I can’t remember how or when I was first introduced to Richa Hingle’s blog, Vegan Richa, but I do know that I fell hard for her site, her food and her creativity straight away. Every vegan I know loves and adores Richa and it’s not hard to see why! She’s exceedingly talented, makes the most incredible and accessible vegan food. Her site has won numerous awards and her following is nothing short of astounding. But on top of all these attributes, Richa is super humble and kind.
Puffy Restaurant-Style Naan
In the past, I’d tried making Indian food at home multiple times and not quite catching the flavor essences I was after. A few emails back and forth with Richa and a visit to the “Indian Pantry” guide on her site had me ready to tackle all of my restaurant favorites as well as new to me Indian food.
Fudgy Coconut Balls (Nariyal Ladoo) pg. 221
Every recipe of Richa’s I’ve ever made has been nothing short of delicious. I was overwhelmed with glee when I found out she was going to be writing her debut cookbook. Her dedication and talent shine in Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen. The book is designed to simplify complex procedures. Richa’s recipes incorporate modern techniques and offer alternatives for hard-to-find spices while creating mouth-watering dishes true to her Indian heritage.
I was able to make a feast out of recipes from the book for my parents and brother who are in town visiting. Everyone said the meal was better than the food at any Indian restaurant they’d ever been to. The naan perfectly buttery, tender and chewy, the chana masala spiced to perfection and the fudgy coconut balls were simply delightful.
But perhaps one of my favorite recipes from the book (the one I’ll certainly make over and over again) is Richa’s Mom’s Chickpea Flour Pancakes. I’ve got the recipe here for you below.
Mom’s Chickpea Flour Pancakes
- 1 cup chickpea flour, garbanzo bean flour, or besan
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/4 teaspoon carom seeds or cumin seeds
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 hot green chile, finely chopped (remove seeds to reduce heat)
- 1/4 cup packed chopped cilantro
- 1 to 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon safflower oil, divided
Visit Richa at her site Vegan Richa.
Purchase Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen here.
For a chance to win a copy of Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook, simply comment on this post below. You can enter until June 20th. I’ll contact the winner by email on June 22nd. USA entries only please.
Vedged Out 
So much mmmmmm.
Thanks. I did not know of her site or book and am looking forward to checking them out!
It all looks so delicious!
Wow I’d love this. My husband loves Indian but I never seem to get it quite right.
Wow, this looks great. I need to learn to make Indian food, as I live so far from a good restaurant!
Chickpea flour is one of my current faves. I’ve started using it in a lot of surprising ways …That pancake recipe is right up my alley!
I love chickpea flour pancakes so much that I think I made them too often and I had to stop eating them for breakfast for a little while. This recipe is inspired me to make them again!
Yummy! Looking forward to stocking up my pantry and trying out those pancakes 🙂 thanks for the inspiring review!
I love Indian food but have always been too afraid to try it myself. Maybe this book would get me over that anxiety!
I absolutely love the flavors of Indian food! Cannot wait to get this cookbook!
Could not agree more. I love Indian food and I adore this new cookbook! Richa Hingle is brilliant!
This book is next on my wishlist!
Yum! It all looks so good. I love Indian food, and I would like to start making more at home.
Yum! I can’t wait to try out the chilla recipe.
I want to try these pancakes!
Wow, that sounds delicious. But my husband doesn’t like cilantro. Is there anything you could suggest to substitute?
janet
those pictures are gorgeous and everything looks delicious!
This is awesome!! I would love to win a copy of her book! 🙂
I love Indian food and there is not an Indian Restaurant anywhere near me. I’d love to win this cookbook so I can start cooking Indian food.
Those sound amazing! Beautiful pictures!
I love Richa’s recipes and I’m sure her book is fantastic!
What an awesome write-up, Somer! You made so many delicious looking dishes. I’ve already cooked a couple of things from Richa’s book, and it’s all been wonderful. I especially enjoyed the chickpea pancakes you listed – so light and filling all at once.
I love Richa’s creative food!! I need her book!
Love Richa’s blog and recipes, there isn’t many (maybe 2 Indian restaurants in my area) and they aren’t good at all, so greasy. This would be a great book to have and make my own food and healthy!
wow, these look amazing! I would love to test out more of her recipes!!
Those pancakes look delicious. I need to try more savoury breakfasts!
Mmm
What a great review. My mouth is watering. I would love to make something for Richa’s book.
I cant wait to try the chickpea flour pancake recipe. I bought a bag of chickpea flour a while ago and was looking for some recipes!
I love Indian food! Since moving to a smaller city my options for Indian restaurants is seriously lacking. The only way I’m going to get anything good is if I make it myself. This book is a must for me.
This cookbook sounds amazing!
This book looks amazing! The pictures make me hungry!
This book looks amazing! The pictures make me hungry 🙂
This book looks great–so much deliciousness! Love Richa’s blog–can’t wait to see it in print form.
I’ve always been too afraid to make my own Indian food at home! But after looking at Richa’s site, it seems so much more accessible! Her recipes look amazing. There’s not nearly enough Indian food in my life!
I would love this book! I studied abroad in India, and have been wanting to veganize my favorites ever since!
I love Indian food and have been searching for recipes that can be adapted to accommodate my multiple food allergies. It looks like these will fit the bill. I can’t wait to try them.
Great giveaway!! I would love to try this book.
I have been checking out this book online and I really want it.
Recently bought chickpea flour, now I need to try this pancake recipe. Looks very good!
Great to read your review, I love Richas recipes 🙂
Love Richa’s recipes! Definitely going to make these chickpea pancakes!
YUM! Want!!!
Successfully being able to cook vegan indian at home would be such a win!!
I share your love & gratitude for Vegan Richa, the lady & her site, as well. The food is so deliciously good, & her directions so easy to follow! Looking forward to cooking from her book.
Thanks so much for the giveaway!
My mouth is nearly watering! I remember my first bite of Indian food, love at first bite. The love has only been growing since then!
Looks amazing. I’m trying to learn to cook Indian, and this would be an essential resource in my library. Thanks for sharing.
I love reading both your blog and Vegan Richa. Every recipe from both of you that I’ve tried has been amazing. I’m definitely looking forward to the new book!
Yum!!! Those chickpea pancakes look to die for!!!