Zafar's recipes
Himachali masala grilled mountain trout, masala mashed potatoes and garam masala grilled vegetables
I was thrilled to find rainbow trout frequently on the menus in Manali,Himachal Pradesh. Trout is one of my favorite fish, and it is...
Omelette with pea shoots, herbed soft cheese and pea flowers
I was in Ooty last month in perfect spring weather and found these wonderful pea shoots and flowers in a friend's 9Bison) kitchen garden....
Badaga chicken curry
The Badagas are one of the original aboriginal tribes who have lived in the Nilgiris for close to 5000 years. These tribes have a unique...
Spicy grapefruit salad
I learnt about this recipe on a recent visit to Assam. The markets and fruit stalls are loaded with grapefruit and it is quite a common...
Assamese elephant apple (otonga) with lentils
I visited my Sister-in-law’s mothers house in Guwahati at the end of the year and was fortunate to be able to spend time in her kitchen...
Mangalorean prawn ghee roast
I was staying at the fabulous Kaav Safari Lodge at Kabini in absolute luxury, with wonderful sightings of tigers at Nagarhole Park and,...
Chicken bolognese lasagna
I love lasagna but hesitate to make it because of the recipes I have been very involved in. Lasagna is the epitome of slow cooking, each...
Junglee maans
I am currently visiting my sister-in-law in Gurgoan. The neighbors in the condominium are constantly asking her for this dish, and I was...
Pineapple hot sauce chilaquiles with black beans and egg
Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican dish of nacho chips slathered with salsa of any kind. There are a multitude of variations of this...
Potato-chili cheese toasts
Indian street food is an almost infinite variety of delicious bites, the most popular and well known being the samosa. However,...
Assamese colocasia stem stir-fry (Kosu tenga)
I traveled to Assam for the New Year and was fortunate to have a wonderful home chef, Morami, teach me a few recipes. I was not aware that...
Banoffee pie
Banoffee is a portmanteau of the words “banana” and "toffee". It is said to be created in England in 1972 in an Tea House called the...
Curd dip
I was visiting my sister-in-law, Sameena, in Gurgaon and she served me this dip one evening while we were having drinks. I was completely...
The great "Indian" stuffed omelette
I grew up in Mumbai eating greasy and spicy (very spicy) omelettes served with soft fried bread off the street vendors, those were the...
Peanut poha or flaked rice masala
Poha, or flaked rice is used extensively in Indian cuisine, from dishes like this one to desserts and dosas. It is a thin dried...
Carrot halwa with ice cream (Gajar ka halwa ice cream)
Gajar ka halwa is an quintessential Indian dessert found almost in every home or restaurant. This is a dessert that reigns supreme in...
Assamese amaranth leat stir-fry (Marisa xaag)
I visited my Sister-in-law’s mothers house in Guwahati at the end of the year and was fortunate to be able to spend time in her kitchen...
Tea-leaf pakoras
I grew up on a tea plantation and spent my childhood in some of the most spectacular locations in South India. The vibrant green carpets...
Persimmon with lime and chili
In my house in California we had a massive persimmon tree, so over the years we have grown to love the fruit. Every year, in November,...
Punjabi yogurt curry (Dahi ki kadhi)
I was visiting my brother in Gurgoan, India when I learned that the cook at the neighbors house was an excellent chef. I took this...