From the Degchi kitchen

set dahihomemade curd

Set Dahi at Home: Why Won't My Yogurt Set?

Runny, sour, or sitting in a puddle of whey? Set dahi depends on milk temperature, starter and a warm spot. Here is how to get a firm set in 6 to 8 hours.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 5 min read

CTC tealoose leaf tea

CTC vs Loose Leaf vs Tea Bags for Desi Chai

The pellets in a Tapal or Red Label packet are not the same as the leaves in an English breakfast bag. Here is what changes when you boil each one in milk.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 5 min read

why is my chai bitterchai too watery

Why Is My Chai Bitter or Watery? Fixes That Work

Bitter, watery, pale or grassy: every bad cup of chai has a cause you can name. Here is how to read the cup and fix the next one.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 6 min read

lamb kabsakabsa for a crowd

Lamb Kabsa for 12: How to Scale It Without Mush

Our lamb kabsa serves 4. Tripling it is not just multiplying numbers. Pot size, broth ratio and timing, plus a schedule for a 12-person lunch.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 5 min read

eid dessertsmake ahead desserts

Make-Ahead Eid Desserts: A Three-Day Timeline

Five desserts, three days, one oven. Which sweets get better overnight, which must be made fresh, and a simple schedule so Eid morning is not a sprint.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 5 min read

shorbat adasred lentil soup

Shorbat Adas: Red Lentil Soup for Iftar, Step by Step

The soup that opens a lot of Gulf iftar tables: 250 g of red lentils, one carrot, cumin and lemon. Method, texture fixes and a make-ahead plan.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 5 min read

baklavabaklava at home

Baklava at Home: Why It Goes Soggy or Tough

Baklava is 300 g of pastry, 150 g of butter and a lot of patience. Here is where the layers go wrong and how to keep the crackle.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 5 min read

hummussmooth hummus

Smooth Hummus at Home: Why Yours Is Grainy

Grainy hummus is usually a skin problem and a water problem. Three small changes from our recipe get you the pale, fluffy kind.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 5 min read

ful medamesfava beans

Ful Medames at Home: 25-Minute Breakfast Beans

Canned fava beans, a fork, garlic, lemon and cumin. Here is how to get ful medames that tastes like a proper Egyptian and Gulf breakfast bowl, in about 25 minutes.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 5 min read

dhungarsmoky flavour

Dhungar Smoke at Home: Charcoal Trick for Kababs and Curries

A hot charcoal piece, a drop of ghee and a lid: that is dhungar. Here is how to smoke shami kababs and gravies at home for 2 to 5 minutes, and how to do it safely.

Usama Alam · 11 November 2026 · 6 min read