This article appeared in Chaturanga, the magazine section of Loksatta on June 2, 2012. View the original article here. Iced Kaleidoscopes If you grew up in the summers of the 80s, you probably spent every 25 paise you had painfully collected on birthdays and from all the “khau” money you earned, on “pepsi colas” (I …
[ Continue Reading... ]The sweltering Indian summer brings with it the greatest bounty of fruits–mangoes, lychees, cashews, melons, jamuns, and other juicy fruits that make the heat bearable. I can eat fruit for every meal in the day if I have my way. I hate it, though, when people insult fresh, good fruit by cooking it to death. …
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Every year, when the first tart green raw mangoes make their appearance in the market, I start planning the dishes I want to make. I go through a zillion chutneys, pickles, curries, desserts, and god knows many boxfuls of mangoes eaten just like that–Alphonso mangoes in rich creamy desserts or just cut up and eaten …
[ Continue Reading... ]Since I started writing My Jhola in 2008, it went through several avatars, progressing in appearance, content (intent, even) through the years. Early this year, I thought it was time to take the next step and find a place that I can call my own. It was a little like taking the big decision of …
[ Continue Reading... ]I hope you’re having a lovely Diwali–surrounded by loved ones and so drunk on happiness that the diyas and lanterns are all dimmed by the warm glow in your heart. And I do hope you’re eating copious amounts of traditional, sinful food. We’ve got the rest of the year to think about calories. On that …
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If you’ve been reading my blog (ahem), you will remember this mango curry recipe. I make it every season, by the kilos, and it gets over before I can take a decent picture. When I made it again last week, I tried to get better pictures. I hope they tempt you into trying the recipe! …
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I am not a big fan of dried coconut. Dessicated coconut, at least the kind we get here is probably worse—it is dry and tastes more like coconut oil. I bought a pack of the stuff in April for my niece’s birthday. Oh, did I not tell you about that? Here you go: The elder …
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