Jan
This morning, I transformed an ordinary, run-of-the-mill breakfast of fried eggs and toast into a tantalizing delight that tempted all of my senses. How did I do it? It was simple. While the eggs were cooking, I just sprinkled some of my Bombay Spice on them to kick up the flavor. Easy-peasy!
Then I paired the extraordinarily scrumptious eggs with a slice of homemade soda bread, a gift from my friend Phyllis, and picked a blossom from my garden to garnish my plate. Remember, we also “eat” with our eyes, so the addition of a colorful flower adds a bit of visual vitality. In this way, all of our senses are stimulated in the enjoyment of a dish.
My Bombay Spice blend is just one of five blends I created to help home cooks add the complexity of Indian spices to their meals. The others include Aromatic Chai, Garam Masala, Maharani Masala, and Roasted Cumin. Indian recipes often include a long list of ingredients, so my custom blends are designed to help make it easier to cook authentic dishes. There’s really no need to stock up on the myriad of spices out there when my blends contain the most popular of choices. And Indian spices aren’t only for Indian recipes; they can be added to almost any dish. Try my blends on lentils, rice, potatoes, steamed veggies, and meats, or add a blend to plain yogurt to create a raita, a refreshing and nourishing meal.
I also published my first cookbook, Turmeric & Spice: Indian Cuisine for the Mind, Body, and Spirit, after my family encouraged me to write down my recipes. I wanted my cookbook to be like the Indian version of Julia Child’s iconic cookbook on French cooking, so that any home chef at any level of experience could cook authentic Indian cuisine. In my cookbook, you’ll find guidance on:
- Cooking with spices, aromatics, and herbs
- Sourcing the freshest ingredients
- Finding the tools you need
- Methods of preparation
- Key techniques and processes
As a certified Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant, I also included information on the ancient philosophy of Ayurveda in my cookbook, as well as recipes that incorporate these principles. In India, the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda has been passed on for over 5,000 years, and I was fortunate to have grown up in a household that followed these principles and gave me this first-hand experience. Our family meals always included a combination of delicious and healing spices along with fresh, seasonal vegetables.
Not only do my spice blends add beautiful color and complex flavor to meals, but they’re also good for you! My cookbook and spice blends will help you embrace ancient wisdom for the modern table and harness the power and energy of natural, whole foods. Just a little bit of spice goes a long way to elevating nearly any meal and making it beautiful and memorable.
