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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)
  • two mugs of chai
    Chai for Two
  • baked samosas
    Baked Samosas
  • cream kunafa
    Cream Kunafa
  • A plate of bliss energy balls with dates and nuts.
    Date Energy Balls without oats
  • salted biscuits stacked flat in a round plate next to two mugs and a kettle
    Galettes Bretonnes | French Butter Biscuits
  • Chicken kabsah platter
    Chicken Kabsa

Popular Recipe Categories

  • Arabic Dessert
  • Arabic Savoury Snacks
  • Malabar (North Kerala)
  • South Indian

Looking for something?


Most Popular Recipes

  • kacchi mutton biryani served with yoghurt, pappad and onions
    Kacchi Mutton Biryani
  • ariyunda recipe
    Ariyunda | Sweet Rice and Coconut Balls
  • A saucepot of Afghani chicken curry with chicken leg quarters.
    Afghani Chicken Curry
  • chicken chettinad curry recipe
    Chicken Chettinad Curry
  • A bowl of green gram curry
    Cherupayar Curry with Coconut
  • Varutharacha Malabar Chicken Curry | Chicken Curry with Roasted Coconut Sauce
    Varutharacha Malabar Chicken Curry | Chicken Curry with Roasted Coconut Sauce
  • A Cup of Tea - Milk Powder
  • yemeni chicken mandi recipe
    Yemeni Chicken Mandi | Baked Smoky Chicken Rice

Dessert Recipes

Who is not sweet-toothed? Find desserts for small and big occasions that will satisfy your sweet cravings.

  • sheer khurma recipe image
    Sheer Khurma Recipe
  • Chocolate Brownies with Avocado pieces
    Chocolate Brownies with Avocado
  • kaak el eid cookies
    Ka'ak el Eid | Date Paste Cookies
  • chocolate salami served in a round plate.
    Chocolate Salami without Eggs

See more dessert recipes →

Seasonal favourites

  • batheeth recipe
    Batheeth | Emirati Sweet Date Balls
  • bowls of granola
    Batheetha Granola made with Date Syrup
  • saleeg rice
    Saleeg
  • two tall glasses of aval milk
    Aval Milk | Rice Flakes Milk | Poha Milk

About Famidha Ashraf

I'm Famidha, a chai lover, Indian in UAE, 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 →


Three mini bowls of granola in a wooden serving tray.

Reader's favourite recipe!

Tahini Granola

One reader commented: "One of the best recipes I have tried for granola. Made 2 batches this week already!"

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

  • aloo paratha recipe image
    Aloo Paratha Recipe for Beginners
  • Osmania Biscuits Recipe
  • A cup of tea
    How to make Loose Leaf Tea (Indian)
  • A bowl of Kasha or buckwheat porrdige
    Buckwheat Porridge Recipe

Current Favourites

Recipes that are gaining readers.

  • thalassery chicken dum biryani recipe
    Thalassery Chicken Dum Biryani
  • mansaf with jameed sauce
    Jordanian Mansaf | Lamb Meat Cooked in Jameed Sauce
  • a skillet filled with daoud basha
    Daoud Basha | Lebanese Meatballs in Tomato Pomegranate Molasses Sauce
  • chicken korma recipe with yoghurt
    Chicken Korma with Yoghurt

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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

  • Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad
    Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

  • A bowl of cucumber salad with a small bowl of roasted peanuts by the side.
    Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad

  • chickpea sundal recipe
    Chickpea Sundal

  • fatteh chickpeas
    Fatteh Hummus

Seasonal

  • a plate of chocolate date balls
    Chocolate Date Balls

  • kataifi truffles with condensed milk
    Sweet Kataifi Truffles

  • rocky road bars in a plate
    Rocky Road | Chocolate & Marshmallow Squares

  • fresh cherry pie
    Fresh Cherry Pie that I baked for our 8th Anniversary

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