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A simple syrup of rice vinegar, palm sugar, water and salt is brought to a gentle simmer to dissolve the sugar, then cooled. Cucumber, shallot and chilli are sliced thin and combined in a small bowl. The cooled syrup is poured over. Rested for 10-15 minutes for the vegetables to wilt slightly into the dressing. Served in small individual ramekins as a dip, OR in a larger bowl as a side, with peanuts sprinkled on top.
Silky scrambled eggs infused with warm spices and fresh aromatics. The turmeric adds a earthy golden color while ginger and chilli provide warmth and complexity. Served with fresh coriander, this makes an excellent quick snack, elegant starter, or gourmet canapé topping.
Cumin seeds bloom in hot oil; chopped onion is fried until gold; ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, chilli and coriander toast briefly; tomato softens into a quick sauce. The potatoes go in first (they need longest), the cauliflower follows; both cook covered until tender, stirred occasionally. Garam masala and chopped coriander at the end.
Floury potatoes boil in their skins, then mash dry. A spice paste of green chilli, ginger and roasted cumin folds in with chopped coriander, mint and amchur for sourness. Cornflour and gram flour bind without making the tikki gummy. Patties form, chill to firm up, then shallow-fry in shallow oil on a flat pan for 4-5 minutes per side until deep gold and crisp with a soft interior. The chilled rest is what stops them falling apart.
A whole aubergine is charred directly over a gas flame until the skin is blackened and the flesh inside is soft. The charred skin is peeled off and the flesh roughly mashed. A masala of onion, garlic, ginger, green chilli and tomato is cooked down to a thick base, and the smoky aubergine flesh is folded through with a finishing touch of garam masala and coriander. Vegetable-side or vegetarian main; the smoke is what makes it.
Rice flour, turmeric, coconut milk and water make a thin yellow batter. Filling vegetables, mushrooms, sliced onion, tofu, are sautéed in a hot pan; the batter is poured over to form a thin pancake; beansprouts pile in last; the lot is folded in half and slides out crisp. Pieces are wrapped in lettuce with herbs and dipped in nuoc cham.
The okra is washed, dried thoroughly and trimmed, then cut into 2 cm pieces. A dry-fry over high heat for 10 minutes cooks away the surface moisture that causes slime. Onion is then browned with whole cumin in a separate go, ginger and garlic added, tomato cooked down with the ground spices, and the dry-fried okra folded in for a final dry simmer. Finished with garam masala, amchur and coriander.
Bombay Potatoes is comfort food at its finest. Small potatoes are partially cooked, then coated in a richly spiced oil infused with seeds and aromatics. Some potatoes are mashed to create a creamy base, while others remain whole for texture. The result is a warm, golden, deeply spiced side dish that's utterly satisfying. This is a vegetarian staple of Indian home cooking.
Chaat masala has a quite distinctive flavour and is usually used in small amounts, sprinkled over finished dishes and included in marinades to give them extra kick. This version uses the more authentic and healthier amchoor (dried mango powder) instead of commercial citric acid, which gives the spice blend a nice citric flavour. The distinctive black powdered salt adds a characteristic sulphur aroma that becomes highly addictive.
This is raita with structural elements and textural interest. Cool yoghurt anchors the dish, while red onion provides peppy bite, toasted cumin adds earthiness, green chilli brings heat, and a garnish of thin onion slices adds visual appeal. This is more composed than simple cucumber raita, yet still maintains its essential cooling function.
Chilli and red onion raita is a cooling, yoghurt-based Indian condiment with toasted cumin, fresh coriander, and a gentle heat from green chilli. It provides a refreshing contrast to spicy curries and works equally well as a dip alongside poppadums.
A unique Punjabi spice blend specifically designed for chole masala (chickpea curry). While this blend is generally only used for chole masala, making it homemade ensures authentic flavour. Ready-made versions are available at many Asian grocers and online if you prefer convenience, but homemade is worth the effort.
Fresh coconut is ground with green chilli, ginger, roasted gram and a small splash of water into a smooth paste. The chutney is finished with a tempering of mustard seeds, dried red chilli, curry leaves and asafoetida in hot oil, poured over the white chutney for a striking visual and aromatic contrast.
Plain steamed rice (often last night's leftovers) is the base. A hot temper of mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, cashews, dried red chilli and curry leaves is bloomed in coconut oil, then fresh grated coconut is folded in and warmed through. The rice is tossed through everything off the heat, so the grains stay separate and pick up flavour rather than soften.
Commercially prepared curry powders date back to the 18th century, when Indian merchants prepared spice blends for British army and government officials returning to Britain during the British Raj. Unlike garam masalas (warming spices), curry powders contain complementary ingredients with chillies added for spiciness. This version is moderately spiced but can be adjusted to your preference by omitting or reducing dried chillies and chilli powder.
Whole black urad lentils and a small handful of red kidney beans are soaked overnight, then pressure-cooked or simmered until completely tender. A tomato-and-spice masala is built separately with onion, garlic, ginger and a careful hand with the spices. The lentils are folded into the masala and simmered, low and slow, for two hours, while butter and cream are stirred through in the final stage. The lentils break down into a glossy, almost-velvet finish.
A complex blend balancing sweet, sour, and savoury flavours, suited to lentil-based dhansak curries.
A blend of warming, aromatic spices essential to Indian cooking. In India, the ingredients used can vary greatly from region to region and even from family to family. This version uses the same spices popular in northern India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, essential for achieving that curry-house flavour. Garam masala is an important part of mixed powder used in most BIR curries, and is also added on its own to many recipes.
Vermicelli noodles cook briefly and get tossed with sesame oil to stop sticking. Tofu pan-fries until golden. Rice paper rounds soak in warm water until pliable; everything stacks on each round and rolls tightly. The peanut sauce blends in seconds.
Aged basmati rice is rinsed and soaked for 30 minutes (a step that helps the grains elongate during cooking). Ghee is heated and cumin seeds are bloomed with a small cluster of whole spices, the rice is added to coat in the spiced fat, then water is poured in and the pot covered to steam. The grains finish long, separate and fragrant.