Bitter melon, known as Kerala in South East Asia, is a unique fruit-vegetable that’s a close relative of squash, zucchini, pumpkins. Though it’s known for it’s strong bitter quality, it’s a staple in Asian cuisines for it’s impressive list of health benefits. Bitter melon is great for anything from reducing cholesterol and blood sugar, as well as a great source for weight loss.
To brine or not to brine… !
When it comes to white meat the decision is pretty easy for me… if the recipe involves some kind of sauce or gravy, brining is not needed, but if the recipe has no flavorful liquid involved, then brining is a MUST!
A perfect appetizer for the hot summer days! It’s chilled, super flavorful and the best part… you can make it ahead of time. Sure you can make a simple citrus ceviche, but why not add some exotic flavors like coconut and mango!! 🙂 I promise this is the best summer appetizer you’ll serve this season.
I found this gem of a place about 7 years ago. I still remember going there on a snowy February evening. There was a blizzard in New York, so I left work early and decided I NEEDED some French food. Cafe Champignon…. it was love at first bite and has been my go to French Spot since then.
Sunday brunch… oh how I love my Sunday brunches 🙂
I love a good eggs benedict as much as the next person, but there comes a day when you’re just over the idea of another eggy brunch. So last week as we walked up and down and all around UES from the 70’s to upper 90’s, we realized that we’ve had every types of eggs benny and bagel the neighborhood had to offer. Even the Shakshuka in the fancy diner just wasn’t tickling my fancy.
And then we found Beyoglu.
Looks fancy huh? A dish that will impress your fanciest guests.
I was always intimidated by clams… how to clean it, how long to cook it, will they open up, etc. etc. But once I gave it a shot, my mind was blown. It is the easiest thing to cook and super quick! And with all that clam juice you don’t need to add many spices.
This recipe asks for only clams, but I’ve made this with various shell fish, just add the other seafood along with the clams (just make sure they are similar sizes).
This asian inspired salad is absolutely delightful. I adapted the recipe from http://www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com/cucumber-and-napa-cabbage-coleslaw/. It’s wonderful as a side salad, but is just as amazing as an entrée when topped with any kind of protein.
I’ve served it with skirt steaks for a fancy meal. Here I paired it with some garlic shrimp (which I always have pre-made in my fridge) for a quick lunch. This salad is crisp and fresh and full of flavors, you just can’t go wrong with this recipe.
Piyaju, Red Lentil fritters have a special spot in my heart. I grew up eating these in my country Bangladesh, but it only came during a special time.
Not sure where this originated from, but Piyaju is a special treat made during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. I remember walking through the busy city streets of Dhaka, holding my dad’s hand, during Ramadan and watching these amazing crispy, spicy, fragrant…. oh so fragrant, little fritters being made on the sides of the streets. It was considered bad manner to eat during the day during the days of Ramadan, but my dad always snuck me a piece 🙂 Then once we got home, my mom would have a huge bowl, I’m talking a huge restaurant size bowl, full of crispy, fresh out of the oil fritters waiting for us to break the fast. Oh the joy!! I was a happy little girl 🙂
A raspberry pie is just fitting for the holidays! The bright red color is just perfect for the christmas dinner table.
It’s very similar to a blueberry pie, I actually follow the blueberry pie recipe, but has a unique texture. This recipe is for 2 mini pies, but you can use the same recipe for one large pie.
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Kopi Bhaaji, commonly known as Aloo Gobi which is just the Indian translation, is a spicy cauliflower and potato stir fry.
I grew up with this as a side dish or a breakfast dish, now as a grown up with time constraints, this has become a very common dinner item for me. It’s super simple and very hearty… very comforting for those icy cold winter nights. It goes very well with naan or just plain white rice, and you can serve it for brunch or dinner.
