From the Degchi kitchen

bhunairaw masala taste

Why Does My Curry Taste Raw? Bhunai and Spice Timing

A curry that tastes sharp, powdery or "uncooked" usually skipped the slow cooking of the masala. Learn what bhunai is, when to add spices and how to rescue the pot.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

thin gravythicken curry

Curry Too Thin or Watery? How to Thicken Gravy

Thin, watery curry usually has one of five causes. Here is how to find yours and thicken the gravy without making it pasty or changing the flavour.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

thawingfrozen meat

How to Thaw Frozen Meat for Curry Safely

Frozen meat, a hungry family and 5 pm. Here are the safe ways to thaw chicken, mutton and mince for curry, with timings, and what not to do on the counter.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

onionsbrowning onions

How to Brown Onions for Curry: Golden, Not Burnt

Pale onions give a thin, raw-tasting gravy and scorched ones turn it bitter. Here is how to brown onions for curry, with a colour guide and the fixes for each mistake.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

dry roast spiceshow to roast cumin

Dry Roasting Whole Spices: Timings and Grinding at Home

Roasting whole spices takes minutes and changes a dish. What to watch for in each spice, why they go bitter, how to cool and grind them, and how long the powder keeps.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

types of saltkosher salt vs table salt

Salt Types in Desi Cooking: Table, Kosher, Rock and Kala Namak

A teaspoon is not always a teaspoon of salt. How crystal size changes the amount, what rock salt and kala namak are for, and a simple way to season by taste.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

hot drinkswinter drinks

Hot Drinks for a Cold Evening: Chai, Gahwa, Sahlab and More

Six warm drinks from South Asia and the Gulf, how long each takes, what makes them different, and which one suits a quiet night, a guest or a crowd.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

iced masala chaiiced chai at home

Iced Masala Chai at Home: Cold Chai Without Bitterness

Pouring hot chai over ice gives a weak, watery drink. Brew a concentrate, cool it quickly and add milk at the end for iced masala chai that tastes like chai.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 5 min read

rose syruprose milk

Rose Syrup in a Desi Kitchen: Milk, Lassi, Falooda and More

One bottle of rose syrup can carry a summer. Six drinks and desserts that use it, the ratios that work, and the mistake that makes everything too sweet.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 4 min read

kheer vs sheer khurmaseviyan

Kheer vs Sheer Khurma vs Seviyan vs Firni: Which Milk Dessert?

Rice, vermicelli, ground rice or dates and dried fruit. How four milk desserts differ in the pot, how long each needs, and which one suits your occasion.

Usama Alam · 13 November 2026 · 4 min read