From the Degchi kitchen

how to store daalstore lentils

Storing Daal and Lentils: Spotting Old, Hard Stock

A bag of daal can sit for a year and still look fine. It is the cooking that tells on it. Here is how to store lentils, check their age and avoid the bag that never softens.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

falooda recipefalooda at home

Falooda at Home: Layers, Basil Seeds and Timing

Falooda is a dessert you build in a glass. The work is in the order: basil seeds first, then vermicelli, then syrup, then cold milk poured slowly, then ice cream last.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

lassi vs chaaslaban drink

Lassi vs Chaas vs Laban: Which Yogurt Drink to Make

Lassi is thick and often sweet, laban is thin and salty with mint, and chaas sits between them. Here is how they differ and when each one belongs on the table.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

doodh patti ratiokarak chai ratio

Chai Ratio Cheat Sheet: Water, Milk, Tea and Sugar

Three chai styles, three different ratios. Here are the numbers from our recipes, scaled down to one cup, plus what to change when it comes out weak, bitter or too sweet.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

gajar halwa recipegajar halwa watery

Gajar Halwa Watery, Pale or Scorched? Fixes That Work

Gajar halwa asks for 1 kg of carrots, a litre of milk and an hour of stirring. Here is where the time goes and how to rescue a watery, pale or catching batch.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

shahi tukray recipeshahi tukray soggy

Shahi Tukray Too Soggy or Dry? How to Fix It

Shahi tukray fails in two directions, a soggy pile or a dry crust with plain milk on top. The fix is in four numbers: bread age, fry time, syrup dip and milk reduction.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

how long does mithai laststore gulab jamun

How Long Do Mithai Last? Storing Eid Sweets Safely

Eid leaves you with a box of sweets and no plan. Here is which mithai can sit out, which must go in the fridge, and the signs that it is time to throw it away.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

best mince for kebabsseekh kabab mince fat

Which Mince for Kebabs: Fat, Grind and Lean Fixes

The meat counter decides your kabab before the spice jar does. Fat level, grind and what to ask the butcher, plus fixes when all you can get is lean supermarket mince.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

freeze kebabsreheat seekh kabab

Freezing and Reheating Kebabs Without Drying Them

Kababs freeze well if you freeze them at the right stage. Raw or cooked, how to wrap, how long, and the reheating method that keeps the crust and the juice.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read

tandoori chicken vs chicken tikkachicken tikka recipe

Tandoori Chicken vs Chicken Tikka: Which to Make

Both are yogurt-marinated and charred, so they get mixed up. The cut, the marinade time and the oven setting are where they differ. A side-by-side with real numbers.

Usama Alam · 10 November 2026 · 5 min read