Pepe Ghonto, Green papaya, a throw of roasted peanuts and raisins and a kiss of spices. No fuss.

Succulent paneer. A kiss of fresh cream. A fragrant smear of thandai masala. Pan-grilled till a gorgeous golden.

Chicken Tikka. As easy as it can get. If you ever thought preparing kebabs was a daunting task, this recipe is a must-try.

The melt-in-your-mouth jackfruit is in perfect bliss with the luscious chicken. Amidst a mellifluous symphony of spices. Divine!

A no-frills goat liver stir-fry with potatoes and green peas and loads of green chilies. My idea of soul food, earthy and unpretentious!!

Malabar spinach cooked with a medley of vegetables. Perfumed with coriander powder, ginger and chillies. Delectable.

Hilsa paired with fried eggplant. In a light curry perfumed with earthy kalonji and mean chillies. And the headiness of mustard oil.

Ilish cooked in milk. Just a throw of kalonji, some wicked green chillies and a luxuriant drizzle of mustard oil. Simple yet eclectic.

Flat-beans stuffed with the never-fails-to-impress shorshe-posto (mustard-poppy seeds) paste, dipped in batter and fried golden.

Fresh radish. A throw of green peas. A kiss of asafoetida. A hint of cumin and coriander. The luxury of a dollop of ghee.

Peyejkoli paired with Rui or Katla. A hint of cumin. Of course some wicked chilies thrown in for the heat. Divine. With piping hot rice.

Dumplings of jaggery and coconut. Dipped generously in a milk and semolina batter. Fried to a splendid golden. Added to a syrup.

My mother’s recipe for Murgir Jhol. The Sunday Chicken Curry. Earthy. Finger-licking delicious. Packed with flavor.

Fresh radish greens. A splutter of kalonji. A throw of shrimps. A hint of kasundi. Some chillies if you love the heat.