blog - Kali Mirch

Lauki ka katra/Pakora (Bottle gourd fritters)

August 13, 2015 by Pranay Singh Leave a Comment

Cuisine is a testament to our evolution. It has gone through a continuous churning process wherein a new dish becomes part of a culture, an alteration has been made to some traditional recipes and some old recipes fade away from our memories. This fundamental point also applies to cuisines in India. If you must have observed, I have referred to “cuisines in India” and not “Indian cuisine”. Cuisine in India is a perfect example of the basic fabric that describes our country “unity in diversity”.

…

Rajasthani Bhindi (Okra stuffed with gram flour and crisp fried)

August 9, 2015 by Pranay Singh 2 Comments

At the onset let me admit that neither am I sure about the origins of this recipe, nor do I know much about the evolution of this recipe. What struck me, however, was the fact that I read in an article about Bhindi (Okra) and Rajasthan. Okra is one of the most famous and popular vegetable crop that is cultivated in Rajasthan. This article piqued my interest and I started reading more about the topic.

…

Nadan Egg Roast- Kerala Egg Roast | An egg delicacy from Kerala cuisine

August 5, 2015 by Pranay Singh Leave a Comment

Last year, I had an opportunity of visiting Kerala twice. Before taking this vacation, I had checked with my Malayali friends about the food items that I must not miss having during my trip to Kerala. I had a list of must-try dishes ready in my possession and Nadan-Egg Roast was one recipe that was on top of that list. During my first trip, I tried several restaurants but they did not have this recipe on their menu. On fourth day of my trip, when I was in Alleppey, enjoying my every moment of stay on the houseboat, we were in company of a very warm and courteous crew.

…

Tomato Chutney in Microwave

July 30, 2015 by Pranay Singh Leave a Comment

Let me be honest, we decided to make this tomato chutney last week as a stop gap arrangement. Let me narrate my complete story. I had sensed, looking at my past week schedule and by the scale of work left at office that this week is not going to be any different, which meant going pretty early to office and by the time I would come back home, I would be so tired that I would have no time nor energy to do any prep work for my next day breakfast.

…

Spicy Pulao in Microwave

July 26, 2015 by Pranay Singh 3 Comments

Love is in the air. The Monsoons have come, and with its arrival this air has become scented. The dry and lifeless summer that serves as a precursor to lively monsoon makes this atmosphere dry and insipid. The earth dries up, weaker trees and plants, shrubs and bushes wither away and those that bear strength would wait for that first drop of rain. Everything comes to a standstill; it is as if every creature is praying for the arrival of the first shower. Finally the day arrives; the dark cloud encircles the earth and cool breeze begins to blow, announcing the much anticipated arrival of the dignitary that everyone’s been waiting for with the bated breath.

…

Paneer Pakoda (Cottage Cheese Fritters)

July 23, 2015 by Pranay Singh Leave a Comment

Saturday mornings are when I prefer snuggling in the bed a little longer. However, last Saturday, my thin quilt could not keep me warmer and the overwhelming breeze from the ceiling fan moving at highest RPM meant that the room became too cold and I had to get up to switch off the fan. It is then, I realized that the coolness was due to the overcast condition that the morning sky had. I walked into the balcony, stood by the railing, gazing at the sky and admiring the gathering of dark clouds which indicated the imminent showers.

…

Kesar Sitaphal Phirni/ Saffron Custard apple rice pudding

July 15, 2015 by Pranay Singh 1 Comment

Phirni or Firni is one of the most famous dessert recipes globally. It is essentially a rice pudding that is made world over in different forms and has several variations. Let’s talk about rice first. Rice has been the staple food for many cultures all over the world. How the word ‘Rice’ has originated and evolved over centuries travelling from one country to other is a fascinating tale.

…