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Homemade family-favourite Indian and Arabic recipes

Trending Recipes

These are my tried, tested and loved-by-you recipes. It makes me super happy when you share your feedback. If you are new here, start with my Chai recipe.

  • kerala style egg puffs
    Kerala style spicy masala egg puffs
  • Tuna cutlets with ketchup
    Tuna Cutlet Recipe (Kerala Style)
  • A saucepot of Afghani chicken curry with chicken leg quarters.
    Afghani Chicken Curry
  • salted biscuits stacked flat in a round plate next to two mugs and a kettle
    Galettes Bretonnes | French Butter Biscuits
  • two mugs of chai
    Chai for Two
  • baked samosas
    Baked Samosas
  • A plate of bliss energy balls with dates and nuts.
    Date Energy Balls without oats
  • cream kunafa
    Cream Kunafa

Popular Recipe Categories

  • Arabic Dessert
  • Arabic Bread
  • Indian Savoury Snacks
  • South Indian

Looking for something?


Most Popular Recipes

  • chicken chettinad curry recipe
    Chicken Chettinad Curry
  • An open jar of Indian lime pickle.
    Lime Pickle without Water
  • A bowl of roasted capsicum dip garnished with walnuts, pomegranate arils, mint leaf and olive oil.
    Mhammara (Roasted Capsicum Dip)
  • vermicelli pudding in a tall tumbler.
    Vermicelli Pudding with Condensed Milk
  • kafta bil sanieh casserole
    Kafta bil Sanieh
  • A bowl of green gram curry
    Cherupayar Curry with Coconut
  • A plate with baked musakhan rolls stacked and served with salad.
    Musakhan Rolls (Sumac Chicken)
  • Tiramisu with cream cheese served in dessert plates.
    Tiramisu without Mascarpone (No Eggs, No Alcohol!)

Dessert Recipes

Who is not sweet-toothed? Discover desserts for both small and large occasions that will satisfy your sweet cravings.

  • three pieces of brownie bars stacked in a dessert plate.
    Double Chocolate Brownies | Rich & Fudgy
  • A close up of the Om Ali dish with the spoon.
    Om Ali Recipe (Mini Croissants)
  • sheer khurma recipe image
    Sheer Khurma Recipe
  • Chocolate Brownies with Avocado pieces
    Chocolate Brownies with Avocado

See more dessert recipes →

Seasonal favourites

  • pumpkin butter bread loaf sliced
    Pumpkin Butter Bread
  • heart-shaped iraqi dessert
    Halawat Timman | Iraqi Dessert
  • a plate of Bahraini Chicken Machboos
    Bahraini Chicken Machboos
  • A slice of beet chocolate cake.
    Chocolate Beetroot Spiced Cake

About Famidha Ashraf

I'm Famidha, a chai lover, an Indian in the UAE, a Hooman of two cats, a Malabari who loves Tamil food and the cook cum writer behind But First Chai. He is Mr F, my husband, who gets to taste whatever I cook. We eat off the couch while streaming our favourite shows with the furry boys.

Learn more about me →


rava upma

trending recipe!

An easy and humble dish that can be enjoyed with both savoury and sweet sides.

Rava Upma

Get the recipe

Sweet Bread Bakes

Some popular sweet quick-bread recipes are not just banana bread.

  • ripe plantain muffins recipe for 5 muffins
    Ripe Plantain Muffins | nenthra pazham muffins
  • kousa sweet quick bread recipe
    Kousa Sweet Bread | Baby Marrow Loaf
  • Dominique Ansel Banana Bread
    Dominique Ansel's Banana Bread
  • A stack of bread slices
    Zucchini Buttermilk Bread

See more quick bread and muffin recipes

New Recipes

  • Homemade Chaat Masala Recipe
  • A tray of vellayappam with a bowl of stew.
    Vellayappam Recipe with Yeast
  • Keema biryani rice with herbs, and lime garnishes on a white decorative plate.
    Keema Biryani Recipe
  • Fried shami kababs with onions and lime on a blue plate.
    Beef Shami Kabab Recipe (Instant Pot)

Current Favourites

Recipes that are gaining readers.

  • Osmania Biscuits Recipe
  • msemen rghaif recipe
    Msemen | Moroccan Breakfast Bread
  • aloo paratha recipe image
    Aloo Paratha Recipe for Beginners
  • Two bowls of breakfast ragi porridge topped with ghee and almonds, pomegranate arils.
    Ragi Porridge
sesame butter loaf cake sliced

viral recipe!

Tahini Loaf Cake

One reader commented: "So so so good!.... Turned out sooo good. Made it in a cute mini Dutch oven. ★★★★★"

Get the recipe →
Mr.F and Famidha

Hey, I'm Famidha

An Indian chai lover in the UAE. As a passionate food blogger, I share a diverse collection of recipes spanning the Middle East and South Asia. With each dish, I aim to spark your culinary curiosity and encourage you to try new flavours and cooking methods.

about me

Popular

  • vermicelli pudding in a tall tumbler.
    Vermicelli Pudding with Condensed Milk
  • A bowl of roasted capsicum dip garnished with walnuts, pomegranate arils, mint leaf and olive oil.
    Mhammara (Roasted Capsicum Dip)
  • An open jar of Indian lime pickle.
    Lime Pickle without Water
  • thalassery chicken dum biryani recipe
    Thalassery Chicken Dum Biryani

Updated

  • kara pori with chai
    Kara Pori | Indian Puffed Rice Snack
  • korean street toast
    Korean Street Toast
  • Chal Kumro Recipe - Winter Melon with Moong Dal
  • A bowl of kim me veze served.
    Kima with Eggs (Kimë me Vezë)

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