This collection features Indian recipes passed down through my family. From spicy Durban curries and fragrant biryanis to simple comforting dhal, homemade garlic naan, and traditional sweetmeats like barfi and gulab jamun, every dish is rich in flavour and tradition.
My Ma has been making square paratha for as long as I can remember. She folds them quickly, without thinking, the way you do something you’ve done a thousand times, and then she’ll tell you they’re best with a hot cup of tea. By the…
This gram dhal with brinjal is a deeply satisfying Indian dish that is humble in ingredients but big in flavour. This one uses baby brinjal, which melts into the gravy and adds a richness that makes it completely different from a plain dhal. The key…
There’s something special about the way a few humble ingredients can come together to create something truly satisfying. Aloo Palak is one of those recipes. It’s simple, wholesome, and surprisingly delicious. It’s the perfect side dish when you want something quick, healthy, and full of…
In my home, roti was never something you bought. It was made fresh, every time. This roti recipe takes me straight back to my grandmother’s kitchen. It’s soft, buttery, and slightly flaky at the edges. It goes with everything. Curry, a simple tomato chutney, or…
Growing up, the smell of this biryani meant something good was happening. A celebration, a family gathering, a Sunday where nobody was in a hurry. My family’s version has always used a freshly blended green paste – chillies, mint, coriander, and curry leaves, instead of…
Growing up in a Durban Indian household, there was always a container of ginger and garlic paste in the fridge. My mum made it in bulk and it went into almost every pot. It elevates every dish and it far better than anything you’ll find…
These Durban chilli garlic butter prawns are spicy, buttery and garlicky. Juicy prawns are marinated in Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric, and ginger garlic, then simmered gently in a rich butter sauce infused with curry leaves, garlic, coriander, and chilli. This is not your average garlic…
This Durban Crab Curry recipe is everything a proper South African seafood curry should be. This is my mum’s recipe. It’s bold, spicy, tangy, and deeply comforting. Fresh crab is simmered in a fragrant gravy of curry leaves, green chillies, tamarind, and mixed Kashmiri chilli…
This Durban mutton curry is slow cooked with a blend of Indian spices, fresh curry leaves, ginger, garlic and potatoes until the mutton is fall-off-the-bone tender and the gravy is deep, rich, and full of flavour. A beloved dish in South African homes. This Durban…
This tinfish biryani is a bold, flavourful South African Durban style biryani made with pilchards, fragrant basmati rice, spiced potato chutney and boiled eggs layered together into one deeply satisfying meal. It is the sort of recipe that has been passed down through South African…
This Indian braised butternut is a simple South African Indian style dish made with just a handful of pantry ingredients. It is soft, slightly sweet, and gently spiced with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried red chillies. The butternut cooks down into a melt-in-your-mouth texture,…
This Durban chicken curry is a bold, flavourful South African Indian curry made with tender chicken pieces, warming spices, and soft potatoes in a rich gravy. Growing up in Durban, my mum would cook this curry every other weekend in our home. It’s the kind…
Yellow rice is a rice dish made with turmeric, giving it a golden colour and warm, savoury flavour. This South African yellow rice with vegetables, often called savoury rice, is a flavourful seasoned rice dish perfect for everyday meals. Why You’ll Love This Recipe Reliable…
This easy South African braised cabbage and peas recipe is a simple, flavourful side dish made with sliced cabbage, onions, dried red chillies, and baby peas. Slowly cooked until tender and lightly golden, this comforting dish is commonly served alongside rice, roti, dhal, or curry…
This easy Durban-style butter bean and potato curry is the ultimate comfort food. It’s flavourful, and made with simple pantry ingredients. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a budget-friendly family meal. Why You’ll Love This Recipe Easy-to-find ingredients: Made with everyday staples like potatoes,…
In our house, biryani doesn’t always mean meat. During Purtassi, when we fast from meat for the month, this vegetable biryani is what gets made instead and honestly, nobody misses the meat. It’s the same slow cook, the same spices, the same smell filling the…
This indian salmon rice bowl is a flavour-packed, comforting meal inspired by classic South African Indian home cooking. The salmon is marinated in Indian spices, then pan-fried to tender perfection. The rice is a vibrant, spiced two-pot style with turmeric and mixed vegetables. It is…
Soft green beans and juicy mushrooms gently coated in warm spices make this curry comforting without being heavy. It’s simple, nourishing, and exactly the kind of dish you crave on busy weeknights or during fasting periods. It’s the sort of recipe you taste once and…
This easy Durban dhal recipe is a comforting South African dish made with yellow split peas, turmeric, garlic, onion, curry leaves and a few more ingredients. The yellow split peas are cooked until soft and creamy, then finished with a fragrant tempering of spices. This…
This 30-minute cauliflower curry is a practical, flavor-driven dish designed for busy home cooks. It uses some indian pantry spices, minimal prep, and one pot. As a result, it delivers maximum flavor without unnecessary steps. Cauliflower absorbs spices exceptionally well. Because of this, it works…
This homemade garlic naan is soft, fluffy, and made entirely on the stovetop – no tandoor oven needed. Made with a simple yeast dough infused with cumin seeds and fennel seeds, then brushed with a fragrant garlic and olive oil topping, this garlic naan recipe…
If there is one dish that proves simple ingredients can create a delicious vegetarian meal, it’s this potato curry. Soft potatoes simmered in a fragrant tomato-onion masala with turmeric, Kashmiri chilli, and a touch of curry leaf? That’s comfort in a bowl. The best part…
This Durban-style chicken biryani is one of those meals that brings everyone to the table. Made with fragrant basmati rice, spiced chicken, and potatoes, this comforting family favourite is perfect for any occasion. Unlike some biryani recipes, this stovetop version uses simple ingredients and an…
This tinfish chutney recipe is one of those South African Indian classics that is loved across generations. It is flavourful, nostalgic, and incredibly budget friendly. Plus, it comes together in about 30 minutes. That makes it perfect for busy weeknights when you still want a…