Achari Chicken
Good to be back here! It’s a long shift in my kitchen tonight as I prep for a private catering event later today. Christmas parties everywhere! The biriyani masala mix is well under way, wafting its aromas at this rather ungodly hour 😳 While I wait, having of course done all my chopping, I thought […]
Mackerel with Spinach (Macher Chorchori)
Based on the traditional Bengali dish known as ‘chorchori’ (medley) this is variation which I learnt to cook from my father, a master of culinary creativity. An easy to cook recipe bursting with flavour and goodness. Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 30 mins Serves: 2 3 tbsp oil 1 tin mackerel fillets in brine, […]
Aloo Bhorta
Aloo Bhorta (spicy mashed potato) is a timeless comfort food which can be enjoyed equally with rice or rotis. As a Bengali, my staple meal growing up consisted of boiled rice and my mum often prepared this bharta in traditional Bengali style, either using mustard oil as a base or ghee; the latter treating one’s […]
Shobji Bhaji (Vegetable Stir Fry)
Sometimes there really is nothing like good old Bengali cooking. This is a very simple, yet beautifully presentable recipe, representative of the staple ‘dry’ vegetable dish served with every Bangladeshi meal. The panch phoron seeds lend a wonderfully aromatic flavour that is so typical of Bengali cooking. The key here is to stir fry the […]
My Chicken Curry
I used to love my Mum’s simple chicken curry with its distinctive flavour of green peppers and whole spices. Ironically though, when visiting my parents’ home, Mum would often ask me to make ‘my’ chicken curry to give her respite from her own cooking. Now let’s get this right, my version of chicken curry is based […]
All Things Chai…
Chai for me is to be enjoyed on its own. Simple. No food required. I often long for a ‘dhaba’ (roadside restaurant) style desi (with reference to all things South Asian) chai. The last time I enjoyed the authenticity of sitting by a roadside kiosk at dusk, sipping a hot, sweet masala chai, was during […]
Spicy Fried Aubergines
Inspired by my recent trip to the beautiful city of Istanbul, I present to you this timeless vegetarian recipe, simple yet appealing as an accompaniment to pilau rice. Cooking Time: approx. 45 minsServes: 3-4 Ingredients 1 large aubergine (eggplant) 6 tbsp vegetable oil plus more as needed 1 tsp garlic and ginger paste 1/2 tsp […]