Romancing
the Degh

Recipes and stories from the Sareen kitchen, Jaipur.

I started cooking at fifteen, in a busy Punjabi kitchen where hungry teenage boys were not supposed to be. Four decades on, these are the everyday dishes of our table, written down for my children and for anyone who wants them. Do not be tied down by the written word; cook for the joy of it.

- Joy (Deepak)

Not sure where to begin? Three to try first.

Mutton Quorma, Dhaba Style

Pindi Chana

Bathua Raita

Vegetarian

Sabzis, dals and paneer from a Punjabi kitchen

Adrak Pyaj ki Sabji

On a chilli winter evening, when (sometimes 😉) one is at a loss as to what to conjure up for dinner…

Arbi Fry

Usually fulfilling its role on the table as the vegetable dish accompanying a dal, or any curried dish.

Baingan ka Kaccha Bharta

I prefer this version any day over the other cooked version that we make at home.

Chikkad Chhole

(A quintessential Punjabi dish based on chickpeas)

Dal Ma Sabut Peshawari

Easy Peasy Paneer Do Pyaza

Now, this particular dish is associated with my childhood.

Ghotwe Shalgam

Hare Pyaj ki Sabji

Heeng wale Aalu Jhol

Had always liked it right from the childhood.

Heeng wale Matar

Amongst the many things I really, really miss from my childhood days, one is road & train travels.

Jacketed Baby Potatoes Masala Curry

There is nothing that tastes better than a well-cooked fresh veggie…

Lahsun Tamatar Adrak Sabji

The heady flavours & the sharp, tangy taste opens up your respiratory system like no other dish.

Palak Paneer

One of the most common and nutritious dishes in the north Indian kitchens, liked, mostly, by children & the grownups alike.

Paneer Do Pyaza

Paneer, that delectable, nutritious Indian cottage cheese that I have been telling you all about, has always been present in our household diet since as long as I can remember.

Pindi Chana

Like the Chikkad Chhole discussed elsewhere in this Blog, the Pindi Chana is another Chickpea variation that is a favourite with most North Indian/Punjabi foodies.

Punjabi Rajmah

Shahi Dhuli Urad Dal

This recipe is my personal twist to the version that has been gracing our table for ages.

Shahi Lauki Kofta

Another variation that we can do with the Khaskhas masala base that we have discussed before.

Sookhe Aalu

As an introduction, I am merely pasting below an excerpt from another post of mine on ‘Heeng wale Matar’

Photos to be uploaded

Aalu Khaskhas-e-Khaas

Another of those great possibilities that we can work out from the khas khas base that we prepared earlier.

Photos to be uploaded

Air Fried Jacketed Baby Potatoes

If the potatoes are fresh (as in freshly harvested) …I have always preferred them cooked with the Jacket 0n.

Photos to be uploaded

Baingan ka Bharta

Baingan ka Bharta is one of the real pan-indian dishes.

Non-vegetarian

Mutton, murgh and the occasional fish

Desi Maans

At one time, I used to habitually carry with me a bottle of mustard oil, a small tin of ghee, a spice-box & a small bag of Onions, Garlic & ginger.

Dhaniya Gosht

I am a keen kitchen gardener, both at home and at the farm.

Dum Pukht Mutton Biryani

For the un-initiated to the art of Dum Pukht, let me begin by borrowing from resources presented on the web, by the experts far more knowledgeable in the art that I am.