Sweet and Spicy Shrimp (General Tso’s Shrimp)

My mother-in-law Atsuko makes this shrimp dish, which is sort of a Japanese rendition of a General Tso’s recipe. You can substitute the shrimp with chicken or any vegetable too.

 

 

KHATTA JIMIKAND (Indian Yam) – A dish from Himachal Pradesh, India

Jimikand is Indian Yam and is commonly cooked in Pahari or Himachali cuisine. I love Jimikand especially this recipe which really adds a spicy tang to this yam.

 

 

Thai Style Salmon Cakes

This super healthy recipe for fish cakes is from Chiva-Som, which is a wellness spa in Thailand and has some of the best food I have ever eaten. I love these fish cakes – you can use any fish you like and feel free to add spice to the recipe.
 
 
 

Channa Masala ( Chickpea Masala)

 There are so many wonderful ways to eat chickpeas. This is a super recipe from my mother’s kitchen, which can be eaten with anything like bread, puris, rice or tikkis.

 

Maya’s Rajma ( Curried Red Kidney Beans)

My Maya used to make the best Indian food ever!

I learned all my cooking basics from her. I would spend every summer vacation, during my undergrad years, in the kitchen with her learning anything she could teach me so I could eat “real food” whilst away in college in the US.

Rajma,  made with red kidney beans, is a classic comfort food in any Punjabi home. There is nothing like eating rajma-chawal ( rajma and rice).

Here is the way that Maya used to make her Rajma.

New Potatoes with Indian Style Spicy Sesame Dressing

Here is a spicy Indian take on potato salad. This wonderful recipe combines the earthiness of sesame with the pungent tastes of lime and mustard oil.

Curried Mutton Chops

Chops in India are called “chaamps” or chops. We very rarely eat any kind of red meat but for an occasional calorie splurge this is a worthy recipe. These spiced mutton chops are spectacular.

It’s a really simple recipe but requires a long cooking time. If you can marinate the chops for a few hours ahead of time – it would turn out even better. This recipe makes a huge pot full of chops – you can reduce the recipe by half for a smaller amount

 

Mungodi Curry (Lentil Fritter Curry)

 Mungodi is a delicious curry that is made with day-old daal pakodas (lentil fritters).

 

Chicken Curry with Yogurt (Dahi Chicken)

 Making curry could not be easier than this!

This simple recipe uses yogurt which really gives the gravy body and flavor.

 

Shammi Kabab ( Minced Meat Kababs)

Shammi Kabab is a classic Punjabi snack made with ground meat, lentils and spices. These kababs when made right melt in your mouth and when served hot will be gone in minutes.