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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.

  • kerala style egg puffs
    Kerala style spicy masala egg puffs
  • Tuna cutlets with ketchup
    Tuna Cutlet Recipe (Kerala Style)
  • A plate of bliss energy balls with dates and nuts.
    Date Energy Balls without oats
  • A saucepot of Afghani chicken curry with chicken leg quarters.
    Afghani Chicken Curry
  • cream kunafa
    Cream Kunafa
  • masala chai with whole spices
    Masala Chai with Whole Spices
  • baked samosas
    Baked Samosas
  • kafta bil sanieh casserole
    Kafta bil Sanieh

Popular Recipe Categories

  • Arabic Dessert
  • Arabic Bread
  • Arabic Savoury Snacks
  • Middle Eastern

Looking for something?


Most Popular Recipes

  • Keema biryani rice with herbs, and lime garnishes on a white decorative plate.
    Keema Biryani Recipe
  • A tray of vellayappam with a bowl of stew.
    Vellayappam Recipe with Yeast
  • Tiramisu with cream cheese served in dessert plates.
    Tiramisu without Mascarpone (No Eggs, No Alcohol!)
  • A plate of ghraybeh cookies studded with pistachios.
    Ghraybeh Cookies
  • Homemade Chaat Masala Recipe
  • A plate of served chicken tikka biryani
    Chicken Tikka Biryani
  • Fried shami kababs with onions and lime on a blue plate.
    Beef Shami Kabab Recipe (Instant Pot)
  • A bowl of chicken hyderabadi curry with lime wedges and naan bread.
    Chicken Hyderabadi Curry Recipe (dum ka murgh)
  • A pot of Emirati chicken and vegetable stew called dajaj salona
    Dejaj Salona | Emirati Chicken and Vegetable Stew
  • A close up of the Om Ali dish with the spoon.
    Om Ali Recipe (Mini Croissants)
  • A platter of deep fried neypathal ready to serve.
    Neypathal - Malabar Deep-Fried Rice Bread
  • Gond ke Ladoo with Ragi and Atta flour

Dessert Recipes

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

  • A pile of rava laddu on a a dessert plate.
    Rava Laddu Recipe using Semolina Flour (No Coconut, No Milk)
  • banana chocolate chip cookies on a wire rack.
    Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • A slice of kerala plum cake on a dessert plate.
    Kerala Plum Cake Recipe
  • three pieces of brownie bars stacked in a dessert plate.
    Double Chocolate Brownies | Rich & Fudgy

See more dessert recipes →

Seasonal Favourites

  • kacchi mutton biryani served with yoghurt, pappad and onions
    Kacchi Mutton Biryani
  • sambousek
    Sambousek
  • A plate with baked musakhan rolls stacked and served with salad.
    Musakhan Rolls (Sumac Chicken)
  • saleeg rice
    Saleeg

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 →


A slice of gateau pommes on a dessert plate with a fork.

trending recipe!

All you need is a bowl, a whisk, and those gorgeous seasonal apples. Lightly scented with vanilla and incredibly moist, it pairs beautifully with your coffee or afternoon tea.

French Apple Cake

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

  • kalathappam recipe
    Kalathappam Recipe (Small Batch Cooker Appam)
  • Chicken Changezi Recipe
    Chicken Changezi Recipe - The Iconic Old Delhi Street Curry
  • Dal fry recipe with chana dal
    Dal Fry Recipe with Chana Dal
  • aloo paratha recipe image
    Aloo Paratha Recipe for Beginners

Social Media Favourites

Recipes that are gaining readers.

  • A sliced loaf of banana bread with nigella seeds
    Banana Bread with 1 Banana
  • red seeds milk drink recipe
    Red Seeds Milk Drink (Aliv seeds)
  • A basket of mini batbout
    Batbout | Moroccan Pita bread
  • semolina milk recipe
    Thari Kachiyathu - Semolina Milk Drink
aloo bonda in a plate

viral recipe!

★★★★★

Aloo Bonda

One reader commented: "I'll never be slim again! OMG, that was fantastic! It's not a recipe for beginners if you're not at least accustomed with Indian cooking, but the time and effort are totally worth it! "

Get the recipe
Mr.F and Famidha

Hey, I'm Famidha

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. He is Mr F, my unpaid taste-tester.

about me

Popular

  • Plantain bread loaf sliced and placed on a plate.
    Plantain Bread
  • A bowl of roasted capsicum dip garnished with walnuts, pomegranate arils, mint leaf and olive oil.
    Mhammara (Roasted Capsicum Dip)
  • A bowl of coconut tomato chutney with freshly tempered with tadka.
    Tomato Coconut Chutney
  • two tall glasses of aval milk
    Avil Milk Recipe | Kerala’s Famous Malabar Drink

More Seasonal Favourites

  • A plate of margooga chicken served.
    Margooga (Emirati Chicken and Pastry)
  • A bowl of mesfouf with a mug of milk.
    Mesfouf | Steamed Sweet Couscous
  • freekeh grain soup with chicken served in a wide bowl.
    Freekeh Soup
  • Kaapa served in a bowl with beef curry.
    Kappa Puzhukku | Mashed Cassava in Spicy Coconut

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