Simple Indian classics, fusion food, eggless baking and a passion for all things edible.

Join this British-born Indian girl as she eats Channa Masala for breakfast, adds a pinch of spice to everything, and works full time to feed a dirty little paneer habit.
Crispy Potato Bhajia

Crispy Potato Bhajia

Served in paper cones with fried green chillies for that ‘bhajia on the beach’ feel I’ve always been a sucker for ordering too many starters in restaurants, especially when it involves Crispy Potato Bhajia (paper-thin potato slices coated in a bespoke spice blend), Hara Bara Kebabs (pea and cauliflower cakes)...
Aloo Paratha

Aloo Paratha

I fell in love with paratha at the age of four, when I was the proud owner of various miniature kitchen utensils that looked like they’d been manufactured in toy town. I’d use my hot pink chapatti board and rolling pin to make baby paratha, which my mum would cook...
Classic Vegetable Biryani

Classic Vegetable Biryani

There is a word in Indian cooking that used to send a chill down my spine every time it was uttered – biryani. I was never suspicious of the biryani because it’s difficult to cook, but because it’s typically served as a main course. As a little girl, rice had...
Homemade Paneer

Homemade Paneer

The idea of making cheese at home is one of those beautiful things which you never really appreciate until you actually do it. Paneer is a type of cottage cheese (non-matured) that is popular in India and practically every other place where Indians live, especially among vegetarians. We just can’t...
Eggless Blueberry and White Chocolate Baked Cheesecake

Eggless Blueberry and White Chocolate Baked Cheesecake

Blueberries are just coming into season here in the UK so when I spotted a stack of boxes containing the little blue jewels I knew I had to have some. Berries remind me of everything summery and cheesecake is one of my favourite desserts. Eggless baked cheesecake is a rare...
Secretly Decadent Spinach and Mung Bean Soup

Secretly Decadent Spinach and Mung Bean Soup

A little twist on an old Gujarati classic   Iron-rich foods are essential for vegetarians who without it, may feel constantly lethargic, tired and run-down. I speak not from formal education in food nutrition, but from experience. We all need iron in our diets to keep us strong like Popeye...
Brand New Recipes
Kashmiri Dum Aloo

Kashmiri Dum Aloo

There’s nothing more comforting than meltingly-soft potatoes enveloped in creamy, spicy-sweet sauce – even when it’s dinner for one at the Modha residence. Nobody likes cooking for one, do they? For me, it’s a tedious task knowing I’m the only one who will get to sample my efforts. I’m a feeder – I come from...
7 Steps to Sexy Food Photography

7 Steps to Sexy Food Photography

Damn, this has been a long time coming. Before I go further, I’d like to stress that I’m not a professional photographer, nor have I had any formal training in photography (I did go on a lovely day-long workshop two weeks ago) but the fact of the matter is, I’ve still got a lot to...
Mango and Courgette Salad with Jaggery-Lime Dressing

Mango and Courgette Salad with Jaggery-Lime Dressing

There are some ingredients in Indian cooking which attract gasps and sighs whenever they’re mentioned. Take ghee for example; no, it’s not good for you – but is a tablespoon of ghee in a curry for four really much worse than a dollop of butter on a jacket potato for lunch, or pouring cream over...
Baby Aubergines Stuffed with Peanut Masala

Baby Aubergines Stuffed with Peanut Masala

Stuffing baby vegetables with spicy, nutty masala can be a beautiful thing. It’s nothing new, Gujaratis have been popping a tray of them onto their dinner party tables for years. Stuffed vegetables are, and always have been the ultimate show-off dish – the more extensive the variety of veggies you manage to wangle into the...
Eggless Dark Chocolate Truffle Fennel Seed Cheesecake with Almond Pralines

Eggless Dark Chocolate Truffle Fennel Seed Cheesecake with Almond Pralines

Velvety, bitter chocolate cream cheese sits on top of a crisp base of almonds and ground ginger biscuits. Top with nuggets of crunchy almond and fennel seed-studded praline and drizzle with luxurious homemade caramel sauce.  Have we died and gone to cheesecake heaven? Maybe. The fact of the matter is, once you’ve tasted chocolate and...
Chilli Lemon Cauliflower

Chilli Lemon Cauliflower

It’s the simple pleasures in life I’ve always appreciated the most; chapattis with mango pickle, paratha dipped in raita and from time to time, maybe peanut butter and banana sandwiches (let’s keep that one between us). From sitting on a Mombasa beach nibbling on maize, smothered with lemon and red chilli powder, to scoffing cassava...
Cardamom Tofu Curry

Cardamom Tofu Curry

I stuffed myself with Palak Paneer last night. I feel terrible about it and actually had a bit of trouble sleeping. I think it’s time to give that beautiful cheese a break (at least for a little while, anyway). On The Rebound What’s a girl to do when she’s decided to cut the one true...
Dudhi Na Muthiya (Steamed Bottlegourd Dumplings)

Dudhi Na Muthiya (Steamed Bottlegourd Dumplings)

The prospect of an Indian breakfast is sometimes just the kick I need to pull myself from my cosy bed. This usually only ever takes place on weekends or during time-off from the day job, so it’s always a welcome treat. Along with a spicy breakfast, there’s nothing more satisfying than using up leftovers. This...
Cashew Nut and White Chocolate Burfi

Cashew Nut and White Chocolate Burfi

A love of sweets must run in my blood. Back in Kenya my grandfather worked in a sugar cane factory, boiling up vats of syrup bigger than a fully-grown wildebeest. He even knew syrup temperatures without having to use a sugar thermometer. My grandad’s passion for cooking with sugar led him to become one of...
A Whole New World

A Whole New World

I finally made it! The blog is in its final transition and I’m adding the finishing touches as we speak. I didn’t really think I’d make it in one piece. Please potter about the site and check out the new features. If you have any problems, you know where to find me. Get your taste...
Eggless Saffron and Lemon Shrikhand Doughnuts

Eggless Saffron and Lemon Shrikhand Doughnuts

Just a speedy note before I round up all of the dishes from our Mughlai season this weekend (for your eating pleasure). This is going to include all of the royal-inspired recipes plus more, so stick around for some really yummy dishes so you can create a banquet fit for kings and queens. Yesterday, a...
Khaman

Khaman

Guess who’s back? Over the next four weeks I’ll be running a series called Indian Cooking Step-by-Step in which I’ll be exploring classic recipes from a handful of Indian regions. Join me as I prepare Khaman – a Gujarati favourite in under 50 minutes. I’m not too proud to admit that I’m a terrible teacher,...