Meen Puyabaisse: The Pondicherry version of Bouillabaisse
I grew up in the French colony of Pondicherry which is located by the Bay of Bengal. One of the first things that grabs your attention when you reach Pondicherry is the French spelling. Our landlord was…
Agast ke phool ke bajke: Festival-special fritters
Fritters (bajke) made out of Agast flowers are commonly made around Chhat in Bihar, and usually on Bhai Dooj day. On these festival days, due to the huge demand, these flowers sell for anywhere between Rs 800…
Doodh pittha: A dessert from Bihar
Doodh pittha is a sweet dish from Bihar. We pronounce it as pittha (पिट्ठा) and not peetha (पीठा) as most television chefs pronounce it. It is a dish popularly made in the winters, especially in the month…
Pragaree: A Sindhi stuffed puff
Today I tried to make a Sindhi sweet dish called Pragaree. It is a cross between a gujiya and a crisp puff and is usually made during Holi. A pragaree has several crunchy layers, and is stuffed…
Crisp Noni saag ke pakore
I don’t know how many of you have heard of noni ka saag. It is an edible weed which grows as a creeper with a tendency to spread quickly. It is called as wild purslane (Portulaca oleracea)…
My saree stories: Part 18 (Ode to the Laal Paar)
This edition of my saree stories is a Durga Puja special. It is an ode to the laal paar saree. Red bordered sarees or laal paar sarees embody the quintessential Bengali woman. Red symbolizes fertility, while white…
Rage and outrage
The hazy smoke and fragrance of the dhuni still lingered in the air. The rhythmic reverberations of the dhak could still be felt long after the drummers had stopped playing. The smell of the bhog wafted through,…
Angry birds
I am getting ready for work when a loud tok-toking outside the front door grabs my attention. The tok-tok sound is repetitive. And persistent. It makes me leave what I am doing and walk to check its…
Bajka or Tarua: Fritters from Bihar
One item which is a must in every thali at lunch when guests come visiting to a Bihari home are bajkas. These are fritters made out of assorted vegetables. These are quick to make and can be…
My saree stories: Part 17 (Odisha weaves)
Today’s blog post is the second edition of my collection of Odisha’s gorgeous weaves. I have previously written about the Odisha handlooms in Part 13. (click here to read). In the previous edition I had covered the…
