chezshuchi

About

Indian recipes are as old as the land – We find rich descriptions of exotic cuisine even in old Sanskrit texts.  Authentic cuisine of the Indian subcontinent is known far and wide, and has been influenced over the centuries via numerous interactions with traders and colonizers – from Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Many Indian recipes that have been passed down through the generations. However, these are never found on the menus of “Indian” restaurants. From Matar ki Ghughni to Kadhi and from Aloo Tamatar ka rasa to Tehri, there is a wide variety of recipes, from simple to exotic, that have enticed generations of Indians. In this website, I have tried to present a collection of 101 home style North Indian recipes, which are made on a daily basis in Indian families.  

In choosing and developing these recipes, I have focused on two principles. First, I have tried to use ingredients that can be easily found throughout the world, and second, I have provided step-by-step guidance so that the dishes can be prepared by everyone, even if one has never ventured into preparing Indian cuisine. I have tried and tested all the recipes in this website many times in my kitchen, and then, compiled and documented these recipes for your gastronomic journey. 

My goal in this website is to introduce accessible healthy vegetarian options from the Indian kitchens to people who are passionate about a healthy diet. While living on three different continents, I have seen a new interest in vegetarian cuisine and healthy ways to cook vegetarian dishes, but I have also realized that a lot of unfamiliarity surrounds such endeavors. People often ask me: “How do vegetarians get all the essential nutrients?” Some people think that vegetarian food is boring and monotonous and others want to include more vegetarian options in their daily meals but do not know healthy and delicious recipes. Such questions and curiosity are what has encouraged me to develop traditional Indian recipes in a healthy way and write about them. Many a times, Indian cuisine is associated with a long list of ingredients and elaborate, time-taking cooking procedures.  This website is an attempt to introduce a variety of vegetarian dishes - from starters to desserts – using accessible ingredients and simple steps, for everyday healthy cooking. All the recipes in this website have a medium spice level.  

Finally, this website is a personal quest. I believe cooking is an art, and this art can be mastered. Earlier, when I used to send my recipes to friends, I would write the ingredients and steps very carefully, with a lot of details. Friends used to respond, saying "It is very easy to make dishes using your recipes. You have a gift!" In this recipe collection also, I have carefully detailed all the recipes with step-by-step explanations. As I have found in thousands of interactions with readers of my website http://chezshuchi.com, these details help readers to master the art of vegetarian cooking.

Hope you enjoy going through this website. Eat healthy and be healthy! 

Happy Cooking,

Shuchi