In Indian cuisine, food is not just material for sustenance; it is a celebration, a way of life. I wrote about Pongal in this post a couple of weeks back. One of the must-have dishes that day is this easy one-pot dessert also called pongal. The word “pongal” literally means “to boil over“. In Indian…
Gulab Phirni {Creamy Rose Flavored Rice Pudding}
If you are looking for something sweet yet light with a hint of the exotic, then this dessert is for you. That’s exactly what I craved one day. I knew phirni fit the bill perfectly. Phirni or firni is an Indian dessert from the Punjab region. It is the more exotic cousin of a traditional…
Doodh Peda {Indian Milk Fudge}
My absolute favorite Indian sweet is the gulab jamun. Doodh (milk) pedas come a close second. I’ve always made gulab jamuns from a ready-made mix and bought pedas from the store. Never tried making them from scratch. I find that gulab jamuns made from ready-to-make dough mixes are actually pretty good. So I decided to…
Shakarkandi-Sooji Halwa {Indian Sweet Potato & Semolina Pudding}
The one good thing about the approaching winter is that there are no dearth of celebrations, festival and holidays. I have vowed to make a dessert every evening from now until Diwali, the Indian festival of lights. Make that until Thanksgiving. Okay, maybe not everyday, but every other day then. Or at least twice a…
Bhapa Doi Or Baked Yogurt Pudding {With Pomegranate Coulis}
Imagine this. A dessert so luscious and so delightful, that you savor the taste and texture long after it’s all gone. And even better, what if I told it takes less than 5 minutes of hands-on time? Meet bhapa doi, a traditional Bengali dessert which is nothing but a sweet yogurt pudding. Bengali cuisine is…
Paal Kozhukattai {Rice Flour Dumplings In A Coconut Milk Pudding}
Some recipes are so close to the heart, they really don’t need a special occasion to be enjoyed. This is one such recipe. It is a classic, rustic, soul-satisfying dish from Tamil Nadu, also found in parts of Kerala. My mom makes this the best and I have practiced it over the years to sort…
Basbousa {Semolina Cake With Lemon-Rose Syrup}
If you are craving something sweet and decadent, you are in luck! I have just the thing for you today. This is basbousa or basboussa, an Egyptian specialty, also known as namoura, revani or ravani in different countries around the Middle-East. This dessert is sinfully decadent, but at the same time really easy to make…
Lauki Ka Halwa {Bottle Gourd Pudding}
Has it ever happened to you, when you tasted something extraordinary just once and you can still recollect its aroma, taste and every little nuance that made it special in the first place? There are some foods that linger in your memory for a long time, almost forever. I still remember the first time I…
Homemade Chocolate Truffles
This post made it just in time for Father’s Day…phew! This post has been in my mind for such a long time, but somehow the execution and posting bit got delayed a bit. This is actually part of the monthly Cooking With Friends themed blogging challenge. Ever since we decided to do no-bake, no-fuss desserts…
Lemon Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait
So, the move went well but it has left me exhausted. We are settling in at the place and I feel like I have to do everything at once. Since that is not really a good idea, I am taking it slow. So I thought it was time for another blog post. This recipe is…
Falooda {Rose Flavored Indian Dessert Beverage}
Every school kid looks forward to Friday evening. I know, mine does. I used to be the same when I was his age (ok, even now!). Growing up, Friday nights (or sometimes Saturday nights) were special. That’s when we went shopping, and most often, dined out. When I was a school kid in the 90s,…
Sabja (Basil Seeds) And Berry Pudding
When the temps start to rise, there’s nothing like a quick and cool dessert to round off a meal. Not that I need any excuse to make desserts, but doesn’t this bowl just scream “Spring”?!! I may have let out a little scream of glee when I started spotting this season’s strawberries. In Texas, we…
