Doi Ilish/Hilsha in Yogurt Sauce

I started this blogging journey eleven years ago. Life got super busy that I couldn’t post as much as I wanted for past few years;  especially 2023, I just vanished from blogging. But my passion for cooking never faded away. However I never stopped posting on my Instagram whatever I cooked. I came back slowly to blog and excited to share recipes. I got connected with people through my blogging journey. I completely missed my blog's 11th birthday last week. So, better late than never and today, I am sharing an amazing Hilsha recipe that passed down to my mother from a close family friend. It became one of our family favorites. It’s so drool worthy and definitely a keeper. 

Whole Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Christmas is almost here! Unlike previous years, thing are different and challenging this year. We are thankful to be healthy and hoping everything will be normal soon. While travel fun and dining out are not happening this time and that is quite frustrating, but we choose to make Christmas as joyous as ever. Right after Thanksgiving, Christmas tree was up and house looks very festive. Christmas carols are being played all day long, thinking positive, keeping in touch with dear ones and cooking delicious festive food. That's the spirit of Christmas. 

Salad Nicoise

Salad Nicoise(niˈswaz), a French creation that looks like a fancy restaurant style salad is easy to prepare at home with seasonal vegetables and fish. I make this decadent salad all year round in different ways, vegan, fish-seafood and chicken versions. The classic Salad Nicoise from the city of Nice, France is not a tossed salad rather a composed salad consisting boiled potato, blanched haricots verts, tomato, capers, olives, boiled eggs, canned tuna on a bed of lettuce and dressed with extra virgin olive oil, red wine-lemon-Dijon vinaigrette. 

Chicken Jambalaya

We love this Louisiana specialty Chicken Jambalaya, a comforting one dish meal with rice, chicken, smoked Andouille sausage(pork free) and some veggies in a slightly tangy tomato, garlic and herb sauce is so easy to prepare, great for week night dinner and any big crowd. Its perfect seasonings and little spicy kick makes a very satisfying meal for all chicken lovers.

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. 

Uttapam and Vegetable Paniyaram

I made so many batches of Dosa batter in these lock down months even South Indians would be surprised. My kids loves to snack on them without any accompaniments. I shared Dosa and explained well here in the Dosa post. Using one simple Dosa batter so many things can be made. Uttapam is one of them topped with onion and and other veggies served alongside Chutneys and Sambar are perfect lunch or dinner for us. Uttapams is kind of thick pancake and soft,fluffy texture. They are So tasty. If Chutneys and Sambar are finished but some batter remains I don't mind to savor Uttapam just like that. 

Persian Love Cake

Persian cuisine is all time family favorite, be it sweet or savory. When I first time made this unique cake 5 months back, I was quite skeptical about using ground almond and pistachio in the cake batter. But it turned out so delicious and moist, infused with a distinctive Persian flavor. It rose so beautifully and we loved its perfect balance of cardamom, rose water and saffron flavor.The cake was not too sweet but incredibly rich and delicious. My tween made it a few days back with a little bit of help from me and it turned out great. She made Bastani Sonnati also known as Persian Ice Cream as well and I paired it with Persian Love Cake. Trust me, it takes to a whole new level. 

Idli/Savory Fermented Steamed Rice-Lentil Cake

Idli/Idly is a steamed Savory Fermented Steamed Rice-Lentil Cake served as breakfast. These beautiful soft fluffy Idlis are made with the same Dosa batter. It's a pure bliss to savor freshly steamed soft idlis with a bowl of Sambar and some chutnys.

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.  

Chicken Tehari

Chicken Tehari/Tahiri, a simple rice and white chicken curry dish is so easy to put together that belongs to Awadhi cuisine of Uttar Pradesh, India. Tehari is in between Polao and Biriyani without fancy ingredients yet full of flavors and quick to whip up for restaurant style weeknight meals. This dish does not need any side dish other than some salad. It's a meal on its own. 

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!

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!

Chicken Stroganoff

Stroganoff is a classic Russian sauteed meat dish in a sour cream based sauce. The dish got its name after powerful Stronganoff family. It originated in mid 19th century Russia and got its popularity around the world with many variations.