Sweet Breakfast Polenta
Breakfast, Recipes, Vegan

Sweet Breakfast Polenta

I grew up eating a lot of instant grits, and for some odd reason, I loved it. I was probably – no – definitely, the only 5 year old loving it. Aside from instant grits though, we made this lunch dish using Semolina – combined with chilies, peanuts, cumin, and coriander. So there are multiple …

Triple Berry Summer Compote
Recipes, Sweet

Triple Berry Summer Compote

There’s something deliciously satisfying and cooling about warm fresh toppings on creamy and cool ice cream. Berries are the best during the summer time, and we tend to buy tons of them in our house. But as you know, they don’t have a very long shelf life. That’s when I make this delicious mixed berry …

Vanilla Strawberry Cupcakes
Recipes, Sweet

Vanilla Strawberry Cupcakes

I was tasked with (as I usually am) making a treat for a colleagues baby shower. We know he is having a girl, so I went the traditional route. I don’t make many desserts that are completely pink in nature, so I figured why not? Plus I got these awesome strawberries from Fresh Direct that …

Spring Recipes for Vegetarians
Appetizers, Breakfast, Lunch, Recipes, Savory, Vegan

Spring Recipes for Vegetarians

SPRING IS HERE! Celebrate with delicious and healthy veggie-full recipes! From yours truly Rosemary-Garlic Ricotta Toast 5-Ingredient Chia Seed Pudding Beet-Strawberry Smoothie  Indian Cauliflower Steaks  Sweet Potato-Quinoa Burgers    

Watermelon Vodka Slushie
Recipes

Watermelon Vodka Slushie

It’s almost summer. That means more sunshine and laying around. Well, lucky for me, I practice the latter on a regular basis without regard to the weather. But what about laying around in the sun with a delicious Watermelon Cocktail? I’ve seen a ton of these “made in the watermelon’ type cocktails, so I decided …

Sweet & Savory Bruschetta
Appetizers, Recipes

Sweet & Savory Bruschetta

I have a certain appreciation and love for finger foods – or rather, normally large-sized foods that have been turned into mini versions. Why? They’re easier to eat and can appreciate the flavors more. Also they’re super cute. Here is a simple recipe for a super satisfying hors d’oeuvre that can be served at a …

Salted Maple Pecan French Toast
Breakfast, Recipes, Vegan

Salted Maple Pecan French Toast

This might potentially be my fifth, sixth, seventh (?) French Toast recipe on chefpriyanka.com. I think its one of those underestimated dishes. It can be made sweet, savory, Indian – you name it! But what I hate about ordering French Toast at a restaurant, is that it most always is bettered in egg and definitely NOT …

Lemon-Garlic Orzo with Black Truffle
Lunch, Recipes, Savory, Vegan

Lemon-Garlic Orzo with Black Truffle

I went to Italy last month – hold up – you didn’t know?! You haven’t seen my 89485948 pics?! Haha!

I visited Italy with my family when I was 6 years old, and although it was a beautiful country then as it is now, we didn’t exactly have a ‘beautiful’ experience. We experienced quite a bit of discrimination because of the color of our skin – weird, eh? So I was left with a very bad taste in my mouth at a very young age. That being said, I was hesitant to travel to Italy this time, but figured I’d give it a shot. One of my good friends had been living in Bologna, and obviously my foodie 6th senses perked up.


Bologna is among some of the foodiest cities in Italy, next to Modena and Parma. I ate my way through Bologna and made my way down to the Amalfi Coast cities. Let me mention at this point – I did not face any discrimination. Italian thought I was either Spanish (Espanola) or Sicilian or just didn’t know, haha!


In Sorrento, we discovered a delicious store that specialized in products of Umbria. Some of Umbria’s specialties include truffles, and black truffles were in season for the summer. So obviously I had to buy some! What I really wanted to do was shave them in my mouth, but I decided to act like a civilized human being, buy a jar and leave.

Truffles are generally very strong, but these fresh truffles are very fragrant – have a subtle truffle flavor, softer texture, and are just all around delicious. I decided to make a simple orzo with these.


Lemon-Garlic Orzo with Black Truffle

  • 1/2 cup orzo
  • 1-2 cups boiling water
  • PAM Olive Oil Flavor
  • 1 lemon – juice squeezed, half of it zested
  • 1/4 good quality extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp red crushed pepper (or more to taste)
  • tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • salt
  • 2 cloves garlic – finely minced
  • 1 tsp honey/agave
  • 1 fresh black summer truffle – thinly sliced, using a sharp knife or truffle shaver


1. Place water in a medium pot, spray with a bit of PAM and set over high heat to bring to a boil. Pour in orzo and allow to cook.

2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add in all of the ingredients except for the olive oil. Whisk together. While slowly whisking, pour in the olive oil until dressing is emulsified and combined.

3. Once the orzo is al dente, strain out the water (but save it!) and place the cooked orzo directly in the bowl of dressing, add in a couple of slices of truffle, and lemon zest and toss to coat. Taste for salt.

4. Serve on its own, with toasted ciabatta, or over arugula!

Blueberry Coconut Chia Bowl
Breakfast, Lunch, Recipes, Vegan

Blueberry Coconut Chia Bowl

A lot of recipe are good enough for 2 people, but sometimes I take the selfish route and make a one person serving. Like when I’m hangry…but want something healthy…but not willing to make TOO many compromises. Wait, that sounds like me everyday, ha! I recently felt like this – shocker – so I decided …

Simple Lentil Sauté
Lunch, Recipes, Savory, Vegan

Simple Lentil Sauté

Not your momma’s lentil soup – that’s for sure! I realized that I don’t cook with legumes as much as I want to. I have grown up (and still do when I go to my parents) eating a lot of legumes – Indians love them legumes! We generally use them in daals (thick soups/stews), in …