Zafar's recipes
Farfalle with cherry tomatoes and basil
Farfalle, also known as bow-tie pasta, originated in Northern Italy in the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardia regions in the 1500s. T he word...
Podi prawns on mini idlis
I had visited my sister-in-law a few years ago, and she had brought these little bites out in the evening while I enjoyed a beer. And I...
My mother's Haleem
Haleem originated in old Persia as a dish called Harees. This dish and its variations are still eaten today in many parts of the Middle...
Yoghurt curry with meatballs (Kache dahi ki khadi kofte ke saat)
I grew up loving this recipe and have always thought it was Hyderabadi. On a recent visit, I asked my mother to make it for me and...
Hyderabadi chicken with roselle leaves (Murg ambada)
Roselle leaves, locally called ambada, is a favourite across India. These leaves impart an intense tangy flavour to the dish that most...
Hyderabadi white urad dal (Maash ki dal)
This is a dish I remember from my childhood and love. It is not well-known in Hyderabad and is slowly being forgotten. The dish is...
Mexican red rice
Rice is a staple in Mexico and is served on every table. It is used as a stuffing for everything, including tacos, burritos, and other...
Hyderabadi eggplant curry (Bagara baingan)
Bagara baingan, or eggplant curry, is an iconic dish in Hyderabad. Its history can be traced back to a dish served in Tashkent and...
Hyderabadi pasande
Pasande is a very traditional Hyderabadi dish, one that is being forgotten. Mutton Pasanda dates back to the 16th century and became a...
Arunachali champa shake
I recently took a trip to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, where this shake was on the breakfast table. On the first sip, I wanted the...
Arunachali red rice porridge (Thupka)
Thu pk a is a rice porridge from Arunachal Pradesh. It is not to be confused with the Tibetian noodle soup Thu pk a Red rice is one of...
Sicilian chicken breast with quick tomato sauce
I was cooking a private dinner one evening, and one of the guests was very particular about her diet. The curated menu did not fit her...
Hyderabadi sesame seed chutney (Til ka chutney)
A chutney is an essential part of an Indian table. It can be spicy, savoury, sour, or sweet. It plays with all the major taste profiles...
Spicy pineapple sorbet
One of the most intriguing spices in Mexico is tajin seasoning. In San Francisco, we had a large persimmon tree. Our gardener would pick...
Sprouted lentil cheela
A cheela, also called chilla, is a lentil pancake found across India. These pancakes are made out of lentils only rather than rice. The...
Arunachali millet pancakes
At the luxurious Timilo Resort in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, I was greeted with these delicious pancakes for breakfast. They are part of...
Hyderabadi tomato chutney (Tamatar ki chutney)
Chutneys play an important role in Hyderabadi cuisine and all over India. They are the pop on the table and complete every meal. This is...
Tahari
Tahari or Tehri is an ancient dish that dates back to Ayurvedic cooking. It is a dish of rice cooked with vegetables and other...
Hyderabadi green pepper curry (Mirchi ka salan)
This is a classic dish of the Hyderabadi Nizams. The Nizams rules Hyderabad and the Deccan plateau from 1724 to 1948, 224 years. Over...
Hyderabadi mutton korma
A korma, or "quorma" is a traditional Mughal dish. These curries were standard in the Mughal courts and royalty as a sign of wealth. A...