Recipes With a Twist
Main Dish
Creamy Pesto Macaroni
Aug 18th
Creamy Pesto Macaroni
I wanted to try making it ever since I noticed my son liked a ‘Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta’ from a local Italian restaurant. That inspired me try making Basil Pesto Sauce and this is what I made first using the Pesto sauce. This is not a perfectly low calorie dish. I can say it might be lighter than what I have looked online for an easy Alfredo or white sauce. It makes a creamy, indulgent and very flavorful pasta (thanks to the Basil Pesto) that I think everyone should enjoy once in a while. I used elbow macaroni as my More >
Curried Eggs
Jul 14th
By Heidemarie Swanepoel
Curried Eggs
Today I really did not feel like just a sandwich for a quick lunch. It’s raining, and cold, and I wanted to warm up from the inside. Curry is always just the thing for me. This one is quick and easy.Ingredients:
2 eggs 1 chicken breast 1 small onion ½ – 1 cup boiling water Salt and pepper to taste ½ teaspoon strong curry powder (or to taste) 1 tablespoon cornflour
1. Bring the eggs to the boil in boiling water. Boil till they are a softish hard boiled egg (approximately 7 minutes, depending on your altitude).
2. In the meantime, More >
Chana Biryani
Jun 13th
Chana Biryani
I read a similar recipe years ago and found the combination of chickpeas or chana in a biryani dish very different. Usually a vegetarian biryani is made with assorted diced vegetables and I have never seen one with chickpeas served anywhere (or the places I ever ate at). Over the years I have made chicken biryani countless times (even with different recipes) and trying this one out was I guess on a back burner. Lately, I have been using chickpeas a lot – seems like I have found my long lost love for them as I don’t remember making dishes More >
Mili-Juli Sabzi (Mixed Vegetable medley with chickpeas)
Jun 5th
Mili Juli Sabzi-mixed vegetables medley
Here is very easy Indian dish that just needs few minutes of preparation and needs very little attention while cooking. Mixed vegetables are traditionally made with several variations using different combinations of vegetables like peas, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, peppers and the list is endless. Basically whatever you have on hand . Last time I made it, besides using some of my favorite vegetables, I also added chickpeas (garbanzo beans) to add some protein and increase the nutritional content.You need: 2 cups chopped carrots 2 medium potatoes, chopped 1 cup boiled chickpeas (you can use More >
Lemon Rice with Carrot Raita
Apr 16th
Lemon Rice
This is yet another favorite dish that I make when I have leftover rice on hand and (as usual) I am in a hurry to put together a delicious yet healthy meal. This version of Lemon Rice is based on traditional South Indian flavors although I am not sure if I always follow the tradition religiously and do try different variations now and then.Carrot Raita
I usually serve this rice with ‘Carrot Raita’ – Yogurt based condiment that is used as a side or sometimes a dip as well. There are numerous types of ‘raitas’ that you can make More >
Moong Dhuli Dal Khichdi with Mustard Greens and Spinach
Apr 11th
Moong Dhuli Dal Khichdi with Mustard Greens and Spinach
Khichdi is a popular dish all over India specially Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Bengal. It is usually made with rice and lentils (there are several variations using different types of lentils) as a base and vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, peas, sqash, spinach, potatoes, etc. are added in different combinations. Rice and lentils are cooked until very mushy and vegetables usually seem to disappear. It is considered as a very healthy dish – carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins all in one dish and is traditionally offered as early food to babies/ toddlers when they first More >
Quick Chinese Vegetable Fried Rice
Apr 8th
Chinese Vegetable Fried Rice
Here is a 15 minute meal that tastes great and is loaded with great stuff- assortment of vegetables, garlic and rice. This recipe is based on ‘Indian style Chinese’ food we get in local fast food/restaurants in India and I am sure is different than any traditional Chinese fried rice recipe. But these are the flavors we have grown up with and still enjoy even living thousands of miles away from India. It tastes best if you have cold leftover rice. I usually plan ahead and cook more white rice couple of days before I want to More >
Mint Chicken Biryani
Mar 29th
Mint Chicken Biryani
Biryani is a rice based dish made with meat, and/or vegetables and spices and traditionally cooked on slow heat to let the flavors blend in. There are several different recipes and styles popular all over India and local variants of this dish are not only popular in South Asia but also in Arabia and within various South Asian communities in Western countries. Mint chicken biryani as the name suggests is made with chicken and rice cooked with fresh mint leaves. I have made this biryani way too many times to remember. However, every time I throw in something extra More >
Karahi Paneer
Mar 3rd
Karahi Paneer
I like MDH Karahi Chicken Masala and use it pretty often when I make a chicken curry dish such as ‘Karahi Chicken’. I used the same masala this time to make a vegetarian dish – Karahi Paneer. Paneer is a form of cottage cheese that is prepared in a number of ways- scrambled, curries, stuffed and so on. It can be very easily made at home and when in a pinch can be bought from almost all Indian stores. Paneer dishes find their way in most North Indian menus.Karahi Paneer is a mildly spiced yet a flavorful dish with undernotes More >
Sindhi Kadhi (Vegetable medley simmered in tangy lentils curry)
Feb 9th
Sindhi Kadhi with rice
I just came back from a trip to India. I visited my family after four years for a short vacation and to attend my brother’s wedding. Besides being excited to meet my family after such a long time, on my flight from London to New Delhi, I could not stop thinking about this flavorful dish my grandmother used to make when I was little. It used to be a family feast with my cousins, aunts and uncles all dining together to enjoy this Sindhi Kadhi with plain rice and some fried potatoes. I decided to learn it from More >
