Last week armed with The Everything Indian Cookbook, I whipped up my first homecooked Indian dinner. First let me say that "whipped up" really is not the best descriptor for the actual preparation and cooking that did occur. I began the process of making dinner at around two in the afternoon and didn't finish until just after seven at night. I did have some breaks to run a quick errand and take care of the kids, but the majority of that time I was preparing something. I now know why getting Indian food out is more expensive than some other options.
Mango Yogurt Drink (Aam Ki Lassi)
Chilled Soup (Thanda Shorba)
Simple Naan Bread (Saada Naan)
Stir-Fried Peas with Rice (Mattar Wale Chawal)
Chicken Curry (Murgh Tariwala)
I made my own spice mixes as well as the Hung Yogurt (Dahi) for the Mango Lassi.
I used Bay leaves from my garden, which made me quite happy. I always welcome the opportunity to cook with the herbs we are growing.
My plating skills could use some work, but finally we got a chance to sit down and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Lorelai is looking forward to it, and clearly Kellen can not wait either.
Overall, it was a lot of work but also a lot of fun. It all tasted great if don't say so myself (although the curry could have used a bit more Bam! if you know what I mean). My kitchen smelled heavenly during the process and now I have some wonderful homemade spices to cook with. I also had a really nice experience at a local Indian grocery store ,India Bazaar, where I went to get whole cardamom pods. Definitely recommended if you are in the area and are in the need of spices at a great price.
