Pineapple Passion Chiller with Curried Chickpeas Salad — Guest Post for Flavour Fiesta

This week is a flurry of excitements, beautiful inspirations, new beginnings, a delicious toast to celebrate friendship, and a peek behind the screen.

My very first guest post, featuring two recipes to enjoy outdoors during the warmer spring days, is published at this utterly beautiful and inspiring space, Flavour Fiesta (FF). Also fun was to share the moment, answering a few questions with the gorgeous author, Divya.

Divya Yadava is the talent behind Flavour Fiesta. Food engineer by education, now living in Toronto, she began her career as a business analyst. Soon she quit her job to follow her heart and pursue her true passion. Result? Flavour Fiesta and her stunning e-magazines, promoting healthy eating habits for a happier and healthier life.

I’ve always been a very visual person, and when I first discovered FF, I was utterly impressed. I love Divya’s simple but beautiful styling, gorgeous sunlight photographs, friendly, inviting voice. While I can never resist the beauty of her space, it is her magazines I've quite fallen in love with, I confess. Her latest spring magazine is simply stunning, don’t miss it!

I couldn’t be happier when we finally connected, and she asked me to write a guest post for her incredible blog. 

I aimed for something beautiful and healthy, something that would fit into her charming space without askew.

It’s the time of the year that inspires us to put on our strappy sandals and crisp white dresses, make merry in the blooming outdoor gardens, and dash off to the seaside, dreamily slipping by the hours in the lull of golden sand and crashing waves—bliss. And most of all, it’s the time for lovely get-togethers with a few close friends, enjoying a tasty bite, as glasses are filled and refilled, to share the moment, before this beautiful season slips through our fingers.

I’m excited to share two of my simple, but favorite recipes, influenced by my Indian roots. Curried chickpeas salad is a delicious twist on one of the most popular North Indian dishes, chana masala. And the cold beverage is a delightful thirst quencher with tropical ingredients like pineapple and passion fruit, commonly found in the backyard gardens of our homes in Kerala.

passion fruit ice

The salad is an awesome mix of nutritious, delicious, and satisfying; it’s quick and simple too. And there’s so much to love about the drink—sunny yellow color, tropical flavors, heady scent—everything screams sunshine and beauty. Bonus? It’s vegan, gluten-free and dairy free too—sure-fire winner!

Serve them on their own, or together, for a small gathering, goes down well for any occasion.

Hungry for more? Check out the recipes, pictures and interview at Flavour Fiesta, and don't forget to soak in the beauty of Divya's utterly gorgeous and inspiring site!