Jiva Organics Besan (Chana Dal) Flour Review

Disclosure of material connection- I received the product mentioned  via Tomoson in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

I was lucky enough to be exposed to ethnic food, particularly Indian food, from an early age. My step dad is from Pakistan, born in India and he and all of his sisters were always making delicious Indian food for us to enjoy. One of my favorite things he made when I was little and hadn't yet acquired a taste for the spicy curries India is so well known for were pakoras. My favorite were the potato pakoras.  I think in India these are probably made for celebrations, but at our house they were made for a special treat when my dad felt like getting in the kitchen. Anyway, when the opportunity arose for me to review besan flour (also known as gram flour) I knew the very first thing I would make were pakoras. I am so glad I did. They brought back great childhood memories and it was fun sharing one of my favorite dishes as a kid with my own children. They loved them! Here is a picture of my potato pakoras-

They did not last long at all! I am sure I will be making them again in the near future! Perhaps next time I will make veggie pakoras instead! Jiva Organic's besan flour came in a visually pleasing 2 lb bag. I love that it is clearly labeled USDA organic for those of us who find important to find clear labels on our food. This type of flour can be used for lots of Indian dishes (including breads and desserts) and for a great fiber boost in other dishes as well. It is a wonderful flour to use if you are gluten free or vegetarian/vegan (the flour is made from chick peas) or just want that previous mentioned fiber boost (Americans are seriously lacking in the fiber department! I am always trying to get more fiber in my diet!)

You can purchase Jiva Organics Besan flour (and other Jiva Organics products) on Amazon.com. 

The New Indian Slow Cooker by Neela Paniz (Cookbook Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

The newest book in Ten Speed's best-selling slow cooker series, featuring more than 60 fix-it-and-forget-it recipes for Indian favorites. 

The rich and complex flavors of classic Indian dishes like Lamb Biryani, Palak Paneer, and chicken in a creamy tomato-butter sauce can take hours to develop through such techniques as extended braising and low simmering. In The New Indian Slow Cooker, veteran cooking teacher and chef Neela Paniz revolutionizes the long, slow approach to making Indian cuisine by rethinking its traditional recipes for the slow cooker.

She showcases the best regional curries, dals made with lentils and beans, vegetable and rice sides, as well as key accompaniments like chutneys, flatbreads, raita, and fresh Indian cheese. Using this fix-it-and-forget-it approach, you can produce complete and authentic Indian meals that taste like they came from Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bangalore, or your favorite Indian restaurant.

Featuring both classic and innovative recipes such as Pork Vindaloo, Kashmiri Potato Curry, Date and Tamarind Chutney, and Curried Chickpeas, these full-flavor, no-fuss dishes are perfect for busy cooks any day of the week.

My thoughts-
I love Indian food. I grew up in a household that ate it quite often and it is still to this day one of my favorite kinds of  food to eat. I have been trying for years to find good Indian recipes to make at home, but they can often be complicated and time consuming. I have never seen an entire cookbook dedicated to making Indian food in slow cooker, so I was beyond excited to see this one! I was even more stoked when I looked inside and saw the recipes. Not only are there great curries and vegetable dishes, but there are some great recipes in the front that explain to you how to make homemade yogurt and homemade paneer (an Indian cottage cheese that kind of reminds me of the shape and texture of tofu, but tastes so much better! It's especially great in a really good Tikka Masala!) There is still times in these recipes where there are several steps, but this is still lighter work than it would be if you were making Indian food the traditional way. I will say the time put in is worth the effort. I absolutely love that at the beginning of the book that there are several pages of explanations of spices, lentils, rice, flours and other ingredients commonly used in Indian food. That makes this a great book for an Indian food novice, but the familiar recipes make it a wonderful book for more experienced Indian food cooks as well. I absolutely recommend this cookbook to anyone that likes Indian food or who loves to experiment with new recipes and cuisines.

Connect with Neela Paniz on Goodreads
The New Indian Slow Cooker is available now on Amazon.com.