Spaghetti al pomodoro: a classic Italian tomato pasta
A simple Italian tomato and basil pasta that turns a handful of pantry staples into a bright, comforting weeknight plate.
Vegetarian
Which lentil is which: a home cook’s guide to Indian dal
Toor, moong, masoor, chana, urad: a plain guide to telling Indian lentils apart, buying them well, cooking them right, and swapping one for another.
Paneer bhurji: a 20-minute scrambled paneer recipe
Soft crumbled paneer scrambled with onions, tomatoes and warm spices, ready in about 20 minutes for breakfast or a quick weeknight dinner.
Gajar ka halwa: a slow-cooked carrot dessert for winter
A warm, ghee-rich carrot halwa simmered with milk and khoya, finished with cardamom and nuts. A winter classic from Punjab.
Masala dosa: crispy South Indian rice crepe with potato filling
A fermented rice and lentil crepe folded around spiced potatoes, masala dosa is South India’s classic breakfast and street food.
Minestrone: a vegetable and bean soup from Italian home kitchens
A warming Italian vegetable and bean soup with a soffritto base, small pasta and a parmesan rind for depth. No fixed recipe, just good vegetables.
Egg biryani: a quick Pakistani-style anda biryani recipe
Boiled eggs simmered in a spiced tomato-yogurt gravy, layered with fragrant basmati rice and steamed until the kitchen smells of cardamom and fried onions.