Creamy rich Indian rice pudding rolled into balls and coated in various toppings to make a perfect dessert that’s a hit at any dinner party. These kheer ladoos (rice pudding truffles) have an amazing texture and cardamom flavor! (gluten-free and soy-free)

These are an easy dessert for any festive season or for Diwali. I made this decadent rice pudding flavored with cardamom, which is basically Punjabi kheer. 

Then, I mix it with some cashew cream, chill it, scoop it into balls, and roll them in different toppings like pistachios, cocoa powder, almond slivers, rose petals, melted chocolate, toasted coconut, or anything else you like.

Ladoo are basically Indian truffles, and these are flavored with cardamom for a simple yet delicious dessert.

You can change up the flavor with things like cinnamon or vanilla, and you can play around with toppings and mix-ins to make all kinds of delicious variations! For extra decadent rice pudding truffles, melt some chocolate with a little bit of coconut oil in a double boiler, then coat them in the melted chocolate.

Kheer ladoo are great to serve either as a snack or dessert. They don’t need extra bowls or spoons, and they’re already portioned. You can also make them ahead of time, so you won’t have as much cooking to do on the day of your dinner party.

Why You’ll Love Kheer Ladoo

• creamy truffles scented with cardamom
• easy, make-ahead dessert perfect for Diwali or any dinner party
• versatile! Add mix-ins and toppings of choice to make these your own
• naturally gluten-free and soy-free

Continue reading: Kheer Ladoo (Indian Rice Pudding Truffles)

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Chai tiramisu cake has a delicious, moist, chai-infused cake with layers of cardamom cream dusted with a cocoa-chai topping. It is an absolutely fabulous fusion dessert perfect for Diwali or any special occasion! (soy-free with gluten-free or nut-free option)

We’re actually making a super quick cake for this chai tiramisu, instead of using ladyfingers. The rich, creamy textures of the cake and cardamom cream give you the decadence of tiramisu without any eggs or dairy needed.

You can make this with vegan ladyfingers, if you can find those, or you can use vegan cake rusks. Cake rusks are like plain biscotti available in Indian stores, and they work well as a substitute for ladyfingers. Just soak them in the chai, and use them for layering. Or, you can make this simple cake with just a few ingredients.

I heard you about wanting a cake that used a cream topping that didn’t need a freezer to set. The cardamom cream for this chai tiramisu cake sets up thick and spreadable at room temperature, no freezer needed.

Whether you make the cake from scratch or use one of the substitutions, this incredibly delicious chai tiramisu is a hit at any dinner party. It also freezes well, so you can make it ahead. Just thaw it overnight in the fridge.

Why You’ll Love Chai Tiramisu

• quick, easy, moist, delicious cake soaked in flavorful milk chai
• rich, decadent cardamom cream that sets up with no freezer needed
• cocoa-chai sprinkle on top for extra flavor
• soy-free with gluten free or nut-free options

Continue reading: Chai Tiramisu Cake (Chaimisu!)

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Dal Makhani is one of the most ordered Indian dish in restaurants. You can make authentic, buttery, rich dal makhani at home. It’s just as good as the restaurant version! Black gram and kidney beans are simmered in a creamy spiced sauce and is perfect for special occasions or a great dinner. With Instant Pot and Sauce pan instructions. (gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, oil-free option).

Love ordering Dal Makhani at restaurants? You’ll love this homemade version even more! This is adapted from my home-style dal makhani that’s on the blog and in my books. The difference is that this version has more spices, including some whole spices, which create more layers of flavor. 

This version of dal makhani is a little bit more involved than my home-style version. It has both a base sauce and a spiced oil. This levels up the flavor and adds a smoky, creamy flavor, like restaurants usually serve.  There’s also a lot more Kashmiri chili powder in this version compared to the home-style one. 

The home-style recipe is quicker and still delicious, but this one takes it up another couple of notches, simmering the beans in a deeply-flavored sauce.

Makhani means both “butter” and “like butter,” and the dish is called dal makhani, both because of the butter content and the creamy, buttery texture of the dal. The goal is to cook the beans long enough that they become soft and almost break down into the sauce, thickening it and creating a smooth consistency. For the right texture, I prefer to use a pressure cooker / instant pot, but you can also cook it in a saucepan. I included both methods in the recipe.

After cooking the beans, we make a delicious sauce with whole spices, aromatics, and ground spices, then add the cooked beans to it. Then, we prepare a spice oil with toasted fenugreek leaves, Kashmiri chili, smoked paprika, and a smoky burnt cinnamon stick. Burning the cinnamon stick for just half a second before adding it to give the dal its smoky restaurant-style flavor.

Traditionally, restaurants achieve this smoky flavor by using food-grade charcoal. They place a piece of hot charcoal in a bowl with oil, which immediately smokes. Then, they nestle the bowl inside the dal pot and cover the pan for 10 to 15 minutes. If you don’t want to use charcoal or burnt cinnamon, liquid smoke can also work.

Why You’ll Love Dal Makhani

• creamy, buttery dal with two kinds of beans
• deep flavor from the sauce and the spice oil, no dairy needed!
• flexible! Cook the beans in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop
• naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free with an oil-free option

Continue reading: Restaurant-Style Dal Makhani

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Sticky, crispy, ginger- and garlic-packed tofu Manchurian is an easy and delicious meal over rice, quinoa, noodles, or lettuce wraps. This popular Indo-chinese sauce has a sweet heat that is absolutely addictive! (nut-free with gluten-free and soy-free options)

Manchurian sauce is one of the most popular Indo-Chinese sauces, and it’s one of my favorites. You can use it in many different ways to make a variety of dishes. You can find it on restaurant menus paired with crispy fried chicken, crispy cauliflower, or fried veggie balls coated in the thick, sticky sauce. 

This sauce is absolutely delicious, and it has tons of ginger and garlic, so be ready to chop up a lot of both.

You can also make a thinner version of Manchurian sauce to pair with rice, very saucy veggie balls, crispy chicken, or noodles. I have a couple of different ways to use Manchurian sauce on the blog that use these variations.

Today, let’s make tofu Manchurian. We toss tofu in rice flour and cornstarch to make a really crispy coating, then pan-fry it until it gets an amazing crunch. We make the Manchurian sauce in the same pan, then toss the crispy tofu in it right before serving, so it keeps that satisfying crunch. 

Top your tofu Manchurian it with green onions, and serve it with rice, quinoa, noodles, or lettuce wraps. Or enjoy it as a starter on its own!

Why You’ll Love Tofu Manchurian

• crispy tofu in sticky-sweet ginger-garlic Manchurian sauce
• 1-pan dish ready in about 30 minutes
• flexible! Serve as a starter or over rice, grains, noodles, or in lettuce wraps.
• naturally nut-free with easy gluten-free and soy-free options

Continue reading: Indo-Chinese Crispy Tofu Manchurian (1-pan, 30 minutes)

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Tofu majestic is a vegan version of the popular South Indian starter, chicken majestic. Spicy, crispy tofu in a thick, spicy sauce is an absolutely delicious starter or side! You can easily control the heat, if you don’t like your food too spicy. (Options for gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free)

Chicken majestic is pretty popular in restaurants in the state of Andhra Pradesh, and especially in the city of Hyderabad. It is a spicy, crispy chicken dish that is usually fried or pan-fried and tossed in a thick, delicious, spicy sauce. It has elements from indo Chinese cuisine and the combination with South Indian flavors makes it a finger licking can’t stop good appetizer!

It is served as-is as a starter with a side of chutneys or a side salad. You can also add it to wraps or serve with rice. It is absolutely mindblowingly delectable and delicious. The tofu is crisped with some cornstarch and rice flour and some spices. Then tossed in a thick sauce to coat. If you want to keep these crisp, toss and serve immediately!

Tofu majestic is definitely hot with 4 heat elements in it, there’s green chilies, Kashmiri chili powder, black pepper and sambal oelek! It can get hotter depending on the green chilies that you use. To manage the heat, use milder green chilies and use less of the black pepper and Kashmiri chili powder.

I like to serve this with a side salad of onion and cucumber. It’s kind of like quick pickled onion with Indian spices called laccha pyaza. See the recipe notes for instructions for making the crispy, vibrant laccha onions. You can also serve with chutneys of choice or a creamy dip on the side to mellow the heat.

Why You’ll Love Tofu Majestic

• flavorful, crunchy, battered tofu in a thick, spicy sauce
• bake or pan fry the tofu
• versatile! Serve on its own, with chutney or creamy dipping sauce, with a fresh salad, or as wraps
• easy to make gluten-free, nut-free, and even soy-free.

Continue reading: Tofu Majestic (Vegan Chicken Majestic)

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