Sweets

Badam halwa (also known as badam sheera or almond sheera) is a rich and comforting Indian dessert made with almonds, milk, ghee, and sugar. Traditionally prepared by blanching and grinding whole almonds, this version simplifies the process by using almond flour, making it quicker and easier without sacrificing flavor. About this Recipe This recipe is […]

Payasam (Payasa, Payesh) is a beloved rice pudding enjoyed across Southern and Eastern India. Made with simple ingredients—rice, milk, and jaggery—payasam has been a part of Indian cuisine for millennia. Payasam is similar to North Indian Kheer and Gujarati Doodh Pak, but each has its own character that makes it distinct. The Ancient History of […]

This Gulab Jamun cheesecake is an eggless cheesecake made with cardamom, rose syrup, and saffron, the flavors of Gulab Jamun. It is part of a series of fusion desserts, like gulab jamun cake and cardamom shortbread cookies, that I have put together during this holiday season. I made a lot of versions of this cheesecake […]

These chai-spiced cookies combine the warm, aromatic spices of chai masala with the charm of gingerbread, creating a perfect treat for festive occasions like Christmas and Diwali. They are also great any time of the year to accompany a nice cup of chai. About this Recipe I came up with this recipe in 2014 after […]

I found these mini crimson apples and decided to stuff them with some Indian spices and ground almonds. With Diwali going on, I had ghoogras on my mind, and thought a ghooghra-styled stuffing would pair amazingly with apples. About this Recipe This recipe offers a unique twist on the classic baked apple, infusing it with […]

This is a classic barfi infused with the freshness of strawberries. This recipe uses both fresh strawberry puree and freeze-dried strawberries to intensify the strawberry flavors. It is perfect for your next celebration or Diwali festivity. About this Recipe Barfi (or “burfi”) is a popular milk-based sweet in India. It is formed by making a […]

Almond Barfi, or Badam Katli, is a simple and flavorful mithai. This recipe keeps things simple, using almond flour in place of ground and sifted almonds, which gives it the perfect texture. These katli are the perfect sweet for Diwali or any celebration. About this Recipe Almond Katli is similar to Kaju Katli, except it […]

This chocolate burfi features Belgian milk chocolate, mawa, and cardamom for an authentic danedar textured treat perfect for Diwali! Chocolate burfi is one of my favorite Diwali sweets, and it is perfect for all celebrations and festive occasions. It uses powdered milk for an instant and simple mawa base. About this Recipe Chocolate Burfi, a […]

Diwali, the festival of lights, is synonymous with joy, celebrations, and of course, delightful sweets. Among the many treats adorning every Indian household during this festive season, Kesar Peda stands out with its brilliant yellow hue and rich saffron flavor.  Traditional Kesar Peda recipes often involve a lengthy process of reducing whole milk to create […]

Soft, chewy mango-forward cookies infused with the gentle essence of ginger that perfectly complements the luscious mango flavor. About the Recipe I’m always looking for a cookie or a cake recipe that embodies Indian flavors. I simply love the fusion of Indian flavors with baked goods. This recipe is so good that even my parents […]

Here’s a super-easy recipe for making delicious coconut burfi, just like the ones you find in Indian sweet shops. It’s moist, coconutty, and perfect for whipping up at home. About this Recipe Coconut burfi is a bit like coconut fudge, with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s a favorite treat in Gujarat and all over India. […]

Known to be over 5,000 years old, malpua is India’s oldest dessert. This sweet, which is still enjoyed by many in celebration, are made by frying a batter and soaking in a sweet syrup. About this Recipe I’ve been making malpua, (“malpuda”, as we call them in Gujarati), since I was a child, but I […]

These puff pastries combine ricotta cheese with the sweet and fruity flavor of the mango with the flaky crunch of the puff pastry. This recipe also uses heavy cream or milk to brush the pastry. This doesn’t give the same golden color as an egg wash but keeps the recipe egg-free. The idea for these […]

Shrikhand is a classic Gujarati (or Marathi) sweet made with thickened yogurt, sweetened with sugar, and a little cardamom and saffron to add a little elegance and flavor. This is a very traditional recipe that I have seen served in many Gujarati households and celebrations. About this Recipe Shrikhand is a dish that dates back […]

Makhana kheer is similar to traditional rice kheer, but is made with makhana, or fox nuts, in place of the rice. Fox nuts provide a starchiness, similar to rice, that helps to thicken the milk, which is also reduced. Makhana kheer is an acceptable fasting food, so this kheer is often made during religious holidays […]

Rava no Sheero, also known as Suji ka Halwa, is a simple and comforting dessert made from semolina, ghee, and sugar. It’s one of those simple, beloved sweets found in nearly every Indian household—served during pujas, celebrations, and even casual Sunday breakfasts. While it shares roots with European-style semolina pudding, Sheero is unmistakably Indian, thanks […]

Dudhi halwa is grated opo squash cooked with ghee, sugar, and milk to form one of my favorite sweet confections. Every year for my birthday, my mom would ask me what sweet I wanted in addition to the cake. I always requested this dudhi halwa. I’ve had a lot of dudhi halwa, but my mom’s […]

Here is a super simple, two-ingredient milkshake made with pomegranate juice and vanilla ice cream. It is tangy and delicious. When I was growing up in India, my family would make milkshakes all the time. We made them with mango, pomegranate, chikku, sitafar (custard apple), and many others. I remember having them most often as […]

Sevai is a delicious and simple-to-make sweet noodle dish spiced with cardamom and saffron. For many North Indians, the traditional sweet for Holi is gujiya, for Gujaratis, it is sevai.  About the Recipe Sev is an Indian noodle dated as far back as the 1st Century AD. It can be made with many different grains, […]

The smell of sweet coconut karanji takes me back to Bombay. This is the traditional Maharashtrian treat my neighbors would make on Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi. I’ve adapted it to the air fryer, which produces a surprisingly authentic version and is so convenient, saving the step of dealing with a pot of frying oil. For […]

Sukhdi is a traditional Gujarati sweet made with simple ingredients that combine into something so delicious that it has been a family favorite for generations. “Sukh” is Gujarati for joy, happiness, or contentment. Sukhdi means that which brings joy. About this Recipe Sukhdi is a traditional Gujarati sweet that evokes the feeling of home and […]

Bajra halwa is a fantastic, gluten-free alternative to the traditional atta halwa. It has a great nutty caramel flavor and comes together in under 15 minutes. What a great dish to celebrate pearl millet. About this Recipe Bajra halwa is a traditional winter warming dish but can be eaten throughout the year. Bajri is known […]

Sesame Chikki is a candy brittle made with sesame seeds and jaggery. It’s a treat that is popular across all of India, and some other parts of the world too! This was one of the chikki my mom would always make for Makar Sankranti (Uttarayan, the Kite Festival) every year. About Sesame Brittle Chikki is […]

Kheer is an Indian rice pudding made with basmati rice, cardamom, and saffron. Kheer is commonly served at special occasions like weddings, festivals, and family gatherings. This is an especially easy version, made in an Instant Pot with condensed milk which gives it richness and sweetness while saving you the tediousness of boiling down your […]

Here’s a fun treat to serve at your next party: Paan Shots! With the distinctive taste of peppermint, gulkand, and paan paired with vanilla ice cream, they make for a delightful after-dinner digestif. These paan shots are non-alcoholic and will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Paan, or betel leaf, is eaten all across […]

Whenever I make mawa, I think of my ancestors, slaving hours over a wood or cow dung fire, stirring and stirring, hour after hour, struggling to keep the milk from burning. Today, we have it so easy. This mawa can be made in about 5 minutes and tastes just the same. Mawa, also known as […]

No matter how hard I try, celebrating Diwali in the US can’t compare to celebrating in India. I make my rangoli and I light my diyas, but the atmosphere is not the same. But if there is one thing that can make Diwali feel like Diwali no matter where I am, it is mawa ghughra. […]

The combination of hot and sweet, mixed with the natural crunch of popcorn, makes this popcorn a satisfying weekend indulgence. My son begs for this just about every time we sit down for a movie. The Recipe I came up with this recipe years ago when on a whip I added some chili to a […]

For a lightly sweet, fragrant afternoon treat that can also serve as a mealtime dish, try Narali Bhat, or coconut sweet rice. Impress your friends by making Narali Bhat for your next potluck. This is a celebration food for a reason! The sweet, fragrant rice is an easy Instant Pot dish that can also be […]

Diwali is just around the corner, and the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Diwali is always Ghughra. Ghughra are India’s version of a sweet hand-pie. The version here is a very Gujarati version, made with a sweetened nut filling. Other names for ghughra are ghooghra, karanji (Maharashtrian), kajji kay alu […]

Gulab Jamun, or “Gulab Jambu” as I am used to calling them, are a ubiquitous sweet at Indian get-togethers. These Indian dessert balls are so common you would be hard-pressed to find an Indian restaurant that does not feature them on the dessert menu. For those who have not had them before, I describe them […]

Doodh pak is a simple and delicious Gujarati sweet, a type of rice pudding. Doodh pak is Gujarati for “Cooked Milk.” It is sweetened with milk and has basmati rice and Indian dessert spices, cardamom, nutmeg, and saffron. It also has one unusual ingredient, charoli, an almond-like nut often used with Indian desserts. If you […]

Do you want to ensure you’ll have a happy and prosperous year? In Indian culture, we start off all auspicious occasions with something sweet. And, seriously, what’s better than chocolate? Homemade chocolate truffles are so easy. They are a little bite of rich deliciousness that both impresses everyone and makes them happy. A few weeks […]

“Bombay Halwa” is a popular Indian sweet that also goes by the name “Karachi Halwa.” It can also be called “Bombay Ice Halwa.” Bombay Halwa is a type of Turkish delight found in India. It is made of starch, sugar, and some kind of flavor. My favorite flavor of Bombay Halwa is made with pistachios […]

It’s no secret that I love chai. Recently, the head of Learning and Development was visiting from my company’s headquarters in London. He hosted a series of workshops and seminars for our LA and San Diego staff. One of those was a session on presentations. He asked us to come prepared with a short two […]

This recipe for No-Churn Mango Swirl Ice Cream that got me really excited to post again. It uses condensed milk and whipping cream to create a rich base and the classic mango ras or pulp to give it that extra flavor of mango. I’m really excited to share this one right before the July 4th […]

One of Puja’s creations that really helped us get through the month of January was this Pear Dessert. Between the sweet roasted pears and the nutty topping, eating these were almost like eating pie, but without the added sugar! January is over and that diet Puja and I were on is finally over. It was […]

To celebrate Diwali this year, I made these walnut squares. They are my version of Walnut Burfi. I had found these beautiful bright red walnuts at Whole Foods and didn’t know what I would do with them until Diwali came around. I created these walnut bars that are reminiscent of the texture of Mohanthal, a […]

The wind was still blowing violently in the morning when we set out for home after our Mt. Whitney and Death Valley trip. It was early in the morning and our attempt at finding breakfast was unsuccessful as the only cafe in town hadn’t opened yet. We decided we would find breakfast along the way. […]

Mango Lassi isn’t really a milkshake, but it kind of is. It is made with yogurt instead of milk and ice cream. We don’t have them often, but once in a while, we will get one when we go to Surti Farsan for a special treat. I spent a number of childhood years at my […]

Indian Fruit Salad is usually made up of mixed fruits, often shopped, suspended in sweet milk or custard. Typical fruits would be apples, bananas, grapes, and tangerines. The custard we use is normally an eggless cornstarch pudding. In the end, this salad is more of a dessert than a salad, and it is delicious. My […]

It’s almost time for Uttrayan (the kite festival). Last year I wrote all about my childhood memories of kite fighting during the festival. Flying kites isn’t as fun without the sport of the fighting. But I still like to think about those wonderful days spent on rooftops with my dad and brother, flying kites, battling […]

Ras is a naturally sweet and creamy mango puree that is served along with savory vegetables and flatbreads instead of as a dessert. Ras is an important summer staple in a Gujarati household. I was lucky enough to have spent part of my childhood on a mango farm where my family grew the prized Alphonso […]

I wanted to take a sweet treat for my mom when I went to visit her after her long trip and I thought she’d enjoy a curry leaf cookie. Ever since I made the peach cobbler with curry leaves, I’ve become obsessed with adding curry leaves to sweets. It’s been such a popular dessert with […]

This sorbet is as simple as throwing some frozen fruit, yogurt and sugar into a food processor. I added a few other ingredients to dress it up a little but if you don’t have them or don’t want to use them, the sorbet will still taste great. It literally only takes five minutes from start […]

These Fig and Cardamom Tea cakes are a fig wrapped in a French tea cake called a “financier.” The cake does a spectacular job at highlighting the sweet, juicy flavors of the fig inside. Someday I will have a giant fig tree in my backyard. It’ll produce tons of figs and I’ll be able to […]

A couple of months ago I was doing dishes and staring at the little curry leaf plant that grows next to my kitchen sink. It suddenly occurred to me that curry leaves might go well with peaches. I love finding new ways to combine herbs and fruit. Herbs can add a wonderful surprise to the […]

Fennel is one of those special kinds of plants where every part of the plant is edible. The root is a wonderful vegetable, the leaves and stalks make a nice herb, the seeds and even the pollen are a spice that provides that wonderful, delicate sweet licorice-like flavor of fennel. After foraging for fennel pollen […]

Kulfi is the Indian version of ice cream. It’s made in a very similar way to ice cream, except you don’t churn it as you freeze it. Instead, you whip up your milk and cream mixture ahead of time and then just freeze it. It comes out a little more dense than ice cream. The […]

Only one morning out of the entire year, Steve makes sticky buns for breakfast. It’s our Christmas tradition. I love waking up to the smell of cinnamon in the air. I absolutely love them and often wonder why that is the only day of the year that we make them at home. Oh yeah! It’s […]

A couple months ago, I had a Cardamom-Rose truffle at Eclipse Chocolat, a local chocolate shop. I was in love! I had never had chocolate cardamom and rose together but somehow it felt very familiar, very Indian. The candied rose petals on the truffle were so yummy. A crunchy sugar-y taste of rose that’s not […]

Pistachio and saffron (known as kesar pista) is a classic Indian combination. The buttery flavor of pistachio goes superbly with the metallic notes of the saffron. You will find all sweets from cookies to ice creams to traditional desserts made with this delicious flavor combination. I have been making pistachio tuiles for years. I make […]

There is a little shop called Mapro near where I went to boarding school in the Western Ghat mountains. They make their own syrups, jams, jellies and candies with fresh fruits and juices. They are famed for their strawberry jam. My favorite thing from their shop has always been their rose syrup. It tastes amazing. […]

January 14th is one of the most exciting days of the year in many parts of India, especially Gujarat. Growing up, my brother and I looked forward to it every year. It’s the day of the Kite Festival. The Kite Festival in India is not the peaceful event you may be picturing. In India, flying kites […]

For me, jalebi is one sweet that instantly triggers deep feelings of nostalgia. I grew up always eating them to celebrate our parents wedding anniversary. This jalebi recipe has rhubarb, one of my favorite ingredients. The rhubarb adds a tartness to balance the sweetness of the cardamom syrup, similar to the more typical sour-apple flavor. […]

One of my favorite Indian desserts is Malpuda with Rabri and it is perfect for the big Diwali dinner. When I was a kid living in India, I always wanted to bake cakes for desserts. That was a challenge because we didn’t have an oven. My mom used to borrow an old-fashioned baking contraption from […]

Ghughra (Gujiya, in Hindi) is an essential Diwali treat for Gujaratis, and Holi treat across North India. To celebrate this festival, my mom always went all out. She made various snack foods at home and ordered others from specialty sweet and snack shops. There were many different sweets and snacks, but Ghugras were the one […]

A savory semolina crepe, better known as a “rava dosa” is one of my standard quick-fix meals. I experimented with this sweet rava dosa and it was fantastic. It’s like the standard crepe but a little chewier but tastes great Rava dosa are the instant version of the South Indian classic dosa. The classic dosa […]

Cardamom is the vanilla of Indian. We use it in pretty much any sweet dish ranging from rice pudding to nut fudge to masala chai. I love the flavor so much, I chew on cardamom pods in place of mints. I have a method. I pop a whole pod into my mouth and enjoy the […]