BEET & MISO HUMMUS

There’s always a beet lurking in the fridge a little longer than intended. This one had been sitting quietly in the vegetable drawer, still firm, still hopeful. I hadn’t planned to make hummus with it, but that’s how most good things start, isn’t it? Always roast your beets. Steaming or boiling just makes them flabby… Read more »

THAI-INSPIRED SQUID, PRAWN & GRAPEFRUIT SALAD

Somewhere between craving something light and realizing I had seafood to use up, this salad happened. It borrows a lot from Thai pomelo salad—fresh herbs, juicy citrus, plenty of crunch—but gets a protein upgrade because sometimes fruit and texture aren’t enough to count as a real meal. This is a salad that eats like dinner,… Read more »

BOK CHOY & SHIITAKE STIR-FRY

A quick yet satisfying lunch, brimming with vibrant greens and earthy mushrooms. True to the essence of a good stir-fry, it comes together in under 20 minutes, relying on pantry staples—save for the dried shiitakes, unless, like me, you deem them essential and keep a generous stock on hand. One of the best things about… Read more »

ORANGE CHICKEN SALAD

This is exactly what you think it is: Asian-style orange chicken, but served without the rice and instead fashioned into a scrummy salad. I air fried the chicken here, but you could just as easily get similar results (albeit with a bit more oil) with baking or pan-frying them.  Coat the chicken pieces (I like… Read more »

KIMCHI, TOFU & NORI FRIED RICE

I’ve been writing on here for more than 9 years now. Many things have changed and evolved along the way—priorities, methodologies, ideas—but one thing remains intact: I still forget to cook my rice. Just thought I’d point out that some things are still familiar around here. (A nifty trick – once the rice is cooked… Read more »

CHICKEN OATMEAL CONGEE

Eating a hot breakfast is a rarity in my world. It’s usually a cup of coffee and a banana (with a protein shake in hand) before I rush out the door with my toddler in tow. We do find time to make it a family affair on the weekends though, and for that I’m grateful…. Read more »

DATE BARK

Date barks are all the rage right now. It first made an appearance in a viral tiktok video (I think?) and soon started making its rounds on every food platform known to humankind. I saw it and instantly knew I had to try it. Some recipes are like that; you just know they’re going to… Read more »

CARAMELISED APPLE SALAD

Have some salad leaves wilting in the fridge? Here’s a good recipe to use it for. Don’t have salad leaves wilting in the fridge? Maybe buy some to try this recipe then? My solidly convincing arguments aside, this salad is so delicious and takes 15 mins from start (washing your lettuce) to finish (forking it… Read more »

PUMPKIN HUMMUS + SPICED BUTTER

  Pumpkin hummus. The usual crew: chickpeas, sesame (I use seeds; not store-bought tahini), lemon juice.  To dial up the natural sweetness of the pumpkin, we roast it in the oven until soft and yielding. Halve a whole head of garlic, wrap in foil, and add to the roasting tray along with the pumpkin. Once… Read more »

AIR FRYER PANKO FISH + MANGO SALSA

And as if on cue, I’m back with another seasonal mango recipe at the tail-end of mango season, when all you see on grocery shelves are varieties that are too sour to eat or popular ones past their prime. Which admittedly, is kind of the whole point of this dish. In an effort to prolong… Read more »

Latest
  • SUN-DRIED TOMATO & FRESH PANEER PASTA

    I’ve noticed in conversation that when I say “I made ricotta”, people think it’s a lot more complicated than making paneer. Here’s the deal. Paneer is made by boiling milk and breaking it with some kind of acid (yogurt/lemon juice/vinegar). The resulting curds are then drained and what you’re left with is paneer. Ricotta is… Read more »

  • 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 »

  • 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 »

  • MUSHROOM MISO SOUP

    I can’t stop buying mushrooms. No seriously, it’s a bit of a problem. I’ll have two punnets in the fridge, go shopping with a clear meal plan and a concise list, and end up driving back with two more punnets stashed in the bag. 800 grams to use up in 3 days before they go… Read more »

  • 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 »

  • 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 »

  • CAPONATA & GARLIC BREAD CASSEROLE

    Given that a major chunk of my life’s mission is to French toast and ‘casserole’ everything, I’m making a case for this caponata version today. Both French toasts and casseroles are ideal candidates to use up leftover bread. A stale/dried up loaf is actually a good thing in both cases. In French toasts, a dry… Read more »

  • 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 »

  • AUBERGINE PARMIGIANA SUB

    This recipe is long overdue, especially considering the sheer number of times I’ve made it over the last couple weeks. I saw it on the MOB kitchen website and knew I had to try it. Some recipes are like that – I’ll see it and I know we’ll love it. This was one such. Not… Read more »

  • BREAKFAST CAESAR SALAD WITH PEPPERONI

    I call this a breakfast salad cos, well, you know, it has bread and eggs. And I eat it for breakfast. (Food names and classifications are so arbitrary though – this could just as easily be eaten as a part of another meal too of course). Caesar salad – a classic. I didn’t mean to… Read more »

  • 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 »

  • JACKFRUIT GYROS

    I use packaged jackfruit in this recipe (the vacuum-sealed stuff), but I’m already plotting buying a whole jackfruit and hacking into it the next time I want to make something. We are a household of three (where one is a 6-month old), so what I’ll do with all that meat I don’t know. But that… Read more »

  • MUSHROOM AND SPINACH ORZO

    If you’re someone that enjoys a good risotto but could do without all that one-ladle-at-a-time fuss, orzo is just the ticket. Whoever thought up the idea to make pasta that resembles rice?! (albeit a large grain of rice). Ingenious! What’s also great about this short-cut pasta is that it cooks in half the time because… Read more »

  • 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 »

  • ROASTED AUBERGINE AND RED PEPPERS + GARLIC YOGURT + CHILLI BUTTER

    It’s been a minute since I’ve been on here, and in a move that will surprise absolutely no one, I’ve resurfaced with a recipe that features aubergine, tomato and red peppers. And chilli butter. And garlic yogurt. I’m nothing if not a one trick pony. BUT, in my defence though, I can’t think of a… Read more »