Author: Gopi Krishna

William used to order Chinese takeout three times a week. Not kidding. Our credit card statement looked like we owned stock in our local restaurant. One night, I looked at the soggy fried rice container and said, “I bet I can make this better.” He laughed. Challenge accepted.That’s how I created our better than takeout fried rice recipe. After testing dozens of batches and burning through several pans, I finally cracked the code. This homemade Better Than Takeout Fried Rice tastes exactly like your favorite Chinese restaurant – maybe even better. The rice gets crispy on the edges, the eggs…

Sabudana Laddu is a very easy sweet made with simple ingredients. It has a mild sweet taste and soft texture that melts in the mouth when bitten. These laddus are perfect for festive times or when you feel like making something quick and different. The tiny sago pearls add a slight crunch and the coconut adds a nice flavour. This is a lovely dessert to make when you run out of rice flour or other regular ingredients for laddus. It takes less time and the quantity is also good. I like how the ghee binds everything well and it makes…

White Christmas Slice is a soft, sweet and crunchy, no-bake dessert bar made using desiccated coconut, milk powder, nuts, dried fruits and butter. It’s lightly sweet, nutritious and perfect for when you want to make something quick but special. You can prepare it in just a few minutes and it sets beautifully in the fridge and gives a firm but chewy flavour. I like to make these slices whenever I feel like eating something sweet but I don’t want to stand in the kitchen for long. It looks so colorful and bright because of all those dry fruits. You can…

Soybean Sundal is a healthy and very tasty snack made using soaked soybeans, spices and grated coconut. It is soft and light buttery, with a slight crunch of coconut and the aroma of tadka. It is also easy to make and fill. You can enjoy it as an evening snack or in small doses whenever you feel hungry. This recipe snack is easy to make and takes less time, the beans are soft and slightly nutty in taste, and the coconut gives it a nice texture. You can make it salty or sweet as per your choice. Even kids love…

Our first winter together, William and I got snowed in completely. The power flickered, the wind howled, and our fridge looked sad. I had some chicken, a few cans of beans, and cream cheese. “Can you make something warm?” William asked, wrapped in blankets like a burrito.That’s when I remembered my mom’s white chicken chili recipe. She used to make it during Chicago winters when we were stuck inside for days. I threw everything together, hoping it would work. An hour later, our tiny apartment smelled like heaven, and William declared it “the best thing you’ve ever made.” Why This…

Pori Kadalai is a light and crispy sweet and salty mixture made using puffed rice, peanuts, chutney dal and a little jaggery. It’s very quick to make and requires only a few simple ingredients from the kitchen shelf. The combination of crunchy pori with the nutty flavor of kadalai and the mild sweetness of jaggery makes it such a great snack to have at any time. This recipe is very simple and easy to make. You just fry, mix and it’s ready to eat within minutes. This is perfect when you feel like eating something light but tasty. The mild…

My Aunt made this salad every single summer when I visited her as a kid. I remember sitting at her tiny kitchen table, watching her chop vegetables with that old knife she refused to replace. “Safa,” she’d say, “the secret to good food is fresh ingredients and love.” That’s when I fell in love with chickpea feta avocado salad.Years later, I pulled out her handwritten recipe card (coffee-stained and crinkled) and made it for William. He took one bite and said, “Why haven’t you been making this our whole marriage?” Now this Mediterranean chickpea salad with feta shows up on…

My husband walked into the kitchen last Friday night, saw the skillet on the stove, and grinned. “You’re making that fancy restaurant sauce again?” He was talking about our Peppercorn Sauce – the one that transforms simple steaks into something that tastes like we spent a fortune at a steakhouse!After making this creamy peppercorn sauce recipe dozens of times for date nights and special dinners, I’ve figured out exactly what makes restaurant-style sauce at home. The secret isn’t complicated French techniques or hard-to-find ingredients. It’s understanding how crushed peppercorns, rich cream, and a splash of brandy create that bold, luxurious…

First came the high-end ranges of stainless steel (think Wolf and Viking) in luxury kitchens. This was followed by UK and European imports such as Bertazzoni, AGA, La Cornue and Lacanche. These pastel- and jewel-toned beauties, which can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $25,000 (or more depending on the size), have been the crown jewel of custom kitchens for most of a decade. I call this kitchen trend “statement ranges”, due to the fact that in a space where all other appliances have to be hidden behind cabinet panels, these tend to be anything but humble and hidden. By Cabinetry…

Paruppu Thogayal is a simple and delicious South Indian style side dish made using toor dal, coconut, garlic and some spices. This is one of the easy to make and comforting recipes when you want to make something quick but still filling. The flavor of roasted lentils along with coconut and garlic makes this thogayal very aromatic and flavourful. This thogayal also goes well with hot boiled rice, rasam rice or curd rice. It is also quite healthy as it provides good amount of protein from pulses and very less oil is used for frying. You can make it in…