I am born & raised in Staten Island (aka Shaolin) and yes I mention this all the time, because rarely do you find first generation Indian families on Staten Island. But given the fact that I’m born in SI almost makes me half Italian…right?! LOL! What I mean by that is I looove Italian food …
Sweet n’ Spicy Asian Eggplant Stir-Fry
Sometimes you just need a good ole stir-fry. Something quick, easy, and perfect for a lazy Pri. That’s exactly what this Eggplant Stir-Fry is!! You probably have all of the ingredients already. Just mix a few things together and BAM, you got yourself a weeknight dinner in under 30 minutes, for sure! You can use …
Rosemary Eggplant Chickpea Pasta
I’ve been eating alternative pastas for several months now. They are SO good! I love that you get the feel and taste of eating pasta, but it’s actually packed with protein and is good for you! I’ve tried several brands at this point of varying price points, and I must say Banza is still my …
Fun Announcements!
Chef Priyanka readers! Some of you may have noticed that I have been working on a few different things lately, mainly developing sponsored content and most recently freelancing for the Staten Island Advance! I’ll be doing a series of ‘Indian Twists on Italian Classics!’ As you all know, I’m born and bred in Staten Island, …
Wild Rice Stuffed Eggplant with Chipotle
I like making dishes that combine ingredients and flavors from different cultures- usually Indian flavors with others. I think most people tend to shy away from bold ingredients, like clove, chili, and spices. So I like to make dishes that help people ease into using some of these rather strong ingredients. I think when used …
Mini Eggplant Pizzas
Mini Eggplant Pizzas: 1 medium Italian eggplant – cut into 1/8 inch thick rounds 1 small fresh mozzarella ball – cut into thin slices 1 bag baby spinach 1 serrano/jalapeno chili – minced 1 fresh lemon – sliced in half 1 28oz can whole San Marzano tomatoes 1/2 large white onion – diced 4-5 cloves …
Eggplant Rollatini with Spinach Pesto
This past Christmas we decided to relax at home and I cooked up a vegetarian Italian feast! I decided to make Eggplant Rollatini as the main dish, but of course with a twist. I first made a homemade marinara sauce using San Marzano crushed tomatoes the night before. I spiced up the traditional ricotta filling …
Toasted Spice Marinade
I’m sure you all know by now that I love summer and love BBQ’ing. I feel like people assume BBQ’s are only meant for hamburgers, hotdogs, and meat, but little do they know that BBQ’ed veggies taste amazing in the summer. I’m always trying to come up with new marinades, so this time for …
Eggplant & Zucchini Caponata
Growing up in Staten Island, has allowed me to become accustomed to delicious Italian food. When you go to an Italian restaurant, you’re not only guaranteed bread here, but in most cases your bread is accompanied by a delicious eggplant caponata. It’s a medley of fresh eggplant slowly cooked down with capers, olives, onions and …
Indian Bhaingan Bhartha (Indian Baba Ghanoush)
Bhaingan Bhartha is a classic Indian dish. However, it is slightly different in every region of India. The one we traditionally make at home is a Maharashtrian, and most similar to the South-Indian version of Bhaingan Bharta. I love this dish in the summer because it can served at room temperature or cold. It is …