wedding, rice eating, and so many more  ceremonies, festivals or simple family get together. 

Mushur Dal & Chola-Mator Daler Bora/Red Lentil Fritters & Husked Black Chickpeas-Yellow Split Peas Fritters

Lentil fritters and Lentil Curry with plain steamed rice is a soulful combo in Bengali households. They are so tasty and they only require minimum pantry ingredients, yet full of crispy-crunchy deliciousness. There are lots of variations but these two types of fritters are very popular for most Bengali households. They can be served as starter with tea and puffed rice too.

Neem Shukto/Neem Leaves and Mixed Vegetable Medley

Neem leaves and mix vegetable medley from Bengal is a humble beginning for lunch with plain rice. The right of mixture of neem leaves and other vegetables with minimal spices give an excellent palate cleansing dish to have it with plain rice or just a bowl of itself is so satisfying. This dish is very wholesome with subtle flavor. Neem leaves are much more bitter than bitter melon. So the concoction of neem leaves and mix vegetables must be balanced carefully. If the dish ends up too bitter it may not be pleasurable at all.

Coffee Ice Cream

I have never made so much ice cream before; because of the Covid-19 pandemic situation around, I am trying to make everything at home. I am sharing another decadent ice cream dessert for coffee lovers. Rich creamy coffee ice cream with freshly brewed dark roast coffee absolutely satiates sweet tooth. It is so smooth, creamy, rich without any topping and it is perfect for hot summer days. 

Stir Fried Black Chickpeas

Stir Fried Black Chickpeas/Whole Bengal Gram is a simple Bengali salad type snack, full of flavor, seasoned with some dry spices. I grew up eating this spiced chickpeas as evening snack and it's very popular street food of India. Ours was always homemade and my mother would serve it with puffed rice. This is one of the healthiest snacks with full of fiber, protein and other vitamin and minerals that keeps fuller for longer.

Chana Paloker Dalna/Bengali Style Cheese and Spinach Curry

Chanar Dalna in its new avatar, very wholesome, delicious and easy to put together. I got a lot of fresh spinach and some home made chana/panner stored in the refrigerator for a while. So I made this one simple Chana Paloker Dalna with lots of green goodness to savor with aromatic brown basmati rice, similar to its North Indian counterpart Palak-Paneer Kofta. This may not be a traditional Bengali dish but I made it in an authentic Bengali manner.

Bhatura/Bhature

Bhatura/Bhature is a very soft, chewy, leavened, deep fried, puffy white North Indian bread served with Choley/Chana Masala. This famous North Indian delicacy is popular all over the world savored as a delicious meal for breakfast, brunch or dinner. The combo of Choley and Bhatura is match made in heaven.  

Alur Dom

   

Alur Dom is a very popular gravy based potato curry all over India and every region has its own variations. This is a Bengali style pure vegetarian(no onion-no garlic)and vegan Alur Dom with green peas. Dom or dum style potato means it is cooked on slow fire with the lid on for sometime that allows the spices and herbs to infuse the potatoes, resulting in a irresistible Alur Dom that every Bengali enjoys with Karaishutir Kachuri(green peas stuffed fried Bengali bread) Luchi(fried Bengali white bread) or just plain roti. 

Green Beans and Potato Curry

I love the smell of fresh green beans and small potatoes that reminds me a taste of winter in India. Ma used to make a simple curry with fresh young green beans and new potatoes often in winter months. This simple curry is very light, delicious and vegan that pairs perfectly with roti(hand made flat bread). I often make this comfort curry because I get these veggies all year round in my part of the world. All essential ingredients are just fridge and pantry staples. 

Doi Bora/Dahi Vada & Dahi Bhalle

Doi Bora/Dahi Vada, a famous Indian street food categorized as "chaat" served as cold for snacking or just as a meal. This lip-smacking colorful delicacy with lentil fritters soaked in whisked seasoned yogurt and sweet n sour tamarind chutney and topped with sev/gram flour fritters available across India and abroad.