The Singing Chef

The Singing Chef The Singing Chef is a home cooking blog that focuses on simple, fuss free baking and vegetarian cooking from all over the world.

A food blog that has over 500 easy to cook recipes. The variety ranges from simple home made pies, cakes and muffins to traditional Indian food as well as western and oriental dishes. Whether it is a healthy lunchbox option you're looking for or a quick sinful dessert, this is a vegetarian's one stop shop.

No Malai “Malai” KoftaThis was a somewhat ambitious project for a weeknight. But with some multi-step prep, it came toge...
08/02/2026

No Malai “Malai” Kofta
This was a somewhat ambitious project for a weeknight. But with some multi-step prep, it came together somewhat effortlessly at the actual mealtime.
To make the Koftas, I sautéed finely chopped Onions with Chilli, Ginger and Garlic pastes. I added some Salt, Turmeric and Chilli Powder and sautéed everything for a few minutes. Then, I added mixed cooked Vegetables (Carrots, Beans, Peas and Potatoes) and cooked everything together to a few more minutes. Finally, I added a little Besan, Breadcrumbs, grated Paneer and grated Khoa. I turned the flame off after a few more minutes.
When the mixture had cooled, this mixture was turned into Koftas and air fried. (I think these can be pan fried, shallow fried, deep fried or made in a Paniyaram pan.)
For the gravy, I soaked some Pottu Kadalai (Dalia) with 4-5 Cashews and then ground the mixture to which I added browned Onions, Cardamom, Cinnamon and Clove powders with some Water.
I heated some Oil in a pan. I added the paste along with a little Salt and Kitchen King Masala and sautéed it. I added some Water and let it all cook for a few minutes. Before turning off the flam, I added a small sprinkle of Sugar.
I poured the gravy over the airfried Koftas and garnished it with Coriander and a bit of Piment D’Espelette.
We enjoyed this creamy, dreamy Kofta Curry with Chapatis.
I am glad I turned a restaurant favourite into something we could eat often. No heavy Cream, only 4-5 Cashews, the goodness of Pottu Kadalai, a truckload of Vegetables and Paneer… what’s not to love?
Many of you responded to the stories asking for the recipe. I hope you try it. And if you do, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 26And, just like that, we’ve reached the halfway mark of the first term. This has been a week of Q...
06/02/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 26
And, just like that, we’ve reached the halfway mark of the first term. This has been a week of Quesadillas, simply because I have Tortillas and I intend to finish them.
Mr. 14 has also suggested Potato Bhaji Sandwiches a few times this year and I decided to make that happen.
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 had Potato Bhaji Sandwiches. For lunch, Ms. 10 had Quesadillas. For snack, they had Custard Creams and Peanut Macaroons. Additionally, Mr. 14 had Honey Roasted Almonds.
We’re going to be clearing leftovers for dinner, as we did for lunch. The kitchen may be closed for a few more hours!

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 25This morning, I’ve packed one favourite item and one Choon-Choon-Pain-Pain inducing item. This h...
05/02/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 25
This morning, I’ve packed one favourite item and one Choon-Choon-Pain-Pain inducing item. This has turned out to be today’s edition of . The Dal is in the form of Masoor Dal Mini Uttapams, loaded with Vegetables and the “Rice” or carbs are the Vegetable Noodles. I made the Peanut Sesame Noodles with Hokkien Noodles and Peanut Butter.
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 have Masoor Dal Vegetable Mini Uttapams. For lunch, they have Peanut Sesame Noodles. For snack, they have Oat Crunch and Salted Caramel Macadamias.
Tonight’s dinner is finally going to feature Spring Onion Jhunka. We bought the Spring Onions this morning and will be using them up today. Waste not, want not, I suppose.

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 24We’ve slowly but surely found our rhythm. I make our meal plans ahead of time. I’ve decided that...
04/02/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 24
We’ve slowly but surely found our rhythm. I make our meal plans ahead of time. I’ve decided that putting some meals on repeat is a very good idea. Making dishes that do double duty is an even better idea. Tonight’s Soup for tomorrow’s Pasta. Or making one item that is packed for lunch and is also eaten by whoever is home. So, a lot of Pulaos/Variety Rice dishes will be regulars.
I will also continue making as many meals with loads of vegetables so that the odd Pongal Chutney or Aloo Paratha doesn’t throw us off.
Involving the children in the lunchbox plans has immense benefits - we are presented with empty boxes (well, mostly empty… fruit is still a struggle).
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 have Oats and Rava Paniyaram with Carrot, Zucchini and Coriander. For lunch, Mr. 14 has Vegetable Egg Wraps. For snack, they have Christmas Pudding Cookies. Additionally, Ms. 10 has Butter Financiers and Cherries, while Mr. 14 has Mini Thenkuzhal.
I’ve sprouted some Moong to make Ambat tonight. What’s your plan?

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 23It appeared that I was only making Quesadillas for the lunchboxes and not for any of our meals a...
03/02/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 23
It appeared that I was only making Quesadillas for the lunchboxes and not for any of our meals at home. So, I fixed that at the weekend.
However, old habits die hard. Just as I’d squirreled away Carrot Soup for the Pasta yesterday, I had also put away some of the Capsicum Onion mixture from Saturday night for this week’s Quesadillas. I had a spoonful of this leftover after I’d made the Quesadillas, so I added it to the Pulao.
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 have Huevadillas/Quesadillas. For lunch, they have a Mixed Vegetable Pulao. For snack, they have the home made Oat Squares and Thenkuzhal.
Dinner’s a bit ambitious - Kofta Curry. But I hope that the prep will make it somewhat easier to pull off on a weeknight.

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 22Every once in a while, I buy some canned food. On very busy days, they come in handy. And then s...
02/02/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 22
Every once in a while, I buy some canned food. On very busy days, they come in handy. And then sometimes when I don’t have very busy days or when I have planned well (like in these past few weeks), we don’t feel the need to use these up.
I decided to start clearing the pantry of these “emergency foods”. Today was the turn of a can of Spaghetti Strands. I cooked them with our leftover Carrot Soup and added spices as well as a couple of blocks of .professional Cream Cheese.
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 have Spaghetti Strands in Tomato Carrot Sauce. For snack, they have Bhakarwadi, Apple slices and Straeberry Cookies.
I’ve made Khichdi for lunch at Ms. 10’s request and also finished cooking the Karamani Kuzhambu for tonight’s dinner. We have Cabbage leftover from last afternoon and that will make it a full meal.

Stacked Brownie CakeIt takes a village to raise a child, they say.It can also take a village to make a mother. came into...
30/01/2026

Stacked Brownie Cake
It takes a village to raise a child, they say.
It can also take a village to make a mother.
came into my life most unsuspectingly—at a playground, where our firstborns were playing, and this little bun was still in the proverbial oven.
She was barely days old when Mr. 14 turned 2.
Two years and a bit later, Ms. 10 was born.
Somewhere along the way, we became a family of sorts—two sets of parents and four children between us.
As the children grow up, life gets busier, and we don’t see all of them together as often anymore. But birthdays? Birthdays remain special.
After a few years, I was blessed to once again bake her birthday cake—and, more importantly, to celebrate her big day with her.
That little bun is now a newly minted teenager. And inspired by a cake made for her own birthday last year, and at the birthday girl’s request, I made a stacked brownie cake… leaving one sheet just as it was, for her to cut herself.

Happy birthday, Aaliya.
It has been a privilege to have a front-row seat all these years. The best, however, is yet to be.

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 21Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 had Tomato Onion Mini Uttapams. For lunch, Ms. 10 had Veget...
30/01/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 21
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 had Tomato Onion Mini Uttapams. For lunch, Ms. 10 had Vegetable Quesadillas. For snack, they had Apple slices and a Strawberry filled Cookie from .
I can’t believe that 4 weeks of the year are over and next week will see us in February.

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 20We had Desi Chinese for dinner last night. As much as I love it, the amount of work that goes in...
28/01/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 20
We had Desi Chinese for dinner last night. As much as I love it, the amount of work that goes into making it tires me. The chopping is one thing and then there’s the multi step cooking. It’s the opposite of throw it all in and let the heat do its job.
As a result of that, we didn’t chop what we needed for Capsicum Rice that was planned for today. Instead, I simply reached into my freezer and pulled out vegetables that had already been prepped (or bought that way) and made a Pulao.
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 have Button Podi Idli. For lunch, Mr. 14 has a Spinach and Vegetable Pulao. For snack, they have a slice of the Pistachio Cranberry Loaf each. Additionally, Ms. 10 has Grapes and a couple of Butter Financiers.
I’m forever grateful to for sharing her Idli batter recipe and the tips. These have held us in very good stead for over a decade now. Soft and fluffy Idlis every single time. .fernandez.520357 has mastered it and we are blessed to have “better than restaurant” quality Idlis right here at home.
Dinner is going to be ’s Malli Pongal. I think we’re in for a day of nourishing and tasty meals!

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 19This morning’s lunchbox would rank among the easier ones. Without much by way of prep, that is. ...
28/01/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 19
This morning’s lunchbox would rank among the easier ones. Without much by way of prep, that is. I cooked some Potatoes last night in the and turned off the “Keep Warm” function.
I boiled some Potato Gnocchi as per the instructions on the pack and then tossed them in some Olive Oil with a bit of .sg Basil Pesto and Hot Chilli Pesto.
I also heated some Oil, added Cumin and Asafoetida, then the chopped Boiled Potatoes, Turmeric, Chilli, Kitchen King and Salt. When it had all come together and cooked, I added chopped Coriander.
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 have Potato Bhaji Sandwiches. For lunch, Mr. 14 has Basil and Chilli Pesto Gnocchi. For snack, they have Orange segments and homemade Oat Squares. Additionally, Ms. 10 has Butter Financiers that I picked up at .
I have always used all the help I can get and we tend to eat home cooked meals most of the time. If I didn’t rely on every appliance and take shortcuts where I could, I’d probably be going insane. I’m sure it is great to make Gnocchi from scratch and I have done that. But if packaged Gnocchi and jarred sauces are going to make my life easier, I wouldn’t stand in the way of that.
As I always say, I get by, with a little help from my friends.

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 18Today’s boxes were among the easiest to pack simply because I had everything handy. Breakfast wa...
27/01/2026

2026 Term 1: Lunchbox 18
Today’s boxes were among the easiest to pack simply because I had everything handy.
Breakfast was an Oats and Berry Smoothie. Since the Berries had already been cooked down into a Compote, blending it was very easy.
Since I get complaints about the Vegetable Muffins, I sliced them, toasted them and spread some Peri Peri Sauce inside. We had 3 Hash Browns leftover from last night and I toasted them. I added them to the Wraps along with a slice of Egg Loaf. I also spread some Tandoori spread for added flavour.
Today, for recess, Mr. 14 and Ms. 10 had Vegetable Muffins. For lunch, Mr. 14 had Egg and Potato Wraps. For snack, they had Ribbon Pakoda and Grapes. Additionally, Ms. 10 had a slice of my Pistachio Cranberry Loaf.
The highlight of my day was that I got to meet Deepa () and her husband, Ravi before heading to work. While I’ve interacted a lot with Deepa over the last 5-6 years, this was my very first time meeting her. It’d be an understatement to say it didn’t feel like the first time.
We had so much to talk about (and not all of it was food related). But I did pack some Oat Squares and a couple of slices of the Pistachio Cranberry Loaf. I hope they enjoy them.
Here’s hoping we catch up again and we have more time, Deepa.

Happy Birthday, AppaToday would have been your 90th birthday. Like we did last year, we cut a cake (this time from ). It...
26/01/2026

Happy Birthday, Appa
Today would have been your 90th birthday.
Like we did last year, we cut a cake (this time from ). It was a small Vanilla Cake. Not a Black Forest that Amma likes and not the Butterscotch that you would have loved. But all of us enjoyed it.
I’m still grateful that I got to spend your birthday with you two years ago. Little did I know then that it would be the last one.
Happy birthday! I wish you were here.
❤️

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