Kheema Aloo Tikki

Use the same weight; heat and flavour are very close.

Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; deseed for less heat. Larger chillies are more watery.

Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; chop finely and adjust heat by tasting.

Use equal weight. Fry gently in oil or ghee with the ginger; incorporates smoothly into curries without visible minced bits.

Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.

Use 1.5 times the weight, very finely minced. Sauté until golden; provides savoury allium sweetness, though it lacks garlic's pungent sulphur bite.

Use equal weight. Sauté in hot fat until the raw allium smell disappears; slightly wetter, but provides identical warmth and pungency.

Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.

Dry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.

Use 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.

Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.

Use the same weight; sharper and clearer; reduce salt slightly.

Use 90% of the weight, diluted with 10% water; harsher, so taste.

Use the same weight; fresher sourness but no malt flavour; reduce salt.

Crush whole peppercorns roughly in a mortar or under a heavy skillet; use equal weight. Yields the exact same fiery heat and crunchy bite.

Use 70% of the weight. It disperses heat much more aggressively through sauces and can darken the dish, lacking the crunchy specks of coarse pepper.

Use 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.

Use 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.

Use 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Use 35 to 40% of the total pod weight; lightly bruise the seeds before frying in oil to release their essential oils.

Use 20 to 25% of the pod weight (about 1 generous pinch per pod); stir in toward the end of cooking so the delicate floral notes do not dissipate.

Use 1:1 by pod count or weight; crack gently before using, though it is slightly less intensely floral.

Use a 2 cm piece (about 1 g) for every 1 to 2 bay leaves. Fry in whole-spice temperings; provides the cassia-like warmth typical of Indian tejpatta.

Use 0.5 g per leaf. Stir into the sauce during simmering; gives the same warm woodiness but darkens the colour slightly.

Use the same weight; cook a little longer. Milder and less sweet when raw.

Use the same weight; sweeter and softer, so reduce cooking time slightly.

Use only the white parts, weight for weight, for raw or quick-cooked dishes; green parts are too grassy for long cooking.

Use the same weight for a less sweet result; add sugar and vinegar if the recipe expects ketchup.

Use the same weight for a sweeter result; reduce any added sugar in the recipe.

Use 50-60% of the weight and loosen with water; it is much stronger and thicker.

Use the same weight; this is the first half of the book's option and gives the best red colour with mild heat.

Use the same weight; add a pinch of cayenne pepper for warmth. Slightly less colour.

Use the same weight and add cayenne pepper to taste; works but is less aromatic.

Use the same weight; younger and tenderer, so reduce cooking by 10–15 minutes.

Use the same weight; more fat, so cook 15–20 minutes longer and skim excess fat.

Use the same weight; stronger flavour and tougher, so cook 15–20 minutes longer.

Use 1:1 by weight; cook straight from fresh or frozen with identical timing and sweetness.

Use 60% of the weight in dry dal; boil until tender yet firm before stirring in, lending a nuttier texture rather than sweet pop.

Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.

Use 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Use equal weight, chopped fresh and stirred in off the heat or used as garnish. Matches the citrus-herbal profile identically.

Use 40% to 50% of the weight; chop finely and add at the very end. Adds fresh herbal brightness, but shifts the aroma toward cool menthol.

Use equal weight. Cut into large chunks; cooks down much faster (10-12 minutes) and softens into the sauce rather than staying starchy and firm.

Use 80% of the weight. Cube and add in the last 5-10 minutes of cooking; adds rich dairy protein instead of starchy bulk.

Use 45% dry weight. Soak overnight and boil until fully soft before stirring into the sauce to simmer for 10 minutes.

Use the same weight; remove crusts if the recipe wants soft crumb.

Use the same weight; adjust slices by weight, not count.

Use the same weight; it is denser and sweeter, so reduce sugar slightly and soak if making crumbs.

Use the same weight. It is the same ingredient under another name and thickens or crisps in the same way.

For coating and frying, use the same weight; it gives a crisper, slightly gritty crust. For thickening, use 1.5 times the weight and simmer a little longer.

For coating, use the same weight. For thickening, use twice the weight and cook out for 2–3 minutes; it gives a softer, less glossy sauce.

Use the same weight, choosing the coriander element if available. If only basil is available, expect a sweeter, more aniseed flavour.

Use the same weight. Basil is sweeter and more aromatic in a different way; add near the end so it keeps its perfume.

Use 1.5 times the weight and reduce other liquid slightly; it is less fresh and more concentrated, so taste before adding more.

Use the same weight. It is neutral and behaves the same in frying and tempering; no noticeable change in flavour.

Use the same weight. Neutral and good for high heat; the dish will taste virtually the same.

Use the same weight. It has a mild nutty flavour and is good for Indian cooking; heat until just hot, not smoking, so the nuttiness does not dominate.

Use the same weight, add 10–15% more water and rest the dough for 20 minutes; the result is heavier and nuttier.

Use the same weight for crisp coatings; for doughs use no more than half rice flour with wheat flour, or it will be crumbly.

For thickening use half the weight, mixed with cold water; it is not suitable for bread or chapati dough.

For binding, use about 10 g chickpea flour mixed with 20 ml water per egg and rest for 10 minutes. Denser and nuttier; not suitable for baking or coating in the same way.

Use about 30 g per egg for moisture and binding in koftas or fillings. Adds tang and softness; will not set or glaze like egg.

Use the same weight, mashed, for egg-like bulk in curries. Soft and bland; add extra spices and do not expect it to bind.

Use the same weight; fresh white crumbs are softer and bind more gently.

Use about 70% of the weight and moisten slightly, as dried crumbs absorb more liquid.

Use the same weight; they are lighter and crisper, giving a coarser coating.