Desi Khana

India is a large country and its size and diversity is reflected in

its cuisine. Whether you take rice, roti, snacks, vegetables, dal,

chutneys, sweets, or any part of the meal, there are so many different

styles and practices of cooking. Every province has a regional style

and a large repertoire of traditional recipes, not to forget the

day-to-day food that has evolved over time. Moreover, since a

significant part of the population is vegetarian, India has no equal

in the field of vegetarian cooking.



My book, DESI KHANA, is an ode to Indian vegetarian cuisine. Every

recipe is a tribute to a land as vibrant and varied as ours. This book

offers you a wide range of purely Indian recipes. The soups in the

Khane Se Pehele section feature native selections such as Tomato

Shorba, Paneer and Spinach Soup etc. In the following section on Desi

Chaatkar, I provide a glimpse into the repertoire of chutneys, raitas

and salads – you can feel free to change the combinations used and

come up with your own refreshing creations.



A main course characterises the grandeur of a meal. With a spot of

help from the sections



on Roti, Paratha aur Puri, Desi Tarkariyan, Dilkhush Dals, and Chaawal

Lajawaab, you can conjure up inspiring menus including dishes like

Potato Roti, Spicy Urad Dal Puri, Vegetable in Tomato Gravy, Corn

Curry, Spicy Kofta Curry, Sambhar, Vegetable and Lentil Pulao, and

tasty Khichdi – Bengali Style.



Top off the meal with some exciting snacks and sweets – and surely

your guests will be yearning for an invitation to your next party,

just as your family will be looking forward to an exciting twist in

every meal. In the section on Swaadbhara Naashta, there is something

for every requirement – breakfast, cocktails or tea-time. You can opt

for Semolina Pancake for breakfast; Papad Potato Roll for a cocktail

party; or Cabbage Vada for tea.



Choose from exciting sweets from all over the country to share your

joy with your friends and family. Orange Sandesh and Sweet Boondi from

Bengal are just as exciting as Sweet Rice and Besan Sheera from

Gujarat. Or, delight everybody with a novel dish such as Paneer

Pistachio Rolls!



Whilst I have tried to cover almost all traditional styles, I have

also kept in mind that we live in more modern times. Elaborate cooking

methods like those used in olden Moghlai and Nawabi styles are not

practicable any more, nor can we digest food as rich as those prepared

in the past. So, while taking all care to retain the authentic flavour

and feel of each recipe, I have also adopted modern cooking practices.

So, you can be rest assured that there is a proper balance between

tradition and modernity; taste and health.



Take joy in cooking! I wish you a happy culinary and gastronomic experience.



Welcome to the digital version of Tarla Dalal’s Healthy Desi Khana! You can now carry your cookbook with you wherever you go. Although this book contains the same delicious and inspiring recipes as the print version, you might find the look-and-feel a bit different, due to the changes we have consciously implemented, to make using this eBook easy and interesting for you.



All the items in the menus are directly linked to the relevant pages, making navigation a breeze. Just click on any chapter in the Table of Contents, and you will be taken to a list of recipes in that chapter. Just choose, and click on any of those recipes, and you are ready to start cooking it, with the clear recipes and lovely images to inspire you. If you are in doubt about any of the ingredients, worry not… just click on it and you will be taken to the glossary section of our website, tarladalal.com, to view a simple description and easy explanation of the culinary usage of that ingredient. Many recipes are enhanced with their video links, so you can even enjoy watching your favourite recipes being prepared right in front of you.