Holy Cow!

I was introduced to Indian food by good friends whose focus was on quality ingredients and authentic recipes. What a great introduction! I've had the pleasant experiences of eating at handful of Indian restaurants, such as India's in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Utsav Contemporary Indian in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Essence of India (read: Masala Bloody Marys!!!) in Chicago, Illinois.

Indian food works great for veg eaters, with many recipes involving vegetables, nuts, fruits, and coconut milk. When I decided to ease from vegetarian eating to vegan eating, however, I didn't account for the little special foods and drinks I would miss like the dairy-based mango lassi and that amazing milky rice pudding. I have been so excited to learn about the healthier and cruelty-free non-dairy versions of these foods and more.

One of my favorite blogs to come across lately has been Holy Cow! Vaishali shares recipes and stories about traditional Indian food, her committment to animals, and how she melds these two aspects of her life together to create unforgettable meals. I jumped right in of course, and can't wait to try more recipes.

Here are two dishes I prepared from Vaishali's blog. They were delicious!

First, for dinner, I made Navratan Kurma, a delicious dish based on a plethora of vegetables and a cashew paste. Read Vaishali's story that precedes the recipe too!

For dessert, I made Vegan Almond Kheer (rice pudding). I don't know where to start about this dish! It was so wonderful and certainly rivals the dairy-based version. The vanilla extract makes all the difference in the recipe. Golden raisins and almonds toasted with cardamom top the pudding. The result is a fragrant, perfectly sweet dessert, that while feeling like comfort food, is relatively healthy.

Onward and upward! I usually use leftover coconut milk from dinner recipes to blend up delicious fruit smoothies, so I know a great vegan mango lassi is well within reach. Check out Vaishali's blog and enjoy her stories and recipes!