From the Degchi kitchen

pasandaypasanday recipe

Pasanday at Home: Thin Mutton Slices, Tender Gravy

Pasanday is mutton pounded thin, marinated and simmered in a smooth fried-onion and nut gravy. The slicing, the papaya timing and the finish decide whether it is silky or stringy.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

fish falls apart in currymacher jhol recipe

Macher Jhol: Why Fish Breaks Apart or Smells Strong

The fish breaks when it is stirred, boiled hard or put in too early. A quick shallow fry, a thin gravy and a 3-minute finish keep the steaks whole and the smell mild.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

bitter mustard pasteshorshe bata

Why Is My Mustard Paste Bitter? Shorshe Bata Fixes

Mustard seed paste turns bitter when it gets warm, gets over-ground or sits too long. Our shorshe ilish method shows the cold-water routine that avoids it.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

mishti doi not settingmishti doi recipe

Why Is My Mishti Doi Not Setting? Thin or Sour Fixes

Sweet Bengali yogurt sets on warmth, a live starter and milk that is cool enough not to kill it. Here is how to read a failed batch and what to change next time.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

aloo posto recipepoppy seed paste

Aloo Posto Recipe: Poppy Seed Paste Without the Grit

Aloo posto has six ingredients and one hard step: grinding poppy seeds smooth. Here is how to soak, grind and cook the paste so the potatoes come out creamy, not sandy.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

rasam too sourrasam recipe fixes

Rasam Too Sour, Thin or Bland? What to Fix

Rasam is a thin soup that hides mistakes badly. Sourness, frothiness and flatness each have a specific cause, and most can be fixed in the pot.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

undhiyu recipeundhiyu substitutes

Undhiyu Abroad: What to Use Instead of Surti Papdi

The Gujarati winter pot depends on vegetables most US and UK shops do not stock. Here is a workable substitute list and the order that keeps the stuffing inside.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

why are my idlis hardidli not soft

Why Are My Idlis Hard or Flat? Steaming Fixes

When the batter bubbled nicely and the idlis still come out like pucks, the problem is usually the steamer, not the ferment. Heat, lid and timing decide the crumb.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

why is my rajma hardrajma not softening

Why Is My Rajma Hard in the Middle or Mushy? Fixes

Rajma goes wrong in two opposite ways: chalky centres or a pot of paste. Both come down to bean age, soak time, when the tomato goes in and how hard the pot boils.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

store gheehow to store nuts

Ghee, Nuts and Dry Fruit: Storing Before Eid Cooking

Before Eid you buy nuts, ghee and dry fruit in bulk. Old stock quietly ruins sweets that use them. Here is how to store each ingredient and how to check it first.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read