Onion Pakora

Onion Pakora is a crisp, deep-fried fritter made from thinly sliced onions coated in a spiced gram flour batter. A beloved rainy-day and tea-time snack across India, it comes together quickly with pantry staples.

Onion Pakora at a Glance CuisinePan-India CountryIndia MealSnack CourseSnack Food TypeVegan DifficultyEasy Preparation15 minutes Cooking20 minutes Total timeAbout 50 minutes Servings4 Suggested serving5-6 pakoras Onion Pakora Ingredients 3 large onions, thinly sliced; 1 cup besan (gram flour); 2 tbsp rice flour; 1 tsp red chilli powder; 1/2 tsp carom seeds (ajwain); a pinch of turmeric; a pinch of baking soda; salt to taste; water as needed; oil for deep frying; coriander leaves, chopped. How to Make Onion Pakora Slice the onions thinly and sprinkle with salt; let sit for 15 minutes until they release moisture, then mix well. Add besan, rice flour, red chilli powder, ajwain, turmeric, baking soda and coriander leaves to the onions. Mix well, using the mo…
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Dalia Khichdi

Dalia Khichdi is a light, fibre-rich breakfast made by cooking broken wheat with vegetables into a soft, savoury porridge. Easy on the stomach and quick to prepare, it's a popular choice for a wholesome, low-effort start to the day. Dalia Khichdi at a Glance Cuisine North Indian Country India Meal Breakfast Course Main / Breakfast Food Type Vegetarian Difficulty Easy Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 25 minutes Total time About 35 minutes Servings 4 Suggested serving 1 cup Dalia Khichdi Ingredients 1 cup dalia (broken wheat), lightly roasted; 1/2 cup mixed vegetables (carrot, peas, beans); 1 small onion, chopped; 1 tomato, chopped; 1 tsp cumin seeds; 1/4 tsp turmeric; a pinch of hing; salt to taste; 3 cups water; 1 tbsp ghee or oil; coriander leaves to garnish. How to Make Dalia Khichdi Heat ghee in a pressure cooker; add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add onion and sauté until translucen…
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Chivda

Chivda is a crisp, savoury Maharashtrian snack mix made from roasted thin poha, peanuts and roasted chana dal, tempered with curry leaves and mild spices. It keeps for weeks, making it a popular festive and everyday tea-time snack. Chivda at a Glance Cuisine Maharashtrian Country India Meal Snack Course Snack Food Type Vegan Difficulty Easy Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 20 minutes Total time About 30 minutes Servings 6 Suggested serving 1/2 cup Chivda Ingredients 3 cups thin poha; 1/4 cup peanuts; 2 tbsp roasted chana dal; 10-12 curry leaves; 1 tsp mustard seeds; 2 dried red chillies, broken; a pinch of hing; 1/4 tsp turmeric; 1 tsp sugar; salt to taste; 3 tbsp oil. How to Make Chivda Dry roast the thin poha in a pan on low heat, stirring frequently, until crisp and lightly golden, about 8-10 minutes; set aside. In the same pan, heat oil and fry peanuts until golden; remove and set asid…
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Khichdi

Khichdi is India's ultimate comfort food — soft, well-cooked rice and moong dal simmered together into a warm, easily digestible one-pot meal. Gentle enough for babies and the ill, yet satisfying enough for everyday dinners, it's a dish every household knows. Khichdi at a Glance Cuisine Pan-India Country India Meal Lunch Course Main Food Type Vegetarian Difficulty Easy Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 25 minutes Total time About 35 minutes Servings 4 Suggested serving 1 cup Khichdi Ingredients 1/2 cup rice; 1/2 cup split yellow moong dal; 1/4 tsp turmeric; a pinch of hing; 1 tsp cumin seeds; salt to taste; 4 cups water; 2 tbsp ghee; a few whole vegetables like carrot and peas (optional); coriander leaves to garnish. How to Make Khichdi Wash rice and moong dal together until the water runs clear. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker; add cumin seeds and hing, let them sizzle. Add rice, dal, tu…
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Mango Lassi

Mango Lassi is a thick, refreshing yoghurt drink blended with sweet mango pulp, popular across North India especially during the summer mango season. Cooling and lightly tangy, it's a simple five-minute treat. Mango Lassi at a Glance Cuisine North Indian (Punjabi) Country India Meal Beverage Course Drink Food Type Vegetarian Difficulty Easy Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 0 minutes Total time About 10 minutes Servings 2 Suggested serving 1 glass Mango Lassi Ingredients 1 cup ripe mango pulp (fresh or canned); 1 cup thick curd; 1/4 cup milk; 2 tbsp sugar (adjust to mango's sweetness); a pinch of cardamom powder (optional); ice cubes as needed; chopped pistachios to garnish. How to Make Mango Lassi Combine mango pulp, curd, milk and sugar in a blender. Add cardamom powder if using. Blend until completely smooth and frothy. Taste and adjust sugar depending on how sweet the mango is. …
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Masala Chai

Masala Chai is India's everyday cup of comfort — black tea simmered with milk and warming whole spices like cardamom, ginger and cinnamon. Brewed in homes and sold at roadside stalls alike, it's a daily ritual across the country. Masala Chai at a Glance Cuisine Pan-India Country India Meal Beverage Course Drink Food Type Vegetarian Difficulty Easy Preparation 5 minutes Cooking 10 minutes Total time About 15 minutes Servings 2 Suggested serving 1 cup Masala Chai Ingredients 2 cups water; 1 cup milk; 2 tsp black tea leaves (or 2 tea bags); 2-3 green cardamom pods, crushed; 1 small piece of ginger, crushed; 1 small cinnamon stick (optional); 2-3 whole black peppercorns (optional); sugar to taste. How to Make Masala Chai In a saucepan, combine water, crushed cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and peppercorns if using. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 2-3 minutes to release the spices' flavour. …
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Semiya Upma Recipe: Easy South Indian Vermicelli Upma iiQ8 Best Cooking

Semiya Upma Recipe: Easy South Indian Vermicelli Upma   Semiya Upma Recipe is a quick South Indian breakfast made from roasted vermicelli, tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves and vegetables. It's light, fast to cook, and a favourite for busy weekday mornings and kids' tiffin boxes alike.   Semiya Upma at a Glance Cuisine South Indian Country India Meal Breakfast Course Main / Breakfast Food Type Vegetarian Difficulty Easy Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 15 minutes Total time About 25 minutes Servings 3 Suggested serving 1 cup Semiya Upma Recipe Ingredients 1.5 cups vermicelli (semiya), roasted; 1 small onion, chopped; 1 green chilli, chopped; 1/2 tsp mustard seeds; 1 tsp urad dal; a few curry leaves; 1/4 cup mixed vegetables (carrot, peas); 2.5 cups water; salt to taste; 1 tbsp oil; 2 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped.   How to Make Semiya Upma…
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Poha Recipe: Easy Maharashtrian Poha | Quick Indian Breakfast Recipe | iiQ8

Poha Recipe: Easy Maharashtrian Poha | Quick Indian Breakfast Recipe   Poha Recipe is a light, tangy Maharashtrian breakfast made from flattened rice, quickly stir-fried with onions, curry leaves, mustard seeds and peanuts. It's one of the fastest Indian breakfasts to prepare, ready in about 15 minutes, and a common choice for busy weekday mornings.   Poha at a Glance Cuisine Maharashtrian Country India Meal Breakfast Course Main / Breakfast Food Type Vegan Difficulty Easy Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 10 minutes Total time About 20 minutes Servings 3 Suggested serving 1 cup Poha Recipe Ingredients 2 cups thick poha (flattened rice); 1 small onion, finely chopped; 1 green chilli, finely chopped; a few curry leaves; 1/2 tsp mustard seeds; a pinch of turmeric; 2 tbsp peanuts; 1 tsp sugar (optional); juice of half a lemon; 2 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped; …
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Veg Pulao Recipe: Easy Indian Vegetable Pulao | iiQ8 Best Cooking

Veg Pulao Recipe: Easy Indian Vegetable Pulao   Veg Pulao Recipe is a fragrant one-pot rice dish made by cooking basmati rice with mixed vegetables and whole spices. Quicker and simpler than biryani, it's a reliable weeknight meal that comes together with whatever vegetables happen to be on hand.   Veg Pulao at a Glance Cuisine North Indian Country India Meal Lunch Course Main Food Type Vegetarian Difficulty Easy Preparation 15 minutes Cooking 25 minutes Total time About 60 minutes Servings 4 Suggested serving 1.5 cups Veg Pulao Ingredients 1.5 cups basmati rice, soaked 20 minutes; 1.5 cups mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, peas, potato); 1 onion, sliced; whole spices (1 bay leaf, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 green cardamoms); 1 tsp cumin seeds; 1/2 tsp turmeric; 1 tsp garam masala; salt to taste; 2 tbsp ghee or oil; 2.5 cups water; coriander leaves to…
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Dhokla Recipe: Soft & Spongy Gujarati Besan Dhokla | iiQ8 best cooking

Dhokla Recipe: Soft & Spongy Gujarati Besan Dhokla   Dhokla Recipe is a light, spongy steamed snack from Gujarat made from a fermented or instant gram flour batter, finished with a tangy-sweet tempering. Naturally low in oil, it's a popular breakfast, snack and tea-time favourite across India.   Dhokla at a Glance Cuisine Gujarati Country India Meal Breakfast Course Main / Snack Food Type Vegetarian Difficulty Medium Preparation 15 minutes Cooking 20 minutes Total time About 45 minutes Servings 4 Suggested serving 4 pieces Dhokla Ingredients 1.5 cups besan (gram flour); 1 tbsp semolina (optional, for texture); 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tsp ginger-green chilli paste; 1/4 tsp turmeric; 1 tsp sugar; salt to taste; 3/4 cup water; 1 tsp Eno fruit salt or baking soda. For tempering: 2 tbsp oil; 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1-2 green chillies, slit; a few curry le…
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How to prepare Rava Idli? iiQ8 Recipe

How to prepare Rava Idli? iiQ8 Recipe   How to prepare Rava Idli | Rava Idli is a quick, no-fermentation South Indian breakfast made from roasted semolina batter, steamed into soft, fluffy cakes. Popularised by Karnataka's iconic MTR restaurant, it's ideal for busy mornings when there's no time to wait for fermentation. Rava Idli at a Glance Cuisine South Indian Country India Meal Breakfast Course Main / Breakfast Food Type Vegetarian Difficulty Easy Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 20 minutes Total time About 45 minutes Servings 4 Suggested serving 3 idlis Rava Idli Ingredients 1 cup rava (semolina), roasted; 1 cup thick curd; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 tsp mustard seeds; a few curry leaves; 1 green chilli, chopped; 1 tbsp cashews; 1/4 cup grated carrot; 2 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped; a pinch of hing; 1/2 tsp Eno fruit salt or baking soda; salt to taste; 1 tbsp oil. How to Make Rava Idli …
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