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NJCher

(41,185 posts)
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 03:20 PM Wednesday

What's for Dinner, Wed., Aug. 27, 2025

Everything is Indian is a colorful cookbook by Justin Narayan, who has Figian-Indian heritage. I checked it out from the library because I a) like Indian food; b) was so attracted to the cookbook's liveliness and color.

Every page is a different color! There are many photographs, too, not only of the dishes, but with the author and his family. Some are very funny, like one with his Dad. There are 90 recipes in the book, many of them family recipes. He will sometimes tell little stories about the particular recipe and the cook in the family who made it.

From this I decided to make Dhal Bhat. Dhal Bhat has red and yellow lentils, turmeric, tomato, carrot, onion, garlic, cumin and fennel seeds. From the pictures online and in his book, it looks like the kind of dish where you have the dahl bhat, but you flavor it with different items, such as coriander chutney, pickled onion, or some rice (basmati).



The only ingredient I don't have is the bird's eye chili. If I'm by the greengrocer today, though, I can maybe get one there. They look like this:



I'm making coriander chutney, too.

We have an Ethiopian restaurant in the next town over that has similar dishes. I love dining like this. Every bite, depending on how you combine it with a condiment, is like a different dish.


13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What's for Dinner, Wed., Aug. 27, 2025 (Original Post) NJCher Wednesday OP
Fish tacos. Made a big jar of fresh salsa yesterday. Bumper crop of tomatoes gotta get used Attilatheblond Wednesday #1
How do you make your salsa? justaprogressive Wednesday #5
Recipe? LOL Attilatheblond Wednesday #10
Well see, it's these differences that make it an actual recipe... justaprogressive Thursday #11
Leftover air fried chicken breast, sweet potatoes, cranberries SheltieLover Wednesday #2
chicken tagine with olives and figs... mike_c Wednesday #3
I usually eat lightly justaprogressive Wednesday #4
Homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Emile Wednesday #6
Wish I could send you some chilies spinbaby Wednesday #7
Cooking for one... justaprogressive Thursday #12
Fish sticks an white rice irisblue Wednesday #8
White Bean Falafel Plate La Coliniere Wednesday #9
It certainly does! justaprogressive Thursday #13

justaprogressive

(5,259 posts)
5. How do you make your salsa?
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 05:51 PM
Wednesday

Always looking for great salsa recipes!

(Used to make 5gal at a time for a restaurant )

Attilatheblond

(7,011 posts)
10. Recipe? LOL
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 10:01 PM
Wednesday

Just tomatoes, onions (white and green) garlic, cilantro, 2 kinds of chilies, a little salt, generous pour of lemon juice

justaprogressive

(5,259 posts)
11. Well see, it's these differences that make it an actual recipe...
Thu Aug 28, 2025, 09:18 AM
Thursday

1. 2 types of onions (white and green) - Normally just white.
2. 2 kinds of chilies. Normally just one.
3. generous pour of lemon juice. Lime juice is the normal acid...

See you're a chef!

SheltieLover

(73,076 posts)
2. Leftover air fried chicken breast, sweet potatoes, cranberries
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 04:01 PM
Wednesday

Like an early Thanksgiving dinner with chicken instead of turkey. lol

Enjoy!

justaprogressive

(5,259 posts)
4. I usually eat lightly
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 05:50 PM
Wednesday

when Mrs JP is working 3-11.

Roast Turkey sandwich with bacon,
Alfalfa sprouts and heirloom tomatoes.
+ a Vlasic Zesty Dill pickle...

Emile

(37,022 posts)
6. Homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich.
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 06:12 PM
Wednesday

Later before bedtime, cantaloupe.

Good Evening

spinbaby

(15,312 posts)
7. Wish I could send you some chilies
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 07:04 PM
Wednesday

I have them in my garden—primarily decorative because I’m not likely to use more than one or two.

The dinner thread always reminds me of how weird my single-person dinners have become. Tonight was refried beans covered with cheese, a couple of plums, and a protein shake.

justaprogressive

(5,259 posts)
12. Cooking for one...
Thu Aug 28, 2025, 11:46 AM
Thursday

is always a tough proposition. I found that it helps if you make a plan
for a great meal, say, once a week.

+Having a backup plan is a good way of taking care of you, when
you are simply not up for making a full meal.

Soon I'm going to be posting a slew (if they're good enough) of meals for two...

La Coliniere

(1,533 posts)
9. White Bean Falafel Plate
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 08:37 PM
Wednesday

Made a batch of oven roasted falafel croquettes with cannellini beans instead of chickpeas that turned out great. Drizzled tahini lemon dressing on top. Made homemade tabouli with parsley, mint and tomatoes from my garden. Also had steamed yellow squash tossed in a vegan butter sauce. Cheers!🥂
Love me some Dhal Bhat, Cher…Indian food rocks!

justaprogressive

(5,259 posts)
13. It certainly does!
Thu Aug 28, 2025, 11:52 AM
Thursday

I've hesitated putting up Indian recipes, because, unless you're buying the pre-packaged
dishes, you need a real Indian kitchen style stocked larder!

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