Okra Supreme
For many cooks okra is an unknown vegetable. If they have ever eaten it, it may have been in the American south as part of a gumbo or stew, or deep-fried in a corn batter. Few, however, would ever buy it to family or guests. Yet this stir-fried okra is easy to make, and so delicious that it will surprise even the reluctant. Okra is a summer vegetable, at its best in June or July, but you may find it as early as April and as...
Buttery Spinach
There are so many ways to season a simple sak that I find it difficult to select just one recipe to represent the possibilities. This variation could come from any region, from almost any kitchen, garnished with fried currants and cashews nuts. In Punjab and Gujarat, sak is routinely accompanied with corn dishes. Preparation time (after assembling ingredients): a few minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Ingredients...
Mango-Maple Syrup Butter
For this recipe you can use mango, papaya, even peaches or pears. Maple syrup has a flavor reminiscent of jaggery from Bengal’s date palm trees. This elegant butter is a natural for company brunch with assorted tea breads, muffins or biscuits. Preparation time (after ingredients are assembled): a few minutes Ingredients • 2 table spoons (30 ml) sugar • 5...
Whole Cabbage Stuffed with Carrot Coleslaw
A large, crinkly-leafed Savoy cabbage makes an ideal cabbage bowl, though red or green cabbage can be used as well. In this variation, the cut-away inner portion is trimmed, shredded and jazzed up with herbs, spices, carrots and a creamy dressing. The outer shell serves as a salad bowl. For a summer backyard salad banquet, select several types of cabbage vary the fillings and use small cabbages for dressings they are sure crowd...
Minted Cucumbers and Strawberries
Though mint and cucumber are a year-round favorite salad combination in India, strawberries are a rare treat. The first time I savored them, they were hand-delivered –carefully wrapped in a khus leaf parcel and perhaps the importance of the occasion made them the sweetest I had ever eaten. Because they are such a rarity in India, they are almost always relished on their own or in this type of simple salad. In England I...