Hi! I’m Saima and I’m so glad you're here!
I live in Alberta, Canada with my husband and twin boys, and I love cooking authentic and tasty Indian meals for them. Won't say that I never take the easy way out and never use the occasional canned food, but I do try to keep the unhealthy stuff to a minimum:)
My relationship with Indian food goes back a long way. Born in an Indian home, my earliest food memories are of my mother cooking parathas (flatbread cooked in ghee) on weekend mornings. I remember running into the kitchen and eating smiley-shaped parathas with dollops of fresh cream and sugar.
But I did not just want to eat those parathas! I also wanted to ‘help’ Mama make them. I must have gotten in her way, but they were my very first lessons in cooking.
Those mornings spent in the kitchen with my mother sparked an enthusiasm for learning how to cook well, a skill that was put to the test when I got married and realized I was in charge of the food department. I needed to put practical meals on the table everyday, so back to my mother for help. With her tried and tested recipes, sometimes dictated over the phone (I was in the Middle East then), and my zeal for perfecting them, I got along extremely well.
Since those early days, I have added to my repertoire and improved as a cook, or so my family tells me. I’m especially partial to simple and fresh food that doesn’t take a ton of effort to make.. and tastes great.
About Indian Ambrosia
I started Indian Ambrosia when I immigrated to Canada in 2014. I was a school teacher in Dubai (postgraduate degree in English Literature, several teaching degrees) and taught high school English for many years, so naturally that's what I thought I would do in Canada too. However, it wasn't an easy or quick process...
While I was twiddling my thumbs, waiting to have my credentials recognized, I stumbled upon an ad on Facebook for starting a blog, a place on the internet where you could share your knowledge/expertise/passion with the world. That set me thinking... I figured I knew how to cook Indian food, I also knew how to write, and I loved doing both, so why not make the twain meet? And that's how Indian Ambrosia was born!
What you'll find on Indian Ambrosia
Indian Ambrosia is all about Indian food and recipes, so that's what you'll find here. That said, my cooking has a very strong North Indian influence since I grew up in New Delhi and often visited my grandparents in Lucknow, both North Indian cities. Not to say that I don't cook food from other parts of India (Hyderabadi bagara baingan, Mumbai pav bhaji, Kashmiri dum aloo, khaman dhokla and more), but I do happen to be partial to the food I grew up with.
You will find lots of North Indian recipes on the blog which, amazingly, are also very similar to Pakistani recipes! There's a natural convergence... the two countries are neighbours and share a common history and heritage, so yes, it's true that food brings people together:)
Some signature recipes
What readers are saying
"Hi Saima, My name is Tahir and I live in Miami. Having Indian roots and the urge to cook something ‘local’ I started looking online and stumbled on your website. I have to say the simplicity presented in the step by step prep and cook methodology has blown me away! I’ve made 5 dishes from your blog thus far and every single dish was a hit! You’ve made restaurant cooking come to life in my kitchen!! Thank you so much!" TAHIR
"Love your recipes!! Easy to make, quick and delicious always. Finding your blog was like finding a hidden treasure. Thank you!!" RUCH
"You are a life-saver! Your recipes help me replicate our ghar ka taste" 😘😘 SABIKA
"Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe! It's great to have easy options to add some variety to our meals while still enjoying the authentic tastes of Indian cuisine." SANKALP
A few quick notes
I have put the grunt work and tried and tested every recipe several times to bring to you exact measurements and techniques... so you don't have to guess! Chicken Madras is an example, and this is what a reader says:
I never comment on recipes but had the urge to on this one.
The most amazing chicken curry I have ever made in my instant pot. If I could give it 10 stars I would! - DARREN
Quite a few recipes are my family recipes... passed down from my mother and her mother, like mutton korma, keema aloo, and shami kebabs, to name just a few. I guess you could use the word 'authentic' for them.
I try to cut down on extra steps and unnecessarily complicated directions whenever I can (without compromising on quality or taste)... so you get simple and quick where it's possible. Case in point: palak paneer.
I make use of modern appliances and tools in the kitchen like the instant pot, spice grinder, my immersion blender and a Vitamix... indispensable to Indian cooking and save a ton of time. And of course, a trusty karahi or Indian wok to make dishes like chicken karahi and paneer jalfrezi.
Connect with me
I love to hear from you!
When you try my recipes and want tell me how it went, or when you have a question or observation about something, do get in touch.
There are many ways to reach me...
- You can leave a comment on any blog post, email me at [email protected], or message me on Instagram or Facebook.
- Also, consider subscribing to my newsletter and becoming part of that community. I don't send boring emails... you might find yourself chuckling, in fact!
Remember, your feedback helps me improve so I can serve you better.
There’s no greater pleasure than making good food for the people you love. So, join me on my cooking journey as I discover and share with you better ways of cooking awesome Indian food, the kind that’s eaten in my home… and in a lot of Indian homes everywhere. Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers,
Saima Zaidi
