fascinatingfoodworld

Gajar ka halwa, sarsoon ka saag, pao bhaji, ladoo - I love devouring in comfort food during winters. People have a myth that ghee is bad for health. On the contrary, ghee keeps us healthy if we eat it in moderation. I have a belief that body metabolism increases during winters, why else would we be able to digest ghee enriched food and sweets like til-gur ka ladoo and gaund ka ladoo. I hate it when people criticize Indian food and call it heavy and oily. Indian cuisine incorporates oils, whole grains, spices which has numerous health beenfits. It utilizes seasonal produce to the fullest. My best friend's mom introduced me to this dish. This dish originated in Udaipur city of Rajasthan. The day I shot these pictures was the 5th time in a row I made it for Sunday breakfast in my new house. All my brother-in-law eats on Sunday is this! This dish gets it deep flavour from cinnamon powder. I usually don't prefer cinnamon in savoury dishes but it works really well in this ...

Lapsi is a traditional Indian dessert which is made with gur(jaggery) during special occasions. Since it is warm and comforting, it is made quite often during winters in the northern parts of India, especially Rajasthan and Gujarat. Its a meal cum dessert with goodness of nutty broken wheat and earthy jaggery. When I moved to Mumbai in 2005,  I stayed with my cousin for couple of months. She often made lapsi for dinner. It used to be cooked perfectly with right texture. Sweetness was also at par and not overwhelming. My mom did lot of trials but she couldn't get the recipe right. She even rang my cousin asking for the exact recipe. Honestly it's a simple recipe, all it needs is watchful cooking. I am glad I managed to crack it in my first trial(That does not mean I am a better cook than my mother- she reads my blog too ;) Come winters and I automatically starts craving for gur. I have always enjoyed eating gur in the form of til-gur, peanut chikki (going to attempt ...

Like entire India, I am still recuperating from Diwali madness too. I have eaten a lot of food these past few days. So much cooking and eating has happened that I want to take a break (Yes! you heard me right, I want to take a break) Growing up, I wasn't really a fan of South Indian food. When I moved to Mumbai to pursue studies, I realized that if I had to eat out everyday for survival, it better be healthy. And so started my fondness for South Indian cuisine. I ate it everyday for breakfast for 6 straight months. My love for South Indian cuisine still prevails. One of my favorite dish is upma podi which is served at Madras Cafe, Mumbai. I think it is one of the best place to eat anything South Indian. They also serve the best "filter coffee"! It is difficult to not stop by Madras Cafe , entire atmosphere is filled with aroma of filter coffee. My other South Indian favorites are sambhar, onion uttapam, oats upma, fried idli and of-course the tangy lemon ric...

Festival of lights, Diwali is very big in India. It signifies victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Markets are bustling with mouth-watering sweets during this festival. I remember my mother working in the kitchen all day and preparing a feast for us which also involved making different sweets. Nariyal ki barfi, kheer-anand (thick rice pudding) and daal ki chaki was always on the menu. Sweets are also offered to friends and relatives who come to visit the following days. It is always so hectic during Diwali. There is just so much to do - decorating the house, distributing sweets, making a lavish meal, sorting out clothes to wear, socializing. I wasn't sure if I would be able to share this recipe but I am happy I managed. Today I am sharing a recipe which is a fusion between western and Indian dessert- " Pistachio-yoghurt cupcakes with cardamom frosting" ! You know how elders just taste baked goodies because they don't quite enjoy flavor of  v...