Grilled Pasta Sauce

I call this "grilled pasta sauce" even though its not really saucy. However, I use it the same way I would use sauce out of a jar, which is why I think of it that way.  The "sauce" is basically just grilled sausage and vegetables. I like to cook the ingredients for this while I'm grilling something else for immediate consumption, because there is an extra step or two to prepare it.

Yu Hsiang Beef Noodles

The first time I had food flavored with Yu Hsiang was at Mary Chung's in Central Square, and it immediately became one of my favorites. The sauce is a sweet and hot and garlicky, and goes well with just about any kind of stir fry. I attempted to make it at home, and the result was so successful I made it again the next day.

Lauki Kofta

Lauki kofta is a fairly uncommon in the US, but it is a delicious, savory vegetarian dish. It is similar to meatballs in gravy, but without the meat. Kofta are generally ground meat kebabs, and the name has also been applied to this combination of besan (chickpea flour) and lauki . The English name is for lauki is "bottlegourd", but not really since no one will know what you're talking about. Its a green squash that is somewhere between a cucumber and a zucchini, but a lot bigger. (I forgot to take a picture of a whole one - you can google for one).

Larb

Larb is a Laotian minced meat dish that is commonly found in Thai restaurants. The meat is mixed with onions and seasoned with lime juice, fish sauce, and herbs. Any kind of meat can be used, and it can be a meal by itself or a dish in a larger meal. I made this after having some at a restaurant, and being disappointed in the intensity of the flavors.

South Indian Egg Curry

For many people in India, eggs are the closest they get to eating meat. An egg curry can add protein to a meal and offer a change of pace from pulse and grain-based proteins. The most common version is hard boiled eggs in a masala sauce, like this egg curry. Here we have a different preparation that comes from South India - I was served it in Hyderabad and Vijaywada, both in Andhra Pradesh. The eggs are fried hard with onions and crusted with garam masala, resulting in chewy, savory, meaty nuggets.

Chicken Curry

Yeah. Chicken Curry.

Sweet Potato Curry

I went to a Diwali/Eid potluck dinner over the weekend and made this dish, which also works in a Thanksgiving context.