Indian

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Inspired by custom-made Indian snacks sold all over Chowpatty Beach.

Inspired by the ancient cuisine of Indian kings and queens, this from Appam Restaurant's owner-chef Irene Trias bursts with exotic flavors, yet it is light, refreshing and very kind to the heart.

Known as dal in India, this dish is often offered over rice or topped with plain yogurt.

Serve this pilaf-like dish with mango chutney and cold yogurt.

"I'm from India," writes Hema Kundargi of Cupertino, California, "and I enjoy the foods of my homeland. My children are the opposite — they like 'American' food. But I haven't given up trying to make Indian meals that the whole family will like. This recipe pleases everyone."

A caldin is a coconut curry, typical of Goa. Though caldins are made with fresh coconut milk in India, chef Cardoz uses Chaokoh brand canned unsweetened coconut milk. It's thicker and richer than other brands, and imparts a great deal of flavor. It's important not to let the caldin boil during cooking, or the coconut sauce will break.

Ghee Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 30 min

You may have had pappadams — light, crisp wafers made of lentil flour — at Indian restaurants. Here we use them as a stand-in for croutons.

Serve over steamed basmati rice. Garam masala, a spice mixture, is available at Indian markets and some supermarkets.

The inspiration for this entrée comes from the Bengal delta, where fish is the food of choice. The area is also known for its use of nigella (black onion) seeds and fenugreek seeds, which are sold at Indian markets.

Creamy fresh cheese meets spinach in this Indian classic.

This traditional Indian dish is usually served with basmati rice or Indian bread.