So growing up in tropical Kenya, and following my dad with his Government office transfers every 3 years, we met and socialised with a variety of people Goans, Hindu…
We grew up in Kenya and so are very familiar with mogo also known as cassava/yuca (NOT YUCCA!). In the coastal towns like Mombasa and Malindi, it is spotted…
There is always a personal, regional or cultural take on most recipes and Pakora Kadhi is no exception to that. You may well be familiar with this gram flour…
Hmm! this is a popular dish for breakfast but also works well if hungry unannounced guests turn up! This occurred quite frequently during our growing years in Kenya and…
There are just so many karahi recipes around, some are really good, some are average and some just don’t meet the criteria of good karahis. A true karahi is…
I am sure we all know sandwiches have been around for yonks, but do we know who created them and when? The British would love to take the accolade…
easy kheer (rice pudding) recipe…
This recipe is from natashaskitchen, she is on instagram and has a website, I love her easy to follow recipes that turn out lovely. This one is a winter…
This is self-explanatory – a chutney made with dried plums. It is served in Pakistan at every wedding as the country produces plums and other summer fruits in abundance.…
I came across this chicken salad recipe online and found it interesting, I have made it numerous times with the chicken and more frequently without. The dressing is the…
During Covid Lockdowns 2020/2021 I set myself a task – how to make at least 5 types of really happening chicken wings! The really successful ones are on this…
It is difficult to introduce a dish that has been around for years and years and years, comes with some challenges and has traditionally been cooked overnight on very…
The Afghan people have brought a lot of different types of karahis to our table, this white chicken/lamb karahi is trending all over YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. It is…
There are so many stories about how the club sandwich originated, my favourite one is the one about Colonial times in Hindustan, when the cook was asked to produce…
The Shinwaris, are a nomadic Afghan people and those that have moved to Pakistan have succeeded in establishing themselves via their food. As with any new migrants, familiar food…
I first had this at a wedding in the USA 5 years ago and was hooked! However, I only started making it a couple of years ago when it…
I came across this recipe from cookingshooking on my Facebook feed, I made it yesterday and it was soooo popular, it motivated me to write it onto my website…
Pilao/Pulao/Pilaf/Pilaw consists of rice flavoured with spices and cooked in stock with meat, fish or vegetables. It is not chillie hot but is certainly rich in spices and there…
Many years ago, we were frequent visitors at Madhu’s Brilliant restaurant, Southall, UK. Uncle Madhu (Maha) was originally from Kenya so he knew our palate well, and we loved…
We have been making different kinds of fish over the years, and some of the recipes are already on this website. This one is very special to me as…
What can I say to introduce this dish? It is almost the most ordered dish in Chinese restaurants worldwide and every chef has their own take on it. It…
As many of you will know, there are many different types of curries. Bhuna has very little gravy, rus misah (Punjabi) has a medium amount of gravy and then…
This currently very trending recipe is called Chicken Malai Boti for a reason. Malai translates into cream in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi but is also a term used to…
This is one of Marion Grasby’s recipes, her videos and explanations are just so mouth-watering and she is one of the few chefs I follow on Instagram. Check for…
Sarson ka saag, also known as kotwaan saag is a pure vegetarian dish and is made in Punjabi homes with much love and effort and then shared amongst family…
Keema or mince is just meat that has been finely chopped or put through a mincer and can be from cow/goat/sheep or even chicken. It is easy to cook…
Some will call this the ‘king’ of dhals some the ‘queen’ as it was a favourite of the Moghuls and is still the dhal of choice at formal dinners.…
Each of my recipes has a story of where and how I came across it and this one is no different! Our friends invited us for lunch at Gilanis…
Accompaniments/ Snacks/ Starters
Keema and Alu bake – healthy cutlets/cutlass (Mince and Potato bake)
This is an amazing reproduction of one of our childhood favourites – Potato & Mince cutlets – in Kenya also known as bateta champs or cutlass), but with fewer…
This is a rice dish made with lamb, beef or chicken,and is widely available in most Middle Eastern countries, it is an Arabian take on Pilao/Biryani and the change…
This recipe has been passed down for generations in my paternal family and was taught to me by an aunt in Narowal, Pakistan.…
(Semolina and flour dessert) This is mostly made for larger gatherings in the Winter months and also as a give away dessert at religious gatherings. …
One of my sister-in-laws is brought up in Saudi Arabia, this is one of the Middle-Eastern desserts she makes for us using Semolina.…
Dahin bhallay (dahin vada, dahin bhalla, dahin vaday) are known by many names and the dish is very popular as a snack in a lot of countries like India,…
A Greek/Arab/Turkish dish made all over the world to differing ingredients. This recipe is my mum’s and she frequently made it for us upon request during our growing years…
Mums are the fonts of all knowledge! I went shopping the other day and bought these lovely looking small aubergines on an impulse, I am home and thinking, I…
During our recent tour of South East Asia, we had the opportunity to try different cuisines and very different recipes, some didn’t sit very well with our views living…
Kashmiri (the original leaves originate in Kashmiri) or Gulabi (Pink) Chai (Tea) is a savoured delicacy and the process to get the correct pink coloured milky liquid into a…
Salad is salad! For years we have been serving salads as a side dish with no dressing making it a challenge to swallow! Having lived in the West and…
This is one of my most recent ‘acquisitions’! A very talented lady who is an amazing cook, served my lovely Pupho Maryam and ‘us’ as part of our recent…
I saw this recipe from Masala hut online, made it once loved it and then adjusted it to our tastebuds, hence the name change to Bhuna Chicken 95 –…
Pilao/Pilaf/Pilaff you spell it how you like! This is a dish of rice and meat, it is milder than a biryani, but with an unusualy aroma of spices. Pilaos…
So finally mooching around on Facebook has paid off! I saw this recipe lurking on someone’s post and it looked so simple. On impulse, I made it with trepidation for…
Tawa – is a griddle/frying pan/flat piece of metal with very low walls, sometimes convex, it is usually made of iron sheet or cast iron, but also comes in…
Nihari was a dish created for kings, nawabs and emperors but also served in huge vats to the workers in eras gone by. Rich in meat content, light on…
This recipe is a cross between East and West brought to our palate by one of my mum’s friends in the UK. Every 27th night of Ramadan, aunty would…
Those of us living in the UK have seen many an influx of different races and creeds, each bringing into Britain their very own personal cuisine, always tried and…
In Kenya we grew up eating ‘Chana Bateta’ the best ones were made by my friend Yasmin (Khoji) of Nakuru. Her channas were to die for, nothing like the…
Those of you that have been to Nathiagali, Muree will have missed out, if you didn’t eat the fried chillie chicken and mash ki daal at the famous Taj…
This is a basic sponge (without butter), of Latin American origin, steeped in three kinds of milk – evaporated, sweetened condensed and double cream. It has a light texture…
This is a really warming Chinese style chicken and vegetable soup perfect for Winter nights. I got the recipe from Aqsa Khalid of Lahore. It’s quite simple, but as…
For this recipe you will either already be used to and enjoy eating cooked bitter sweet fenugreek leaves or you will need to acquire a taste for it. Bear…
No Chinese meal is complete without at least one rice dish, this is a quick and easy recipe for egg-fried rice, it’s an easy dish to take to picnics,…
Again, this is one of the lovely Chinese with a Pakistani touch, ever popular in Pakistani restaurants and easily re-created in the home.…
If I say this is the most favourite, very favourite, the favourite dish of my family you will get the correct idea about the popularity of this dish. Again…
Chinese with a touch of Pakistan! I actually took classes in Lahore, Pakistan to emulate the dishes served in the Chinese restaurants in Lahore. I have travelled the world…
Recently my cousin was over from Ireland and as usual, we were discussing recipes, she said she makes this sure hit halwa, so as per usual I was intrigued.…
We have been making Kofta (Meatball) curries from the time of the Mughal empire in India, recipes have been evolving over time and there is always a new one around the…
Another of the lovely food memories from my younger days growing up in Mombasa. The joy of walking home from Mbheni Primary School with friends, passing by hawkers with Achaari,…
When we were growing up in Kenya, our mothers took pride in feeding us and our guests homemade snacks. Popat as my mum called these, were one of the…
Bhun is a Pakistani cooking technique in which ingredients are fried until the oils separates. Onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes and spices are fried in hot oil, until they have formed…
On one of my annual trips to sunny California to visit family I was served this salad the ‘killer’ ingredient is the almost raw mango – mouthwatering. It has…
My son went on a holiday to Sri Lanka and couldn’t stop raving about this very frequently served dish in hotels and small establishments. I remember it from my…
This dish is synonymous with Mombasa – Kenya, it is cooked in many homes by many women and sometimes men, but as with all popular dishes the recipe changes…
This was made popular within our family by one of my aunt’s in Kenya. It has no oil and yet can be stored in the refrigerator. The…
Many years ago I met this young lady in Los Angeles, California and she brought this dessert to the ‘pot luck’ at my brother’s house.…
This is a very easy and convenient recipe taught to us by our cousin Talat who resides in Tullamore, Ireland. My 14 year old niece in California made this…
This dish has connections to the happy years I spent in Mombasa and memories of any and every dish having some ‘tui’ coconut milk added to it. There is…
A roast chicken with a sticky masala that is served as a starter or as part of a dinner menu. …
I watched a television show in the UK where Nigella Lawson made this very simple dessert. My niece made this under my guidance during my trip to USA and…
This is baked kebab pastry very similar to sausage rolls.…
My friend who owns a restaurant showed me how to make wings in this unusual way.…
I remember going to River Road with my grandmother especially for a plate of Maru’s (the owner’s name) Bhajia, they would be served freshly fried, with two chutneys, one…
This is an unusual pasta dish with a Pakistani connotation, it can be eaten hot or cold, and is a very suitable and popular item at a high tea…
I have no idea of the origins of this lovely starter, but have very fond memories of being treated to cutlets during my growing years in Kenya regularly by…
This is a dish with a mix of tastes, I would describe it as Chinese leaning towards the Pakistani palate. It is quite ‘hot’ in chillies, so feel free…
My lunchtimes just turned interesting! Ok here is my first ever video production with a recipe – following the successful productions of weddings this summer, i put my best…
We have a feast every Ramadan at my friend’s house, this year she made this lovely whole chicken pilao and when the dish arrived at the table, it made…
This is a recipe from my mum’s friend who taught us Middle Eastern, Pakistani and Kenyan dishes, you could never visit her and not be fed a whole meal!…
Pilao rice is a good accompaniment for vegetarian dishes e.g spinach and potato, aubergine and potato, cauliflower and potato.…
This method to cook rice uses a ‘measure’ of water and maybe more suitable for beginners.…
Dry boondi (bundi) is readily available in Indian grocery stores and some supermarkets. …
This chutney is really good with any coconut based dish and with roast chicken. This version originates from Mombasa, Kenya where I learnt to make it when I…
This has been voted the most ordered dish in the UK and it was created in England at the request of local customers. There are many versions, some…
The most popular starter that can be cooked in so many different ways and easily be reproduced in the home!…
This is an excellent variation to the Banoffee pie. I got the recipe from a friend’s daughter in Lahore, Pakistan. All of the ingredients fuse into each…
This was served at a dinner by my family in USA, it is a simple but delicious dessert.…
This has a kick with the chillies and then the coconut 'calms' it down and produces a lovely infused taste.…
I had this for the first time in USA March 2010 where a young girl called Nida had helped lay the table in readiness for a special meal prepared…
Biryanis are really a meal in one and usually eaten with a full fat plain yoghurt and a good mixed salad. There are many recipes for this very…
A few years ago, I had an exchange student from Sir Lanka who could cook really well. This is a lovely, warming dish that we cooked and ate…
Shahjehan was an Indian Moghul Emperor and the rich and intense cuisine is accurately depicted in this lovely rice and boneless chicken dish, served with plenty of freshly chopped…
This is a lovely rice dish, demonstrated to me by my sister-in-law from Saudi Arabia. The mastery of the dish is in the ‘wrist’, as there is a mixture…
This recipe is made as a main meal in memon homes in Kenya and was made and demonstrated for me by my cousin who works with me.…
Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan and I had the pleasure of watching a pretty Afghani lady demonstrate the intricacies of this dish in a West London kitchen. …
Plain rice is a perfect accompaniment for curry dishes and some meat and vegetable dishes e.g Chicken curry, Lamb or Chicken with potatoes, Lamb and Chicken with spinach etc…
These are made with plain unleavened flour and fried in butter and or oil.…
Puris are made with unleavened flour and there is an art to get them right. The best puris I have ever had were made for us in Nakuru…
This is a very healthy refreshing Middle Eastern salad which I had at a restaurant in Edgware road, London and thereafter learnt the recipe by trial and error.…
This recipe was created by one of the chefs at my place of work in Brentford. It was quite easy to work out the recipe as the ingredients…
There are a variety of excellent chillie sauces now readily available in most countries. If you would like to make your own, this recipe I learnt in Pakistan…
This was introduced to us by an aunty in Nairobi who was very innovative in the kitchen.…
A raita is a dish made with yoghurt. Different items like onion, cucumber, baked aubergine, par-boiled marrow or bundi (see below) can be added. This one is with cucumber,…
A Middle Eastern accompaniment, I saw my daughter learning this recipe from one of my favourite uncles who lives in Isleworth, London.…
An easy to make chutney which is perfect to serve with, starters, snacks and bbqs.…
As with a majority of recipes on this website, there is more than one way of making this chutney. This is a recipe from my sister-in-law in Pakistan…
This is called alu bukhara (dry plums) chutney in Pakistan and made at weddings on a large scale. I learnt this from my husband’s 75 year old uncle,…
This is a really good mixture of mainly green ingredients and works very well as a dip or accompaniment.…
This chutney goes well with a lot of dry snacks and starters but especially with the Dokhra and Kebabs.…
This is an excellent accompaniment for crisps and tacos but also goes well with Chicken Cornflakes and Lamb chops with tomato puree.…
This is one of the most commonly served accompaniments with rice and vegetarian dishes in mosques especially in East Africa.…
This is a common dish in Indian and Pakistani households, my version has a tarka at the end that makes it different and produces a wonderful aroma.…
My grandma from Narowal – Pakistan used to make this really tasty potato dish. We have made it many times over in other cities in Pakistan, Kenya and now in…
This is a very simple Okra recipe suitable for vegetarians.…
A traditional way of making whole masoor the Narowalian way - Pakistan. It can be served as a soup with French bread.…
Paneer is an Indian cottage cheese, sometimes made at home but more often shop bought. It is easily available in most UK Supermarkets and Indian grocers. My…
This dish is prepared as part of a breakfast menu, I learnt it from a lady from Gujranwalla - Pakistan. The result is a dark and muddy chickpea…
My mum’s friend from Afganistan now residing in California shared this recipe with us. It is an intricate dish with many stages but the end result is tasty…
This is a special Pakistani Restaurant and Roadside dish cooked on an Iron griddle or frying pan to impart special flavours.…
Contrary to popular belief, we do Roasts including Leg of Lamb. As we enjoy the flavour of spices and garlic, we include these in our roasts. Here…
This is a recipe that just happened! I made some fist shaped kebabs as a starter, they were not very popular with those that ate them and I…
This is a very innovative recipe shared with me by my sister-in-law in the USA. The yoghurt and fish go together to create a yummy saucy curry!…
This is the recipe for a very popular street fried fish from Ichra Bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan. I spoke to the street vendor about sharing his secret recipe…
A friend who originates from Kenya shared her family recipe with me during one Ramadan (Annual Muslim month of fasting). I have re-created it and made it many…
This is a recipe that has been in our family in Pakistan and Kenya for quite sometime and has evolved over the years. This is a straightforward version…
One of my students from my Indian & Pakistani cookery class was a trained UK chef. She shared this excellent fried fish recipe with me, very easy to…
This is a simple recipe, perfect as a starter, ideal for picnics and excellent as a sandwich filling. It was passed on to me by a Khoji friend…
This version of Karahi chicken is mostly made at roadside shacks (dhaba) in Pakistan and it is truly yummy!…
This is a specialist dish, very popular in Pakistan and the best recipes are found in roadside shacks! There are many versions of this dish; this one is…
Although in the UK, a korma is a ‘timid’ curry and for those that don’t like hot and spicy food, a korma prepared by a Pakistani or Indian will…
I would have to begin with the most popular curry in the UK. This is a standard recipe but how it turns out will depend on the authenticity…
Pilli Pilli means chillies in Kiswahili! in other parts of the World this dish is called Piri Piri chicken! This recipe is a mixture of two recipes, one…
This is a recipe from one of my cousins residing in Saudi Arabia, it is very easy to make and can be eaten hot or cold.…
Another recipe from my Wembley cousin, she took one of our old recipes and made it into a new innovative roast.…
My cousin in Wembley made this for us and 25 others as a main dish during Ramadan. It is very simple and does not require much marinating.…
I came across a sweet potato ice-cream recipe from Thailand; I substituted with Mango as the fruit is far more familiar and popular with family and guests. …
This is a newly discovered recipe of a delicious mithai. Once again my mum from USA sent it to me.…
My mum entered this dish in a food competition in London and although it didnt win any prizes - it looked very presentable!…
This is a frequently made dessert in Indian and Pakistani homes and it is difficult to estimate ingredients. My sister-in-law who lives in Milpitas has worked out the…
When we were growing up in Kenya, my mum was always finding innovative ways to use up leftovers. She often made this halwa with left-over bread and thick…
This dish can be served as a starter or as a main with naan bread or French bread.…
This is a lovely refreshing chaat that binds unusual ingredients together with yoghurt and tamarind.…
This is a popular recipe put together and served at our staff restaurant - theatre cooking! …
This is a lovely chaat made either with cassava (mogo) or boiled potatoes and brought together with tamarind chutney.…
I think very fondly of Totem Kiosk in Nakuru where I learnt how to make this unusual chips recipe.…
This is a popular street food in Mombasa and there are intricate steps to the pastry making element of the recipe. Whilst living in the fast paced West,…
Grill or BBQ This is an excellent recipe for kebabs, passed down to me by my mother.…
A recipe with many different tastes, I overhead two ladies exchanging this recipe at a gathering. I replicated it at home and my family of ‘tasters’ loved it!…
Par-boiled cauliflower florets coated with mince. An innovative recipe shared by a friend’s lovely mum who was a very experienced cook.…
This is another recipe that just was created with ’left-overs’ but I have regularly made it and family and guests do enjoy it.…
I learnt this from my mum in California.…