Caprese Flatbread

You could call it Pizza if you so fancy or even nanizza if you are feeling creative because essentially this yummy dish is nothing but classic caprese style toppings over a naan flat bread. A few moons ago I had shared a similar flat bread pizza with some classic makhani style paneer topping. Of course the choice of toppings is only limited by your imagination but for me a very good combination (when its not paneer of course) is a simple but a classic combo of tomatoes, cheese, basic and garlic. Not to mention it is much simpler to put together than a traditional pizza if you use store bought naans which work perfectly well in this preparation.
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Paneer-Matar Paratha

In case you missed my Aloo-matar paratha from a few moons ago, this paratha is similar only better, in that it has paneer - my favorite ingredient. I have sung praises of the stuffed bread or paratha in that post so pay a visit if you are super interested! Also I described how tricky it can be for first timer and takes a little practice to get it right. Anyway, addition of Paneer gives this stuffed paratha the added soft texture as well a mildly creamy taste along with the kick of the spiced up peas. This paratha is perfect for those times when you feel like eating a yummy bread and don't really want to deal with making accompaniments. Just enjoy with some spicy Indian pickle, a simple raita or heck even ketchup.

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Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese

Quite often what I make is driven by what I feel like making. At times however I find myself coming up with ideas just to use up whats left in my fridge from my previous ideas. This time around it was pickled jalapenos that I had shared with you a few days ago. Now I am a big fan of jalapenos, especially the pickled ones. My pizza always has to have some and so do my sandwiches. I made two big jars and have been working through them but still had quite a bit left of the last jar. That is where these sandwiches come in. Pickled jalapenos done popper style between two slices of bread grilled to perfection.
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Vegetable Pizza Pull Apart Bread

Doesn't this bread just look just worth drooling over. For me at least I have seen this made by several folks and have wanted to make it for a while now. Funny thing is - I actually have. This is probably the third time around that I am making this but it was only this time that I actually got around to be able to hold everyone off till I took the pictures! A perfect snack (or even lunch) for bread lovers and a great crowd pleaser, this bread not just looks great itself, it will make you look good too. Slicing the bread just right takes some patience. Too deep a cut with make the bread fall apart and too little will not allow for enough filling. Filling it with veggie mixture needs some patience as well but tell you what, in the end it is all very well worth it. So pull away!

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Cauliflower Garam Masala Pilaf

There is a simple but interesting theory behind this dish - a theory that anyone that is tasked with making nutritious and tasty yet quick lunches during the busy weekdays will appreciate. A simple rice based one pot meal that is a very good way to get the needed veggies into your family in the form of a wholesome lunch and yet can be done in under fifteen minutes. I do a few kinds that I change around every week. This being one of them that goes down with smile with hubs and the kid alike.
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White Spinach Pizza Grilled Cheese

Not much of an exciting story behind this one, just one afternoon felt like making a sandwich for the three of us. Well, to make it less boring than 'just a sandwich' thought of playing a little with some stuff I had in the fridge. Didn't feel like a cold sandwich and what better than a grilled cheese with a twist to make a warm sandwich. With some crafty use of ricotta, mozzarella and spinach, I could give it a catchy name as well, a name with the word 'pizza' in it. The little one sure bought it and loved it too. Let me know what you think.

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Rasam Vada/Crisp lentil dumplings in a spiced tomato soup

This has been in my drafts folder forever. Not sure why it never made it out the door, well at least not until now. Guess I was waiting for the right moment. Talking about the right moment, these crispy dumplings soaked in the spicy soup is just perfect while you wait in the comfort of your home for that first snow, not that it ever snows here in south Florida. This dish hails from southern India but has come to be popular in all parts of the country of course with the details varying on how its done every couple hundred miles. Here I present how I like to do them. Hubs is a big fan of this and when I pulled out this recipe from my drafts, I did get to hear a mouthful on how I haven't made these for him in a while. When you take a spoonful into your mouth, while you enjoy the crispiness from the dumplings, the spicy soup kicks in and makes it just a delightful mix of flavors on your palate. The recipe is not too tricky either. It uses simple ingredients including the Rasam powder that are easily available in any Indian grocery store. And yes, if you cannot get the  donut shape right, it is perfectly okay to just shape the dumplings as regular dough balls.

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Sauteed Corn and Avocado Salad!

With fall just behind us and winter fast approaching, the weather has been such that we mostly tend to spend the evenings getting cozy and comfortable on our couch. Getting cozy on the couch often gets associated with a hot cup of tea and something to snack on. This warm corn salad is another one of my mom's recipes that makes me nostalgic during those fall-winter evenings. Of course the avocado was my touch to it to add another texture dimension to it (and not to mention for my avocado crazy hubs). The sweetness of the corn together with the kick from the spices and the creaminess from the avocado chunk creates an interesting play of taste and texture on your palate. Not to mention the occasional peanut to add that nutty flavor and a crunch.

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Mushroom Spinach Lasagna Rollups

Lasagna is many things to many people. For some it would be a daily deal, for some, a dish that they only make when their kids ask for it, for some it is an exotic dinner they have only when they visit their local fine Italian restaurant. I simply think of it as comfort food. Super easy to put together yet super impressive in the way it sounds and looks. If you love Italian food this is definitely for you, something you will most definitely want to try. It is fancy - hey it's 'Lasagna' - loaded with fresh goodness of spinach, mushrooms, creamy ricotta - hearty and beyond good! The simple twist with this preparation is that instead of the lasagna sheets being layered, the sheets instead are rolled into a... well... rollup. This is a meal you are going to remember on how well it came out and your 'customers' can be a regular feature of your weekend brunch.

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Spiced Lemon Rice

Rice can at times be the most convenient and at other times quite a job to prepare. Some rice preparations like a Biryani made the correct traditional way can be quite time consuming. Don't get me wrong, I love to make and enjoy the biryani - worth every bit of the effort that goes in to it - but more often than not you just do not have the time. Even your plain simple boiled rice can be some work if you add up the dal and curry that needs to go with it. That is when a quick but extremely flavorful rice preparation that can be totally enjoyed with a simple side like a raita is a real blessing. I have a few such tricks up my sleeve that I use quite often to put together a quick lunch. This classic rice dish is one of my favorites. The first spoonful gives you that kick of lemon together with the nutty flavor that grows on you with the sweetness of the rice as you chew on it. Whats more is if you notice the quick two step method below, once you have the boiled rice, this flavorful preparation can be on the table within as much as five minutes! If you love this rice do let me know and I promise I will let you in on some of the other ones from my bag of tricks.

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Missi roti/ Spiced Chickpea flatbread

India makes several different kinds of flat-breads, roti, paratha, naan, chapati to name a few of the most common ones. Missi roti is another such flat bread but with an interesting twist. This roti is made primarily with Besan or Gram flour unlike its counterparts that almost entirely are made of grain flour (most commonly wheat). Missi roti has its origins in the western part of India but due to its exquisite flavor profile, texture and the fact that being made of gram flour it is loaded with good protein, it is now common in many households and restaurants across the country. Needless to say it is one of my favorites too.
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Caprese Pizza Dip!

Caprese salad is always my fallback when I don't feel like the regular lettuce and dressing. Mozzarella and Tomatoes are definitely a match made in food heaven - a totally classic combo and Mozzarella being such a versatile cheese you are often tempted to try variations with it. So a caprese dip sounded like a fabulous idea and I was (very) tempted to try it. I was not disappointed. It has the unmistakable flavor of fresh tomatoes with mozzarella and being warm and melty, it definitely has the essence of your simple caprese pizza. The fact that all these fabulous ingredients take the shape of a dip makes this dish extra fun to eat as you scoop it out with your favorite chip or toasted bread.

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Thai Spicy Chili Garlic Noodles with Basil and Peanuts

As I have said several times before Thai food is my favorite after Italian (and of course Indian) cuisine. I like everything about the cuisine - the ingredients used, the flavor, the way it is cooked, the fresh herbs and aromatic spices and above all the way it tastes. Another reason for my soft corner for Thai food is the familiar spices that inspire flavors similar to my very own Indian cuisine. Among the different Thai dishes the variety of curries definitely top the charts. The unique burst of flavors and the gorgeous color is so appealing and appetizing. Hubs, kiddo and I are all BIG into noodles so the Pad-Thais and other kinds are definitely the highlight of our trip to any Thai restaurant or takeout. I have shared quite a few Thai recipes that you can see here and this is my very own version of spicy Thai noodles with aggressive yet subtle flavors and simple basic ingredients. The chilli-garlic oil is definitely the highlight of the recipe. It gives the noodles the clean and crisp taste and yet the spicy kick it renders definitely kicks it up a couple of notches.

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Pasta in avocado sauce with chickpeas and spinach

his pasta dish is again a story of how to keep everyone happy. The hubs is a BIG avocado fan, me and kiddo - not so much. Pasta however is liked a lot by kiddo.
The sauce is the highlight in this pasta preparation. It is not your regular creamy cheese laden sauce but instead a healthier and tastier alternate with all the goodness of avocado and spinach. The richness of the Avocado lends the perfect amount of creaminess to the pasta and not to mention the beautiful and appetizing green color. If you are already an avocado fan you are in for a treat, if not, you just might turn into one.
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Veggie Pizza muffins!

he story behind these muffins is basically about how you sometimes get a crazy idea and the idea just makes you get up from the chair and go try it out. Well sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You get to hear about the times that it does :)
In retrospect, here's what I think went through my head - I feel like baking muffins, I am not a big fan of sweet ones so they have to be savory, any old flavoring? Been there, done that - how about infuse pizza flavors in a savory muffin - get up from the chair.
Yes they turned out great. Ideal for a late afternoon snack. Just dip in some marinara on the side and off you go.

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Pasta in Roasted Mushroom Garlic sauce with Green Peas

have a met a lot of pasta lovers and very few haters - as far as I am concerned I am neutral - I don't hate it neither is it one of my most favorite. My daughter on the other hand (who is fussiest eater around) is notorious for her love of pasta. Even her preschool teacher complains she doesn't eat anything but pasta. She even went on to suggest we change her menu plan to pasta everyday at school! Hubby well- he is not fond of pasta- so the scene at home is I make pasta mac'n cheese to be precise almost every single day at home for the kiddo but never really make pasta for ourselves. That probably is the reason why I have only a couple of pasta dishes on the site. We don't even order a pasta dish when we go out to eat. Last Sunday evening I was in no mood to cook two separate meals for us so I tried to make hubby like the pasta by making this dish with lots of earthy mushroom and garlicky flavor - hubby loved it and even the kiddo enjoyed it.

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Chipotle Grill style Cilantro Lime Rice

imple yet fragrant and flavorful is the theme this time around on USMasala. Speaking of simple and flavorful reminds me of this really elegant rice preparation we often have at one of our local Mexican fast food joints. I am sure many of you have heard of Chipotle Mexican Grill and most of you are regulars as well like we are. If you haven't, it is a Mexican fast food chain that serves your usual burritos and tacos. The menu is really short and simple. The difference with them is what matters when it comes to food - fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Even their basic cilantro lime rice hits a note with the palate.
Wondering what I was doing eating rice at a Mexican fast food joint? Well here's how the story goes. Like I said, we often go to the place, have done for a while, but for the longest time I always had their salad bowl-no rice (who eats rice with salad, right?), hubs would order the burrito with no rice and we would get the kids meal for our little one. The kids meal came with a quesadilla, some cilatro rice and black beans and chips and guacamole on the side. This one time, when kiddo was not up for eating the rice, I gave it a try and that is when the discovery was made. Here's a tip for you, never underestimate the power of bold flavor, however simple the dish may be.
Of course you need to pair this rice with a side. I made their black beans as well. That's to be shared soon. For now you can pick any of the other curries on USMasala and enjoy.

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Tandoori vegetable paneer pizza ~ all homemade!

love Italian food. Love eating it and love cooking it. Love the different layers, flavors complex yet simple, exotic yet rustic - flavors that have stood the test of time - just like Indian food. You can sense the rich culture and the legacy from the food. When there is a mention of Italian food the first thing that comes to mind is of course the ever-popular Pizza. You guessed it, I love Pizza... a lot. Regardless of crust or toppings - pan, hand-tossed, deep dish, Brooklyn style, thin-crust even the bread and bagel pizza :). A soft chewy bread loaded with veggies and other toppings with a generous helping of cheese! Just can't stop raving. Coming to the US, I had my first ever pizza at Pizza Hut a few years ago... and boy.. I was completely hooked :-) India - at the time - was still coming of age as far as Italian food was concerned so I'd had pizza a couple of times, but this was different. Ahh the good old days.. we used to order delivery, be total couch potatoes and sit in front of the TV for hours watching the 24 hour marathons of Law and Order.

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Vegetable Hakka Noodles/Vegetable Chowmein

hinese food definitely has its place on the menu of practically every restaurant in India. The fact to be noted here though is that over the last several decades as India gradually adopted this neighboring cuisine, barring a few key ingredients, the cuisine has taken a life of its own. So much so as to build a global identity and even aptly being named 'Indo-Chinese cuisine'.
Not just on menus of restaurants, this cuisine is so much a part of the Indian lifestyle now that with every couple of roadside push-cart food vendors selling  your usual pani-puri, kulfi or dosa-idli, you will find a cart that boasts of the best chilli chicken or hakka noodles among other things.
Chinese food here in the US sure is different. Your veg. lo-mein from the local Chinese place that comes in that iconic chinese food carton, tastes great but after you are a few digs into it, you sure get reminded of the corner chinese-wala back home and the sound of the sizzling noodles in his wok on his stove-top and the makeshift push cart that showed up on that very corner religiously every day at five in the evening.
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Roasted Curried Butternut Walnut Soup with Spicy Cheese Straws

uickly browsing through my recipe categories, you will realize that I am not much of a soup person. There are very few kinds, actually only a couple, that I would even allow myself to taste and that too made at specific places or by specific people. This soup is one of them. My first encounter with butternut squash was aboard a Caribbean cruise liner out in the middle of that vast blue spread of the Atlantic. It was an acquired taste. Hubby tells me I made a sorry face when I first tasted it but the expression soon changed with the second and third sips. Very seldom happens to me. I either like something or I don't. Things don't normally 'grow' on me, but this was different. Having remembered seeing butternut squash on the shelves of the grocery stores, yes of course I decided I would try it at home. 

Since then this soup has been either a part of the entire dinner for us on several occasions. I normally accompany it with some salad and bread toasts or these cheese straws using puff pastry sheets - the supermarket wonder. Of course the cheese sticks are a winner combo so I picked them for the post here. A savory, spicy, cheesy crunch is all you need to clean your palate when enjoying this hearty soup. A few touches that I prefer with this soup is I like the version with the squash roasted better. Also I add some Indian masalas and some walnuts for that spicy nutty taste. Regardless of the twists and the masalas, each time I make this soup, the fond memories of the cruise vacation still pass my mind and I feel myself seated on the deck looking at the vast blue nothingness with the breeze in my hair sipping slowly from a hot bowl.

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