How do you define ‘good food’? For some, it could be a meal made with the freshest produce, while others narrows it down to just one word, ‘healthy’. Whatever your definition is, enjoying a good meal with the family at the end of the day is the best part of cooking. Don’t you agree? If you’re after healthy food, let me tell you, this stir fried beans definitely fits that category....

I hope you had an incredible Christmas Day with plenty of good food and joyful memories. And now, to be very honest, I just can’t wait to ring in the New Year which always brings new hopes, new dreams, and of course new recipes. Truth to be told, it was not an easy task to round up the top 10 recipes of 2016. I relied on blog traffic and social media engagement to bring you your favorite recipes of this year....

Veg dum biryani - It doesn’t take fancy ingredients to treat your family to an exotic dinner. Delicious layers of rice and vegetable masala makes for a great meal on its own. Truth to be told, we can’t get enough of this veggie packed biryani. I love this time of the year when the nature brings us her beautiful fresh produce. Yes, we are thoroughly enjoying the summer sunshine in this part of the world....

Indian style tacos with pan roasted cauliflower, potatoes and green peas, and minted apple yogurt on a kale paratha base to be exact. After I posted the meat version of Indian tacos , I was literally thinking about a vegetarian inspired version. Recently I’ve been obsessed with kale parathas, I made it for a second time this week. That’s when I decided to use them as my taco base....

Garlic butter mushrooms. The ultimate side / snack that’s totally restaurant-worthy. Indulge in the simple yet rich mushroom stir fry with butter and garlic . It’s perfect with everything from steak and pasta to Indian-inspired meals and is guaranteed to tick all the boxes. The best veggie delight ever! Why I Love This Mushroom Side A brown bag full of mushrooms, block of butter, light sprinkle of flavorful herbs, and a lonely bulb of garlic, when it comes to making an easy mushroom side dish, you’ve got the best ingredients....

Two Ingredient rava gulab jamun. Here’s an easier way to recreate your favorite gulab jamun. Made with just 2 ingredients, these cute and soft beauties are soaked in decadent sugar syrup flavored with a hint of rose essence. It’s the perfect sweet ending for your next gathering. The very mention of Indian sweets (like ladoo , coconut burfi , coconut ladoo , halwa and this gulab jamun) always reminds me about the happiness and joy that festivals, celebrations and special occasions bring to our lives....

Chili paneer fried rice. Craving for a cheesy fried rice recipe? Check out this paneer rice recipe. It comprises of all the best parts of fried rice: leftover rice, crisp veggies and flavorful sauces with extra cheesy bites of paneer. What’s not to love? There’s no denying that a quick fried rice is your best friend when you don’t have an hour to cook dinner. Or, when you don’t want to deal with a complicated recipe....

Creamy garlic chicken. Browning spiced chicken before simmering it in the luscious cream sauce amps up the flavor of this easy dinner. Featuring a delicious combo of mushrooms, cream, parmesan, herbs and succulent chicken, this dish is guaranteed to become your new weeknight go-to. Lately, I’ve been on a mission to incorporate more veggies into my diet. To be exact, easy side dishes or one pot meals that tick all the boxes especially the nutritional requirements....

This easy coconut burfi recipe uses condensed milk to add the sweetness to the coconut without altering its authentic taste. You can make single layered white burfi with this recipe, but the pink layer makes the burfi more interesting and fun. Do you like coconut in desserts? I do. I absolutely love the crunch it adds to any dessert. When I was little, I used to mix sugar or jaggery with coconut for a quick dessert....

Meet my new favorite pulao- panchranga pulao. Indian style fragrant rice adorned with five different colored vegetables. In Hindi, panchranga literally translates to five colors. What a fabulous name for pulao! Years ago, long before I had kids, spending hours in the kitchen cooking and experimenting elaborate meals really made me happy. But these days, “fast prep” is my motto in the kitchen. It’s no surprise, in the course of time, I’ve also learned to use time wisely, and bring out sophisticated meals without sacrificing my precious family time....

Green chutney. With the goodness of green herbs and tantallizing flavor of lemon juice, this chutney is a powerhouse of essential nutrients. Without a doubt, it’s the perfect flavor partner for your favorite chaat. What’s your cooking style? I’d say, “a mixture of tried and true classics from around the world with a touch of trendy add-ons”. When it comes to cooking, I think most people I know fall into this one category....

Indian arancini (biryani arancini). Cheesy and crunchy biryani rice balls to steal the show at your next gathering. Spiced biryani, cheesy center and amazingly crunchy coating makes this a staple on your entertaining menu. Allow me to introduce you to arancini made with leftover biryani - a spicy twist on the classic Italian favorite. Sure, the classic arancini is a stunner appetizer, but how about incorporating a spicy twist to your favorite?...

Jalebi Cupcake. Nothing beats the divine flavor of classic jalebi infused into gorgeous cupcakes. Super easy to make with this fail-proof recipe and guaranteed to make your festive table stunning. Pretty and delicious show-stopper! Gone are the days when classic mithais or Indian sweets were the only delicacies to adorn your festive table. So, this festive season, decorate your party menu with unique cupcakes that show off the classic taste of traditional sweets....

Kilikoodu (bird’s nest). Celebrate with this cute egg-cellent snack idea resembling little nests. These simple nests feature a deliciously savory mixture of spiced chicken and potatoes. The patties are then covered in roasted vermicelli to add the final touch to the nests. And the cute quail eggs complete the masterpieces! I personally love creating cute treats, and in my opinion, they are the best option when it comes to celebrating special occasions....

Korean street toast. The ultimate on-the-go breakfast sandwich packed with a sweet and savory combo of flavor-packed ingredients. A popular street food of Korea, this street toast never goes out of style. Hey foodies. What if I told you that you don’t have to travel to Korea to enjoy this amazing sandwich? Yes, you can make this popular Korean street food at home with a few easily available ingredients. Convenience, taste and flavor - these are the three factors that make street foods so popular....

Kothu paratha. Thin slices of paratha or roti stir fried with eggs, veggies and aromatic spices. This flatbread twist on your regular noodle stir fry is incredibly delicious and certainly a must try. The perfect way to jazz up your next meal! The culinary word is ever changing. There are umpteen food trends that focus on easy meal ideas, however, the classics especially street foods are always a favorite. You can’t go wrong with traditional street foods that are brimming with lip-smacking flavors....

Meen pollichathu. Fish coated in spicy masala is wrapped in banana leaf and cooked to perfection. This melt-in-your-mouth fish is one of the iconic dishes of cuisine of Kerala. Without a doubt, it’s stunning enough to be the centerpiece at your next seafood meal. Clearly, this is the perfect recipe to celebrate the traditional cuisine of Kerala (Indian state). If you’ve ever been on a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala, you might be very familiar with this dish featuring whole fish cooked in banana leaf....

Methi Malai Chicken . This herbed chicken curry is the perfect companion for your favorite Indian inspired meal. Featuring tender chicken and fresh fenugreek leaves cooked in delicious creamy sauce, it not only turns into a great tasting side but also makes adding greens to your diet effortless. Why I Love This Malai Chicken When it comes to adding veggies to your diet, it doesn’t always need to be stir fried, steamed or baked, but it can also be added to stews, soups and curries....

Nargisi kofta - What could be more delicious and flavorsome than humble hard boiled eggs? These koftas featuring eggs encased in spiced minced meat, of course. Shape the perfect koftas, deep fry and serve with the vibrant lip-smacking sauce. Let this Indian version of scotch eggs be the star of the show. With winter in full swing here, this is the time of the year when the one and only thing on my mind is more and more deep fried delicacies....

Easy chocolate milkshake. With just 3 ingredients, you can make the perfect sweet treat for hot summer days. The heavenly combo of ice cream and chocolate syrup makes it totally irresisitable. The best summer cooler for your sweet tooth! Summer is supposed to be the best time of the year. However, last week was completely different. With temperatures well above 40 degrees, all I could think about was ice blocks, ice creams, and obviously, ice cold drinks....