Plates of Love -

Samosa Pinwheels

Who doesn’t love samosas! Traditional samosas are great but we don’t always have the time to make the dough from scratch like our mom would. This version makes it easier and much faster to get the same great taste but with a lot less work. I made this recipe recently for a family dinner and…

Corn Salsa

Our friend, Jess, brought this salsa over for a pot luck and it was an instant hit. We’ve made it countless times since and its always been a crowd pleaser. The best part…it requires no cooking! You simply chop and combine the ingredients. The salsa is made up of a few ingredients: Trader Joe’s Corn&…

Falafel

If there is one food Chef Palak doesn’t get sick of, it’s FALAFEL! For those that haven’t had it before, it’s a Middle Eastern dish made from chickpeas or fava beans, spices and herbs. There are several variations of this dish but most of the recipes use these key ingredients in varying portions: Chickpeas: Only…

Middle Eastern Red Sauce

Our go to Middle Eastern restaurant growing up (Pita Inn for the Chicago burbs folks) always served a spicy red sauce and our mom decided she’d make a version of her own. Her sauce combines red bell pepper, serrano, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, cilantro and sriracha sauce to make a healthy and flavorful addition to just…

Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing

I’ve been wanting to add more plant based meals to my diet, but eating the usual salad or noodles can get boring quickly. This salad is a fun way to switch things up by incorporating Thai flavors with freshly chopped vegetables, chewy noodles and creamy peanut dressing. I’m a visual eater and try to make…

Rose & Pistachio Ice Cream

Many consider rose an exotic flavor but growing up in an Indian household it was pretty standard. In fact, our mom used to put a big bowl on top of a bush outdoors to collect fresh snow as it was falling (we know, not sanitary but this was the 90s), pack it into “snowballs” and…

Kala Chana

Looking back, it’s easy to see why our mom made this dish often. It is a super filling and healthy vegetarian dinner that’s quick to prepare! If you’ve never had kala chana, they are also known as black chickpeas. They are denser and nuttier than the more well known garbanzo beans. While they do soften…

Corn Dip

I’m obsessed with corn anything! In college I used to drive through the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago to find the street cart vendors that would be selling authentic elotes before it became so mainstream. I love the flavor and texture of corn combined with mayonnaise, cheese and spices. I wanted to take the idea of…

Sausage & Peppers

As we were eating our way through Italy, I distinctly remember my first time trying a pasta dish with red sauce. I was surprised with how light and flavorful the red sauce was, it never over powered the dish and I could taste the freshness of the tomatoes and herbs. I never knew it was…

Orzo Chickpea Salad

I have been in search of a simple and healthy salad to pair with grilled protein, and THIS IS IT. If you question how great this orzo salad is, just note that I’ve already made this twice in two weeks! The fresh veggies and zesty lemon vinaigrette make this salad feel light and refreshing while…

Plates of Love

Chole Chana

Handvo (Indian Spice Cake)