Moong Dal Tadka is a cozy nourishing dal made with yellow split lentils and ghee tempering along with Indian whole spices. This recipe is super easy yet tastes great. Dal is the most essential staple dish in Indian cuisine. There are countless variations of dal all across India. Every household has their own version, today I am sharing my version. My recipe uses basic Indian pantry staple, is mildly spiced yet its full of flavors & has a perfect texture. Traditionally, Toor dal is used to make dal fry but I like to use yellow moong dal as it’s easier…
Continue ReadingNutritious, vegetarian black eyed bean soup recipe is easy to make. This Maharashtrian soup recipe is healthy and comes together quickly in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. This chawli cha kadhan aka soup recipe is highly nutritious and it’s packed with protein & magnesium. I have grown up eating this black eyed bean soup popularly known as chawli cha kadhan or kalan in Marathi. This bean soup is pressure cooked and mildly flavored with a tempering of cumin seeds, curry leaves, chilies and garlic. This soup is not only nourishing but also very light on tummy. All the nutrients…
Continue ReadingGudi Padwa is a Maharashtrian festival celebrated to welcome the onset of spring. Padwa falls on the first day of Chaitra month according to the lunisolar Hindu Calendar. It falls on the day on which the moon appears after new moon day (Amavasya) . It marks the beginning of the New Year for many Hindus. The mythological story behind festival is that it is believed that many years ago there was a great deluge on Earth. Time had stopped and every living being and every aspect of nature was destroyed. It is said that on this day Lord Brahma started…
Continue ReadingChakli is a spiral shaped, fried savory snack made during the Diwali festival in all Maharashtrian homes. Traditionally chakli is made using a blend of lentil and spices. However, my instant chakli recipe uses only whole wheat flour as the base ingredient to make light & crunchy instant chaklis. The reason why I love my whole wheat chakli recipe is…. it tastes great relative to the effort required. My recipe requires minimal inputs in terms of time, energy, ingredients and clean up yet yields delicious results. If there is one Diwali snack that my husband can’t do without, then it…
Continue ReadingBhadang is a popular Maharashtrian snack recipe. Puffed rice is toasted and tossed in basic tempering. This recipe is incredibly easy to make and requires minimal ingredients. This crispy bhadang makes a tasty, healthy and perfect mid evening snack. This savory snack comes together in no time. All you have to do is toast the murmura/puffed rice until it crisps up. Lightly toast the nuts. Make the tempering with the basic spices. Add the tempering to the puffed rice and nuts, season with salt & sugar, combine all the ingredients. The best part about this crunchy snack is you can…
Continue ReadingOrange Chocolate Modak is an easy, simple, quick and no cook modak recipe. These modaks are super delicious and have a hint of orange zest and cocoa powder. It is a perfect prasad or dessert recipe to make during the festive season. Orange and chocolate is a match made in heaven. I love the flavors of these two ingredients anytime. If you are someone who loves this combo then this recipe is for you. This is one of my favorite no-cook modak recipes to make during Ganpati festival. These modaks are delicious, fudgy, not overtly sweet and a perfect blend…
Continue ReadingCoconut Rose Modak as the name suggests is basically coconut modak flavored with rose water, you can even use rose syrup or Rooh-Afza. These coconut rose modaks are subtly sweet and have just 7 ingredients. They can be made in less than 20 minutes, plus are entirely no cook. What’s not to love about them….. right?! I love to celebrate festivals big or small. Making fresh prasad during 10 days of Ganesh festival sounds fun but its certainly challenging when you are a busy mom. Which is why this no-cook modak recipe is a life saver. This recipe is quick,…
Continue ReadingCauliflower Rassa is an easy to make and delicious Maharashtrian curry recipe. Its made with creamy tomato coconut base, blanched tender cauliflower & mildly spiced with homemade masala. It makes a flavor packed curry recipe. Tastes best with steamed rice or roti. What is Cauliflower Rassa Cauliflower Rassa, also known as flower cha rassa, is a typical Maharashtrian curry recipe. Rassa literally translates as curry which is runny in consistency. Like every household has its own version of dal recipe, cauliflower rassa recipe is also unique to every family. Today I am sharing my mom’s version. Her recipe is quick,…
Continue ReadingAll Purpose Masala is a fragrant, flavor-packed masala recipe. This spice blend literally enhances flavor of everyday recipes making it taste unique. Every household has its special secret masala which makes family recipes unique and special. Today I am sharing my mom’s multi-purpose masala recipe. I call this recipe as my mom’s magic spice blend. A touch of this masala enhances the taste of curries and rice. This masala is a wonderful aromatic Indian spice blend that my mom uses in many recipes. This blend is super quick and very easy to make. All you have to do is dry…