Your October Recipes Are Here
and for the very first time, 40% off Weeknight Simple
This month feels extra special. I’m turning 40, and I can’t help but pause in gratitude — for this life, for family and friends, for a body that has carried me here, and for the incredible second career I never imagined I’d be lucky enough to build. Most of all, I’m grateful for you — this audience, this community, who shows up with curiosity, joy, and the same hunger (literal and metaphorical) that drives me.
To celebrate, I’m making this October edition a little more festive than usual. Diwali is around the corner, and the recipes reflect that duality I love about cooking this time of year: true weeknight meals you can put on the table in minutes, like my protein-rich Poha, alongside something a little more involved and celebratory, like Tempeh Kofta in a silky tomato-onion sauce.
And because I’m hitting a milestone, I’m also offering you a special gift this week: 40% off NEW annual subscriptions to Weeknight Simple, my monthly recipe club where you get:
3 protein-rich dinner recipes, like the ones in this newsletter
A bonus recipe every month, could be breakfast, dessert, an exclusive from a new cookbook, etc.
A comprehensive shopping list, organized by supermarket aisle, plus meal planning tips
Access to the full recipe index, with dozens of recipes and counting
Seasonal subscriber-only perks such as free workshops and giveaways
CURRENT paid subscribers (annual or monthly) - Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. I will be adding 90 days free to your subscription - no action necessary. Give me a few weeks to do this (and I’ll shoot you an email when done).
GIFTS - The festive season is here! If you think this newsletter can help a special someone, buy them a gift subscription at the link below, also 40% off.
If you wish to stay a free subscriber, you get to vote on which recipe will be featured in next week’s free newsletter—so don’t miss the poll at the bottom.
Here’s to celebration, nourishment, and the joy of cooking together — whether it’s a quick poha on a Tuesday night or a festive spread to mark Diwali.
PS: A reminder: If you’re in the NYC metro area, I will be partnering with Aditi Guha, a nutritionist specializing in PCOS, for a special in-person event on October 22nd - a conversation I know will resonate with many of you. View details and purchase early bird tickets here.
And now, here’s what’s on the menu this month.
Tempeh Kofta
Okay, I’m falling for tempeh, hard. Inspired by
‘s Tempeh Meatballs, the tempeh gets simmered, seasoned, and blended with veggies and chickpea flour to form kofta that bake or air-fry to deep golden perfection. These little dumplings are then nestled into a velvety tomato-onion-cashew sauce — creamy and addictive, but without any heavy cream. Even if tofu isn’t your thing, give this one a try: it’s cozy, hearty, and absolutely stunning - completely worth the effort. Serve with basmati rice, quinoa or the sweet potato paratha below.Sweet Potato & Feta Paratha
Normally, I’ll take white potatoes over sweet potatoes every time (sacrilege, I know). But tuck them into a spiced flatbread and suddenly I can’t stop eating them. In this paratha, mashed sweet potato and crumbled feta are worked right into the dough, along with a spice blend that adds the right amount of heat. The result is soft, savory, and just a little addictive. Paired with yogurt and a dab of pickle, this one might just convert the sweet potato skeptics among us.
Oats, Peas & Paneer Poha
Poha has always been comfort food for me, and this version takes it up a notch in both protein and flavor. Instead of flattened rice, the base is lightly toasted oats, which bring nuttiness and extra fiber. Add in sweet peas (a complete protein when paired with the oats), grated paneer, crunchy peanuts, coconut, and curry leaves, and you’ve got a dish that’s as nourishing as it is satisfying. Best of all? It comes together in under 30 minutes, making it a weeknight staple in my rotation.
f you prefer to stay a free subscriber, please take the poll below to choose which recipe you want the most. The winning recipe will be sent out in my free newsletter next week.