The Fire Roasted Tomato Chokha is a dish from the eastern state of Bihar (India) and is traditionally cooked on coals. There is something very comfortable and ancient about cooking on fire or the grill. The aromas wafting from the food touch evokes emotion and the flame kissed food tastes like something we have always known. While I love grilled lamb chops and tandoori chicken, I mostly gravitate towards cooking more vegetables on the grill. Fresh summer vegetables when grilled are really delicious in salads, salsas and chutneys. The Fire roasted tomato chokha or the ‘tamatar ka chokha’ as it …
Walnut Chutney
Walnut is a significant part of Kashmiri culture. It is said that that the four kernels of the walnut represent – Dharma ( guiding principles by which we live life ) Artha ( Meaning of life ) Kama ( desires) and Moksha ( Nirvana). It is also believed to be symbolic of the four Vedas – Rig, Yajur, Atharva and Sama. The whole walnut with the shell on is an essential element in all Kashmiri rituals and important religious festivals. The Festival of Herath ( Shivratri) – The celebration of the union of Shiva and Shakti – being the most …
Cilantro Mint Chutney
The good thing about a mint cilantro chutney is its simplicity. The next good thing is its versatility. But the best thing about this simple yet versatile chutney is the powerful punch it packs in the tiniest of servings. Don’t they say great food satisfies in small servings? With the fresh lingering scent of mint, aromatic Cilantro, tangy lemon, hot chillies and the zing from fresh ginger, this chutney is essential to a lot of street food deliciousnesses. Having a jar full of chutney is like having endless possibilities to cook. I can bake savory puff pastries or samosas and …
Tamarind Date Chutney
One fine balmy day, at a girls tea party, the hostess had made this delightful Tamarind Date chutney. It had a thick texture, great color and tasted just like an Imli chutney should. A couple of email exchanges later, I asked the gracious hostess for the recipe. She obliged and I made the chutney with the addition of ginger powder. This recipe is dedicated to you, Sarab. Tamarind Date chutney is like a sweet and sour dipping sauce, only that it is not too tart. The addition of jaggery and dates to the Tamarind makes it pleasantly sweet and …