Good Indian food pushed me into vegetarianism back in 1994, and I've had a soft spot for the stuff ever since. I was 13 years old at the time, and I spent a week of summer vacation visiting my Indian friend Purvi's house in Oklahoma. Purvi was vegetarian, as were her mother and siblings (only her dad ate meat). For that week, I ate nothing but awesome home-cooked Indian food (and I believe we also ate some mac & cheese and grilled cheeses).When my parents picked me up from Purvi's house (after their eight hour drive from Arkansas), I announced that I was going vegetarian. Or at least semi-vegetarian. I continued to eat poultry for a few more months until totally giving that up on the day after Thanksgiving in 1994. I switched to veganism in 2004.
All that being said, I've been downing some major Indian food lately. I attacked the all-veg buffet (only one item wasn't vegan!) at the new Woodlands Vegetarian Indian Cuisine in Memphis this past Saturday. And tonight, I whipped up Jessy's (of Happy Vegan Face) Malai Kofta:
I'd never had malai kofta before, but when I saw the dish on Jessy's blog, I knew I had to try it. They're little fried potato and green pea balls topped with an amazing tomato-based gravy. I added some cayenne to the gravy for extra kick.On the side, I made Jessy's Onion Parathas:
This is a delicious whole wheat flatbread stuffed with Indian-spiced onions (everything is better with filling!). I rarely make my own breads because it seems so time-consuming. And I'm not gonna lie. This whole meal took forever to make (and that's after I prepped the kofta balls and onion filling last night). But it was so worth it. And now I have a ton of leftovers to enjoy all week long!!!Hey testers! The new recipes are up on the tester site ... just so ya know.
gosh bianca that onion parantha is calling my nameee.
ReplyDeletealso, i'm almost done with the interview! haha
I just blogged about jessy's awesome Indian recipes! I haven't tried this one yet, but it's only a matter of time!
ReplyDeletehooray, Bianca! we're so superexcitedfaced that you really enjoyed both the malai kofta & the onion paranthas! :) that rocks so hard that you made your own bread, too! and i'm with you - anything filled with yummies = the best!
ReplyDeletethat's really cool that some seriously tasty indian yummies were your start into vegetarianism! and i'm totally jealousfaced that you've got an all-veg indian buffet! i can only dream of how awesome that would be... yeah, that'd be pretty much the best thing ever!
your photos are glorious, Bianca! oh man, now i need to make some more indian yummies so i can dig in, too! mmmmmmm!
I want that parantha!!! Your Indian food sounds great, and I make huge batches of food on the weekend to last me through the week. Leftover are the best!
ReplyDeletethis is crazy. i was just browsing around for some good indian recipes for dinner tonight... i saw you had a new post, and, wham! dinner recipe is found! yum! (heading over to jessy's blog now...)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE INDIAN FOOD!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteooh i have that parantha recipe bookmarked!! :) thanks for the reminder, it looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteThat looks amazing. I'm going to check out the recipes. I too love Indian food and try new places every chance I get. A highlight was a Masala Bloody Mary in a restuarant in Chicago. Mmmm!!
ReplyDeleteIndian food is always so time consuming, else I'd have it every day. But it's SO worth it! I'm definitely trying that onion parantha.
ReplyDeleteI heart Indian food. It is so delicious.
ReplyDeleteIndian food is the best. Loves me some spices!
ReplyDeleteomg, that looks SOOO GOOD! I need to make some indian food. Some down and dirty indian food!
ReplyDeleteI miss you Bianca. You're the reason I went Vegan and your blog has given me endless recipes. I appreciate it. I mentioned you in my newest post because you're just that awesome. I'll have to try this recipe. You rock
ReplyDeleteno i haven't tried those chips...i am not much of a chip eater anymore. i guess i always opt for the real-er potato when i have a choice, but i will have to try those now! thanks!
ReplyDeleteThose look crazy good! Indian food is my constant companion in my vegetarian journey... its often the only thing my whole family can agree on.
ReplyDeleteI have actually never had good Indian food, I don't think. Well, I've never had it out, only made it myself and...well I doubt mine is any good. I mean, it tastes good, but not authentic.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks so yummy!
Holy Ganesha! I freakin love Indian food and really think a special trip to Memphis might be in order! I have been eating a ton of raw lately, and made raw veg saag last night...but this is calling me...(was drawn to your blog with the word "Indian") Thanks!!!!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I love Indian food but for some reason I find cooking it totally intimidating . . . you are totally inspiring me. Also, paranthas = delicious.
ReplyDeleteI love indian food, too, and I wish there was an all-veg Indian buffet near me! Oh wait, maybe I don't, because I would be broke and gigantic...
ReplyDeleteOoh indian! Those parathas look sooo good!
ReplyDeletei like indian food. sometimes i think i was from that part of the world in a former life.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that recipe on Jessy's blog and put it in the "to cook" pile, it looks so good!
ReplyDeleteThe gravy for the koftas looks fantastic! Lovely color :)
ReplyDeletecan you belivev that i had indian food for the first time two weeks ago!!! since then ive been craving it (ive gotten one other time since) its so amazing yummmm... and the place I go to makes sure there is no dairy in it.. they even make me dairy free naan... horray!!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to say, but I've never had Indian Food.
ReplyDeleteMy husband just had Indian food for the first time today and he loved it. I'm jealous of all you guys.