Neer Dosas

Dosa-Do
The world of bread in India is an unending rabbit hole of textures, flavors, and preparations. Seriously. You could fill an entire year just working your way through them all. It’s a journey I would be happy to take.

Some breads you no doubt have heard of like naan and chapati. But, there are plenty of lesser-known regional varieties like litti that are hard to find locally.

Unlike the bread baskets on the tables of restaurants in the US, Indian breads are an important part of the meal, not just a filling accompaniment. Forget forks, Indian breads are usually how you get those flavors to your mouth.

While I would never refuse a fresh and piping-hot piece of naan, I do like to seek out other options when I can. My favorite non-naan? That would be a tie between chapati and dosas. But, puri are great too.

Dosas are very thin South Indian pancakes that are similar to crepes and are most commonly served with chutneys and Indian pickles as a snack. They are a favorite of mine both for their flavor and because they are a fantastic vessel for tasty vegetable tidbits, sauces, and even soups. The issue with dosas is that there are plenty of ways to make them, adding another level to that rabbit hole.

I recommend starting with the most basic version when trying something new at home. While the most familiar dosa batter is made from rice and lentils that have been fermented, a Neer Dosa is made from only 3 ingredients and is not fermented at all. This makes it much lower maintenance and a great place to start—because making dosas can take a little time and practice to get them right.

Just like their better-known cousin, neer dosas should be served with a wide variety of chutneys and pickled veggies.

Neer Dosas Recipe
Yields about 8 dosas Read more…

Vada Pav

Vada Voom
One of my favorite things to experience when traveling internationally is the street food. In my opinion, it is the best way to learn about a different culture. And, honestly, while a 3-star Michelin restaurant can be amazing, sometimes the snack from the cart on the corner is the best meal you will have.

Except for the NYC hot dog cart, the US doesn’t really have much street food culture. The closest we come would be food trucks. But, in a place like India, street food is unavoidable. I experienced this firsthand when my then fiancé and I spent some time with a good friend and his family in Mumbai.

Not gonna lie, eating the street food made me nervous. But, here’s what I learned from that experience. It is darn near impossible to avoid GI issues when traveling in India—no matter how careful you are. It may be TMI, but you need to be aware. Just go prepared. Preferably with a prescription.

Trust me it’s worth it because the real flavors of India are found on the streets. Except for that life-changing Tandoori crab…but I digress…

Picking a favorite snack, a.k.a chaat is impossible. But, Vada Pav would definitely be in my top 10. Keep in mind, my sample size in India is small, and consists only of Mumbai and Goa. I haven’t had the chance to go everywhere and find more options….yet.

To be frank, there’s a reason you purchase these. It’s a lot of prep and cooking for something that is just a snack. But, while I am sure someone somewhere is making these in the Bay Area, I haven’t been able to find them. So, when I feel a craving coming on, there’s nothing left to do but roll up my sleeves and get to work!

Vada Pav Recipe
Adapted from Chaat by Maneet Chauhan
Yields 4 servings

Vada Pav (a.k.a. Bombay Burger) consists of a deep-fried potato dumpling placed inside a bread bun. Vada is usually accompanied by green and coconut chutneys and fried green chili peppers. Although Vada Pav originated as a street food in Mumbai, it is now served in food stalls and restaurants across India. Read more…

Punjabi Samosas

Some More Samosas
We all have at least one food item where you can neither eat just one nor a little bit. Unfortunately for me, I have several.

In some cases, it is a dish that reminds me of my childhood. (And, yes, there are days when I would like to go back to when I had no responsibilities whatsoever. Please and thank you.) If I am being honest, most of the time I overindulge it is because whatever I am eating simply tastes so stinking good.

Punjabi Samosas are one of those things. I am not a one-and-done girl when it comes to samosas. I will eat them for dinner, and I will eat them for breakfast the next morning. This is why whenever we order takeout, I always get extra. They come in a wonderful variety of fillings, but I always circle back to the tried-and-true Punjabi version with potatoes and peas. They are the perfect combination of spices and carbs.

I do not make them at home too often—mainly because of the hassle of deep frying. But I have recently bowed to public pressure and purchased an air fryer. I didn’t want to love it. But, I’ve found that I kind of do. So, my next order of business is to try the samosa recipe below using my air fryer. This could be dangerous for my waistline!

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can certainly do them the old-fashioned way or bake them in the oven.

Punjabi Samosas
Adapted from Indian Healthy Recipes
Yields about 10 samosas

Punjabi Samosas are a crisp Indian chaat (or snack) with spicy potato and peas filling. They are one of the most commonly eaten snacks in India. Serve these with a tamarind or mint chutney. They can be deep-fried, baked, or air-fried. Read more…

Greek Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner

Bowl Me Over
I am a huge fan of weeknight sheet pan dinners. I used to love them because when the kids were all home it was a fast and easy way to cook dinner. And, knew that they were eating real food. Now I love them because, after twenty-five-plus years, I have dinner-making fatigue. And, sheet pan dinners mean easy clean up. But, I have recently been combining that love with another love, bowls.

Bowls are great. Especially when it seems weird to eat at the dinner table because it is just the two of you. Bowls make eating dinner on the couch in front of Jeopardy! So much easier. (It’s not as tragic as it sounds. We don’t do that every night.)

The recipe below is a new addition to my Bowl Rotation. I love the bright flavors. Reminds me that Spring has, in fact, sprung!

Greek Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner Recipe
Adapted from Half Baked Harvest
Yields 6 servings

This Greek Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner is served with sweet potato fries and lots of Tzatziki sauce. Combine all this in a bowl with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and a tasty olive and feta dressing. Serve this easy dinner with fresh pitas bread for a meal that hits the spot! Read more…