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WATERMELON, PINEAPPLE & CORN SALAD WITH FRIED ONIONS

What this is, is a savoury fruit salad with charred corn. The dressing is simple yet punchy. I drew inspiration from the flavours of Tajín–the chilli and lime salt from Mexico that’s most popularly served sprinkled over juicy wedges of watermelon. I haven’t tried the actual thing, but from the sounds of it it’s very… Read more »

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MUSHROOMS WITH SHERRY VINEGAR

My cooking has been (unsurprisingly) hurried these past few months. Quick effortless meals are what I’m after: paneer kofte, flatbreads and mezze style dips for lunch with family, a quiche loaded with spinach, ricotta and feta, pressure-cooked curries and dhals, and of course, oven-roasted everything. Quick meals and sides without compromising on flavour. This is… Read more »

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SPICY SAMBAL OELEK CHICKEN & MANGO SALAD

Salads for dinner. I’m all for it. We’re not talking lettuce heavy, wimpy salads. We’re talking big, bulked up salads: seasonal fruit, meat, punchy dressing, the whole shebang. A salad that can double as a meal in itself. And that can only happen (for me) if there’s enough substance in here to qualify that. A… Read more »

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WHIPPED FETA WITH ZA’ATAR ROASTED TOMATOES

Whipped cheeses seem to be all the rage these days – feta, goat’s cheese, you name it and someone’s whippin’ it. I did a whipped paneer version not so long ago that turned out great, so feta seemed the obvious next choice. I love its saline hit especially paired with sweet and tangy elements. We… Read more »

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EGGS WITH MUSHROOMS & SPINACH + QUICK CHILLI BUTTER

It’s been a hot minute since I posted a recipe on here that doesn’t include mushrooms, spinach and eggs. Clearly breaking my own rules so I’m here to promptly correct that. Baking eggs this way somehow seems to transcend the whole ‘eggs are breakfast’ mindset. Or so I’ve gathered from conversations. (We eat salads for… Read more »

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CHICKEN TZATZIKI SALAD

The goal is to always keep things–in order of preference and priority–delicious, speedy and nutritious. This means adding protein and vegetables into the mix, while also making sure it comes together really quickly and easily. I’m talking no more than 45 mins tops in total, with no more than 15 mins of my involvement. This… Read more »

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SPICED LAMB WITH ROASTED PUMPKIN MASH

There are dishes that look easy and effortless to make, and then there are those that look like you need a quarter of a day and a culinary degree to whip up. But looks can be deceptive. Some dishes look simple to make, but the prep can seem endless because of the amount of hands-on… Read more »

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LIGHTER ETON MESS

Eton mess – the quintessential summer dessert. (Not in Chennai though; strawberries usually make an appearance here in Jan.) Either way, it’s almost the end of season now and I wanted to quickly pop by and show you this easy way to gorge on them whilst they’re still around. Having said that, I’ve preemptively devised… Read more »

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OVEN-ROASTED PATATAS BRAVAS

Patatas bravas or ‘spicy potatoes’ is a dish native to Spain, and served typically as a part of tapas: small plates of shared food. Like most tapas dishes go, they’re pretty straight-forward and simple to make but without compromising on flavour. Full disclosure: I’ve never been to Spain. Everything I know about their food only… Read more »

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BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PARMESAN AND ORANGE

I’ve found that the best way to crisp up Brussels sprouts is in the oven. First halve them lengthways, toss in olive oil and salt, and lay them hump side up on a baking tray. Roast in a hot oven until the tops are crackly and look like they’re on the verge of being burnt…. Read more »

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QUINOA PORRIDGE WITH STRAWBERRIES

If you’re looking to switch up your breakfast porridge and give oatmeal a break, this one’s for you. The problem with quinoa for breakfast (or at any time, to be honest), is that it takes an age to cook. To get around this, I soak it the previous night (in the fridge). Soaking softens the… Read more »

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CHARRED BROCCOLI WITH CRANBERRIES & TAHINI

Keeping with the theme of salads for breakfast, here’s my charred broccoli with (dried) cranberries and a spicy tahini dressing. I had a general idea of the flavours I wanted to use here: the slight bitterness from charred broccoli, with pops of sour and sweet from the dried fruit. The tahini gives this dish a… Read more »

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BEANS WITH ZUCCHINI, KALE & BOILED EGGS

We eat all kinds of things for breakfast. Pancakes, waffles and French toasts—in all their various forms—make an appearance at least every other weekend, as do savoury porridges, quesadillas, honey chilli potatoes (brilliant alongside Turkish eggs), fritters, ratatouille and grilled vegetables. Salads too – both fruit and veg. Given this, classifying something under the breakfast… Read more »

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SPINACH OATMEAL

I’m all about savoury oats these days. The inclination to savourize (?) crept in with mushroom congee a few months ago and we’ve been eating it every fortnight since. It might also possibly be one of the nicest things I’ve made this year (along with a mushroom orzo which will make an appearance here shortly)…. Read more »