Yogurt

November 30, 2021
Ingredients

Makes 3 cups

Amount Ingredient
3 cups milk
2 T yogurt

I use 2 T to be on the safe side, you can get away with using less than that.

Process

Instant Pot
1. Pour 1 cup of water in the instant pot, set in the trivet and then place 1 glass jar into the pot.
2. Fill jar with 3 cups of milk (you can skip step 1 and pour the milk directly into the pot).
3. Cover jar with foil or some other loose-fitting, heat-proof cover
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Steam: 1 minute
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1. After cycle completes and pot is safe to open, let milk cool to room temp and add yogurt; mix to incorporate.
2. Shut the lid (no need to seal) and press yogurt button; let incubate for 8 hours (it should begin counting down from 8:00).
3. Refrigerate
Stovetop
1. Bring 3 cups of milk to a rolling boil in a medium sauce pot, then turn off the heat and let it cool to room temp.
2. Pour milk into whatever container it’s meant to set in (old yogurt container, glass jar, etc.). Add 2 T yogurt, mix, and set to incubate in a warm environment (such as the oven with the oven light turned on or a warm area near the stove) for 8 hours.
3. Refrigerate
Notes
- If yogurt is still a bit runny after 8 hours, let it incubate for longer, up to or exceeding an additional 8 hours. It’ll be fine.
- Yogurt will set up further while refrigerated.
- Sugar or some flavorings can be added during incubation, though I’ve never tried this.
- Yogurt can be used any way store-bought plain yogurt would be.
- Strain for thicker consistency (“Greek style”).
- Can add milk powder as a thickener, or heavy cream though I’ve never tried either.
Base Ingredient // Pot-in-Pot // Recipe // Stovetop

cold ○ desi ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ pakistani ○ photo ○ vegetarian
Rose & Cardamom Milk Tea

November 30, 2021
Credits

Recipe adapted from u/srividhya17 on Reddit.

Ingredients

Makes 1 cup

Amount Ingredient
½ cup milk
½ cup water
1 tsp tea, black, looseleaf (or 1 teabag)
2 pods cardamom, crushed
1 rosebud, dried
1½ tsp sugar

Process

Instant Pot
1. Add 1 cup of water to instant pot, place trivet inside and put pot-in-pot vessel on top.
2. Add all the ingredients to the smaller vessel and seal the lid.
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Pressure: High
Time: 3 minutes 
Release: Quick
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1. Strain into cup, enjoy hot.
Stovetop
1. In a small sauce pot on the stove set to medium high heat, add all the ingredients and cook until contents reach a roiling boil and threaten to spill over.
2. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Strain into cup, enjoy hot.
Nutrition

Calories: 103

Notes
- Can add fennel seeds
- Can replace sugar with honey
Drinks // Pot-in-Pot // Recipe // Stovetop

calories calculated ○ desi ○ dump and go ○ pakistani ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian

Amount	Ingredient
3 cups	milk
2 T	yogurt

Amount	Ingredient
½ cup	milk
½ cup	water
1 tsp	tea, black, looseleaf (or 1 teabag)
2 pods	cardamom, crushed
1	rosebud, dried
1½ tsp	sugar

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

November 29, 2021

Ingredients

Makes 8 servings

Amount	Ingredient
3 T	butter
1 large	onion, diced
2 stalks	celery, diced
1	bell pepper, red, large, diced
1 tsp	garlic, minced
4 tsp	Better Than Bouillon no-chicken base
30oz	water
30oz	tomatoes, diced
¼ cup	basil, fresh
2½ T	tomato paste
1 tsp	salt + to taste
1 tsp	fresh ground black pepper
2 T	balsamic vinegar + to taste
½ tsp	MSG + to taste
½ cup	Parmesan cheese, fresh grated
½ cup	heavy cream

Process

Instant Pot

set Instant Pot to sauté mode, melt butter and sauté onions, celery, and bell pepper until tender
add garlic, cook 1 minute until fragrant
add the rest of the ingredients (except Parmesan and heavy cream)

Pressure: high
Time: 5 minutes
Release: quick

purée contents with immersion blender until smooth
stir in Parmesan and heavy cream, let warm through; serve hot

Stovetop

Use a heavy-bottomed pot and instead of pressure cooking in step 3, simmer until everything is tender and starts to break down.

Nutrition

Calories = 1,215 total recipe (152 per serving)

Notes

blend less for chunky soup
use (1) 28oz can or (2) 14 oz. cans for the tomatoes. 2 oz less than the full 30 called for in the recipe isn’t a big deal but the difference can be made up with fresh tomatoes so a third can isn’t opened unnecessarily
a 30oz box of stock can be used instead of the BTB base + water
a large carrot can be substituted for the red bell pepper, though the latter is tastier

See the freezing guide for tips and information on freezer-safe food storage.

Instant Pot // Recipe // Soup // Stovetop

better than takeout ○ calories calculated ○ freezer friendly ○ italian ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ vegetarian

Balsamic Reduction

November 28, 2021
A cup of balsamic vinegar can be cooked down as-is into a thick, syrupy glaze. This is my preferred method, which I find sweet enough. If you must add sugar, use the recipe below.

Ingredients

Amount Ingredient
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 T sugar

Any kind of sugar should work here (cane, raw, brown, granulated,). I would avoid powdered, as I haven’t tested that and it tends to behave in sometimes unexpected ways.

Process
1. Add all ingredients in a small sauce pot set on medium high heat.
2. Boil until reduced by half or desired consistency is reached.
3. Cool to room temp before using (optional)
Notes
- Extra reduction can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container, preferably glass.
- Pairs great with caprese salad, bruschetta, caprese appetizers, drizzled on artisanal pizzas, in paninis, etc. Some rave about drizzling it over vanilla ice cream.
Accompaniments // Recipe // Stovetop

cold ○ condiment ○ dressing ○ italian ○ pantry ingredients ○ quick ○ sauce ○ vegetarian

Amount	Ingredient
1 cup	balsamic vinegar
1 T	sugar

Thai Basil Fried Rice with Chicken

November 25, 2021

Credits

Recipe adapted from a combination of this Allrecipes.com listing and Hot Thai Kitchen.

Ingredients

Makes 6 servings

Amount	Ingredient
3 T	oyster sauce
3 T	fish sauce
1 tsp	sugar
12 oz	chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw
42g	oil, neutral, divided
½ cup	onion, chopped
1 cup	bell pepper, red, chopped
½ cup	carrot, shredded
2	Serrano peppers, slit
1 T	garlic, minced
680g	rice, Jasmine, cooked
1 T	soy sauce, less sodium
½ cup	cilantro, chopped
¼ cup	Thai basil, fresh

Process

Prep

Mix oyster sauce, fish sauce and sugar in small bowl; use half the mixture to marinate the chicken.
Prep the rest of the vegetables and ingredients (chop onion, bell pepper, slit Serranos)

Cook

In a large wok, heat HALF the oil until shimmering and add marinated chicken along with any marinade that’s settled in the bottom of the bowl (NOT the rest of the mixture which was set aside in step 1)
Saute chicken until mostly cooked through and no longer pink on the outside. Cut into a piece to see if it’s cooked. Remove from wok and set aside.
In the same wok, without cleaning, add the remaining oil and stir fry the onions, bell peppers, carrots, Serrano peppers and garlic to desired doneness.
Add rice and continue to stir fry.
Add marinade mixture set aside in step 1, plus soy sauce; stir to distribute sauce evenly.
Add chicken back to wok (with any accumulated juices), cilantro, and Thai basil; stir fry until chicken is cooked through.

Serve hot with sliced cucumbers and fresh lime wedges

Nutrition

Calories: 300 per serving (⅙th of recipe)

Notes

1 mini cucumber = 10 calories, juice of half a lime = 6 calories
Go easy on the serrano if you can’t tolerate heat very well
If your wok or frying pan is small, make the recipe in batches

Mains // Recipe // Stovetop

asian ○ better than takeout ○ calories calculated ○ chicken ○ meat ○ photo ○ quick ○ rice ○ stir-fry ○ thai

Dumpling Soup

November 25, 2021

Ingredients

Makes 1 serving

Amount	Ingredient
¼ tsp	oil, sesame
½ tsp	garglic chili paste
1 tsp	ginger paste
1 tsp	garlic, minced
1 tsp	Better than Bouillon no-chicken base
1 cup	water
4 pieces	frozen wontons
2 T	carrots, shredded
½	green onion
1	mushroom, crimini, chopped
1½ tsp	hoisin sauce
2 tsp	ponzu sauce

Process

In a small pot, bloom the ginger, garlic, chili paste, and chicken base in oil for 1 minute.
Add the rest of the ingredients and cook until dumplings are warmed through and carrots are soft, about 3-5 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 120

Notes

Can substitute 1 cup of vegetable broth or use vegetable base instead of the chicken base + water, I use the no-chicken version since the chicken one isn’t halal
Any flavor of frozen wontons will work
Can add chicken or other protein to it; probably easiest to use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken and just let it warm through with all the other ingredients

Recipe // Soup // Stovetop

asian ○ calories calculated ○ comfort food ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian

Thai Curried Butternut Squash Soup

November 25, 2021

Credits

Recipe modified from Cookie + Kate.

Ingredients

Amount	Ingredients
2 T	oil
2 lbs	butternut squash (~1.5 squashes)
1	onion, yellow, medium
4 cloves	garlic
2-3 T	Thai red curry paste
2 tsp	coriander powder
1 tsp	cumin powder
¼ tsp	salt
⅛ tsp	red pepper flakes
1 T	lime juice, fresh
32 oz	vegetable broth
½ cup	coconut milk, full fat
handful	chopped cilantro, mostly leaves

Process

slice squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds and spray cut side lightly with oil and roast in the oven (optional)

Temp: 450º F
Time: 1 hour

peel and chop into rough chunks when cool enough to handle

Instant Pot

turn IP to saute mode and add oil, squash, onions, garlic, curry paste, coriander, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes; cook for 8-10 minutes
add broth, close the lid and seal pot

Pressure: high
Time: 5 minutes
Release: 10 minute natural

use immersion blender to puree soup to desired consistency; taste for salt and curry paste, adjust as necessary
stir in lime juice, coconut milk, and chopped cilantro

Stovetop

in medium sized, heavy bottom pot, add oil, squash, onions, garlic, curry paste, coriander, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes; cook for 8-10 minutes
add broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes
using immersion blender, puree soup to desired consistency; taste for salt and curry paste, adjust as necessary
stir in lime juice, coconut milk, and chopped cilantro

Nutrition

100g soup = 71 calories

Notes

roasting is an optional step, but increases flavor and makes peeling/chopping the hard butternut squash much easier
roasted squash pulp can be stored in the fridge for ~a week or so; freeze if storing longer
this soup freezes well; fresh cilantro and a hit of lime juice can help wake up the flavors a little bit when reheated from frozen

See the freezing guide for tips and information on freezer-safe food storage.

Instant Pot // Recipe // Soup // Stovetop

calories calculated ○ freezer friendly ○ fusion ○ photo ○ thai ○ vegetarian

Aloo Aanday

November 24, 2021

Ingredients

Makes 4-5 servings (if using 8 eggs)

Amount	Ingredient
2	potatoes, large
3	onions, sliced
3	chilies, serrano
1	tomato, roma (optional)
2 T	oil, vegetable
1 cup	water
1 tsp	salt
¼ tsp	turmeric
¼ tsp	cayenne pepper
to taste	cumin seeds
to taste	coriander seeds (optional)
6-8	eggs
to taste	cilantro, fresh
to taste	mint, fresh
to taste	red chili flakes

Process

Cut potatoes into thin slices, soak in water (optional); set aside.
Sauté chilies, potatoes, tomato (if using), and 1 cup of onions in oil.
Add spices (including cumin + coriander seeds) and roast for a few seconds; add water throughout the process as needed to deglaze the pan and prevent burning.
Add the rest of the onions and cook for a few minutes.
Add eggs, mix thoroughly to create scramble. It will look like a gooey mess, don’t worry. It will come together. :)
Turn off heat, add cilantro, mint, chili flakes; mix to incorporate.

Serve hot with roti / paratha / naan.

Notes

In step 2, I like to add a cup of the sliced onions right at the beginning so they cook down all the way, then add the rest of the onions later in step 4. This gives two tiers of onion flavor: the sweeter, more caramelized one from step 2 and the still crunchy, stir fried ones that are added later. The latter also adds a good texture to the softer eggs and potatoes.
The potatoes take the longest time to cook here, so in order to get them nice and tender, a medium dice of about a half inch or so will work best. If need be, add some water to the pan and cover to steam / help move things along. Once the potatoes are cooked, you can add the eggs and the dish is done in about a minute.
Feel things out—I ended up using a full cup of water and an extra tablespoon of oil (for a total of 3 T) because I felt it needed it. A bit more salt would have been perfect, as well. Your dish may vary a little depending on the size of your eggs and vegetables.

Mains // Recipe // Stovetop

desi ○ eggs ○ mom’s recipe ○ pakistani ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian