Do you follow any particular recipe for making pilaf/pulav? I am afraid I don’t… If there is ample time and the cooking is for some special guests, my Pilaf will have a mix of home ground spices and some exotic ingredients such as poppy seeds, coconut & cashew paste. On a normal day it’s just a few whole spices, veggies, fluffy Basmati rice and my quick aromatic pilaf. And how versatile & flexible a recipe could get, you don’t need to follow any particular recipe and yet come out with some extraordinary results, yes such is the magic of Pilaf!

My favorite is always this simple and quick Pilaf or Pulav recipe, wherein the subtle flavors of Basmati rice, a mild punch of few whole spices and the real taste of fresh veggies could be enjoyed in best form.

Do you have a family dish which you prefer at times when you feel lazy to cook but do not wish to compromise on comfort and health quotient? Its Khichdi for my family. A hotch potch medley of wholegrain, millet, lentils and vegetables, Khichdi is an easy &  filling one pot meal and has all the necessary ingredients of a balanced diet which could be cooked quickly without much fuss. Carbohydrates from rice (or any grain), fiber from millet, protein form lentils and vitamins & minerals from veggies make this recipe a complete meal in itself.

Khichdi is the first solid food I was fed by mom and I followed the same meticulously with both my children barring a few days of formula food. This recipe is the one I often make when I am logger heads with time or just plain lazy and need an easy, quick fix meal.

Biryani is a symphony of aromas, color and texture played by the various spices & condiments that goes into making it. Although the origin of this spicy and decadent dish is from the land of Persia, the endless list of Indian versions will make you believe the authority of India over Biryani. Kashmiri, Chettinadu, Coorgi, Calicut, Lucknow, Tihari, Dindigul Biryani..you name any region of India and they have their own special Biryani to boast upon.

With the countless scrumptious versions of aromatic Biryani coming from different regions, there is no reason left why we should not call this exotic dish an indigenous recipe of India. Every state in India has its own flavor and ways to cook a prefect biryani, if long grain basmati rice is used in the northern region, the short grain rice makes a delicious biryani in south India.

“First there was a Fresh Corn Dessert a few days back and now there are two more desserts for the weekend..Hmm…do I smell some conspiracy” inquired the puzzled hubby. “Is all the sweet temptations for the digital SLR?” he smiled and replied to his own query after he noticed a sparkle in my eyes! The decision to buy this high-end digital camera has been put on hold for almost a year by the dear hubby. As he wanted to get completely convinced that I am really serious about my blog and will put the camera to good use before succumbing to my demands. And I saw my wish getting wings when he reached for his lap top to Google for digital cameras

I like how versatile this humble grain Rice could be in various forms of cuisines world over. From more exotic Sushi to Risotto to the simple curd rice from South India, this ancient grain has come a long way. Though I am not a rice loving person, having married in a place where every day starts with rice and ends with it made me reinvent some of the very famous rice recipes here. Now my menu boasts of many easy to make and scrumptious rice recipes I learned from my MIL and friends here.

And yes if you are already bored with the time consuming & tedious cooking methods of your Risottos and the Shahi Pulav these quickies will win you over hands down

It is that time of the year again we anxiously look forward to each year. Yes, time when we celebrate the combined birthday dinner party for our kids, which has become a sort of ritual for the last 10 years. Though with age catching up fast, it is becoming a bit taxing to entertain a guest list of 80+ friends. The happiness written on the faces of our children fuel our energy and helps us do the same year after year And for sure these are some of the most wonderful moments of our life!

Vegetable fried rice with fresh yogurt Raita is what I count upon for a quick meal when unexpected guests arrive at home. There are countless ways this humble recipe can be prepared using various spice mixes and veggies to go in it. But my favorite is this simple recipe of fried rice cooked using Basmati rice, seasonal veggies and a few spices. For my mega party too, I chose the same recipe and it came out very flavorful and delicious. I served this vegetable rice with fresh Yogurt Raita.

Yogurt rice is the most relishing recipe I discovered after coming to South India. Till then curd was just a tall glass of Lassie or a delicate dessert Srikhand. Only after getting married I did come to know that the humble Curd can also be transformed into a very delicious and healthy meal! And like my hubby for many people down here, no meal is complete without a small ladle of creamy curd rice. Quite easy to make this refreshing dish adorns many a lunchboxes of office goers and school kids.

Risotto-a warm Italian rice recipe is a perfect dish for the winter season. Slow cooked in vegetable broth, cheese, veggies and butter this makes a delicious main course. The method of cooking and the rice variety used is what makes Risotto somewhat different from some common rice dishes such as fried rice, pilaf or pulav.

The creamy texture of Risotto comes with the special variety of rice used to make it, and the slow cooking to release the starch from the rice.The Risotto should be served in a flat plate and should be eaten within few minutes of serving; else it can become too dry.