From the Degchi kitchen

what can i cook with semolinasuji recipes

What to Cook With a Cup of Semolina (Suji)

Half a bag of suji sits at the back of the cupboard for months. One cup of it is breakfast tomorrow, a dessert tonight, or a tray of Gulf cake at the weekend.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

what can i cook with frozen peasmatar recipes

What to Cook With a Bag of Frozen Peas

The half-used bag of frozen peas in the freezer door is six dinners waiting: curry, pulao, mince, paneer and more. Here is when each one needs the peas.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

what can i cook with chickpeas and ricetinned chickpeas

What to Cook With a Tin of Chickpeas and Rice

One tin of chickpeas and a cup of rice is a real dinner for three or four. Here are four ways to use them, and the tin-to-dried maths for any recipe.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

what can i cook with frozen parathafrozen paratha ideas

What to Cook With a Pack of Frozen Paratha

Frozen paratha takes care of the bread. What you need is a topping that takes 15 to 25 minutes, and six of them are here, plus how to cook the paratha itself.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

what can i cook with red lentilstinned tomatoes

What to Cook With Tinned Tomatoes and Red Lentils

Tinned tomatoes and red lentils are the cupboard pair that never goes off. Here are four dinners from them, and the one timing rule that stops hard lentils.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

what can i cook with eggs and potatoesegg and potato recipes

What to Cook With One Egg and One Potato

One egg and one potato sounds like no dinner at all. With an onion and a few spices it is five different plates, each ready in under 30 minutes.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

baingan bhartabegun bhorta

Baingan Bharta vs Begun Bhorta vs Mutabbal

One method, three results. Baingan bharta is cooked, begun bhorta is raw and sharp, mutabbal is creamy. Here is what changes and what stays the same.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

gulf breakfastbalaleet

Gulf Weekend Breakfast: Balaleet, Chebab and Khameer

Vermicelli with eggs, saffron pancakes, stuffed folded pastry and soft bread. How to plan a Gulf-style breakfast table for four without cooking everything at once.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

south indian foodidli

South Indian Tiffin Plate: What Goes With What

Idli, dosa, vada, sambar, rasam, curd rice. Which one is breakfast, which is lunch, and which sides actually belong together on one plate.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

biryanihyderabadi biryani

Hyderabadi, Bombay, Dhaka and Karachi Biryani Compared

Kacchi or pakki, potato or none, yogurt or tomato. This is how four regional biryanis differ in the pot, using amounts from our own recipes.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read