From the Degchi kitchen

Ramadanfreezer meals

Ramadan Freezer Prep: Samosas, Rolls and Other Iftar Starters You Can Make Ahead

Fried iftar starters are the first thing to drain your energy in Ramadan. Make them ahead, freeze them flat, and cook from frozen.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 4 min read

food safetyleftover rice

Cooling, Storing and Reheating Rice and Daal Safely

Leftover rice and daal are the backbone of desi meal prep. A few simple habits keep them safe to eat.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 4 min read

masala basemake ahead

The Make-Ahead Onion-Tomato Masala Base: One Cooking Session, Many Weeknight Dinners

The slowest part of most curries is building the base. Do it once, freeze it in portions, and weeknight cooking gets much quicker.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 4 min read

takeawaycook at home

Cutting the Takeaway Habit: Desi Favourites You Can Make at Home in Under an Hour

Delivery is easy, but it adds up. Here is how to bring your most-ordered dishes home without spending your whole evening on them.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 4 min read

small apartmentcooking smells

Cooking Desi Food in a Small Apartment: Smells, Smoke and Ventilation Without the Stress

Tempering spices in a tiny kitchen can set off alarms and leave the smell in your curtains. A few habits keep the cooking and the peace.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 4 min read

UK grocery budgetAsian supermarket

Shopping Smart at the UK Asian Store: A Grocery Budget Guide for Desi Families

The local Asian shop can cut your food bill, but only if you buy the right things in the right sizes. Here is a practical way to shop it.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 4 min read

student cookingdesi student food

Desi Cooking for Students: Real Food From a Shared Kitchen and a Tight Budget

Moving away for university does not mean giving up home flavours. A small kit, a few forgiving dishes, and a simple weekly rhythm are enough.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 4 min read

family recipesmeasurements

Cooking Desi Recipes With No Measurements: How to Turn Family Methods Into Numbers

Family recipes often live in someone's hands, not on paper. Here is a simple way to capture them, convert them to measurements, and scale them up or down.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 5 min read

multigenerational familyfamily dinners

One Kitchen, Many Diets: Desi Meals for a Multigenerational Household

Grandparents may need less salt, children want mild food, and someone is vegetarian on Tuesdays. Here is how to cook one base and adapt it at the table.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 5 min read

air fryerdesi dinners

Desi Weeknight Dinners in the Air Fryer: What to Cook and What to Skip

An air fryer will not replace your karahi, but it handles tikka, kebabs, and roasted vegetables quickly. Here is how to use it for desi food.

Usama Alam · 6 November 2026 · 4 min read