Diwali 2024: Everything we cooked
Diwali 2024 was perfectly timed. The public holiday in Germany on Friday gave me a whole day to cook Diwali dinner for our Indian-German-Taiwanese-Dutch family.
I’m often asked about the spices in my kitchen and I think that deserves its own post. But the most important thing you need to know is that “curry” is a made-up word by white people and there is no such thing as “curry” on our spice rack. Curry leaves, however, are totally legit and if you are ever lucky enough to find them in the frozen section, grab a bag because dried curry leaves will never be as good as the fresh ones.
Okra
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
This recipe is a family favourite. It uses nearly every spice on my spice rack and believe me when I say that it’s spicy. It’s taken us years of eating to get used to it, so it’s definitely not for the weak.
When made with 500g of okra, 300g of onions, and 400g of tomatoes it lasts us for 2 meals for 2-person family.
Serve it with naan or kulcha.
Aloo methi
Methi (bundles of small green leaves) is one of the few Indian veggies available in The Netherlands. It’s also a fairly easy recipe and doesn’t require any spices. Yup, you read that right. Just throw it in with some diced potatoes and a dash of oil. Methi (fenugreek) leaves on their own can be a bit bitter, so a sprinkle of sugar is never a bad idea.
garlic naan
I never make breads at home and always rely on the local Indian supermarket’s frozen section.
It was our first time eating AASHIRVAD’s garlic naan and I dare say that it was the softest, fluffiest, naan I’d had since moving to Europe.
gujarati kadhi
It’s difficult to define Bombay cuisine as you grow up with such a varied mix of foods. Undhiyo is my favourite sabzi of all time and it’s such a shame that we don’t get it here in Europe. The Gujarati kadhi (paired with khichdi) is my go-to comfort food and very easy to make.
This sweet sauce was the perfect balance to the spicy okra.
Dhokla
Ok, I’ll admit that my Dhokla fell apart, but what little I managed to salvage tasted great.
All you need for Dhokla is a store-bought mix, some baking soda, and a steaming device.
It’s served with a side of green chutney, which if you want to go the easy route, is widely available in the frozen section of every Indian supermarket.
Mango Lassi
Stop paying for overpriced lassi.
Made with canned mango pump (preferable Alphonso, but I’ll accept Kesar) from the Indian supermarket, 2% greek yoghurt, and a dash of half-full milk, this is the most accessible of all Indian recipes.
Store cold until ready to serve.
Recipe Links
Ready to try out these recipes for yourself?
Indian Groceries online
Don’t have a local Indian supermarket or you’re simply overwhelmed by choice? I recently discovered Global Food Hub. They also deliver fresh veggies but I must warn you about the excessive packaging they come in. I felt so guilty about the packaging that I only ordered from them that one time.
About me
👋 I am Isana, a Product leader moonlighting as a blogger. After 7 years in Düsseldorf, Germany, I moved to join my husband in Utrecht, Netherlands. I write about my experiments in growing vegetables, learning languages, and creating art. Come say hi on Instagram!
