Totkay: Kitchen Tips & Fixes
Quick, tried-and-tested fixes for everyday kitchen problems, from a salan that is too salty to dahi that will not set in a cold kitchen. Each totka explains why it happens, how to fix it and how to stop it next time.
Salan rescue Roti & paratha Rice & biryani Frying & oil Dahi & raita Ghee, paneer & malai Storage & freshness Stains & cleaning Smells & smoke
120 totkay in 9 sections
Salan Rescue Totkay
Too salty, too spicy, too thin or too oily? How to save the pot.
Salan Too Salty? 7 Fixes That Workسالن میں نمک زیادہ ہو گیا؟ ۷ آزمودہ طریقےAdded too much namak? 7 tested ways to fix a salty salan or curry, from adding more base to dahi and cream, plus the truth about the potato trick.
Salan Too Spicy? How to Tone It Downسالن میں مرچ زیادہ ہو گئی؟ تیزی کیسے کم کریںToo much lal mirch in the pot? How to reduce the spice in a curry with dahi, cream, more base, sugar or lemon, and how to serve it so everyone can eat.
Watery Salan: How to Thicken Curryپتلا سالن: شوربہ گاڑھا کیسے کریںSalan too thin and watery? How to thicken curry without cream: reduce it, mash potato or daal into it, add onion-tomato paste, roasted besan or nut paste.
Too Much Oil in Salan (Remove Excess Oil)سالن میں تیل زیادہ ہو گیا؟ اضافی تیل کیسے نکالیںSalan swimming in oil? How to remove excess oil from curry with a ladle, ice, bread or the fridge, and how much oil a salan really needs.
Burnt Masala Smell: Can You Save It?مسالہ جل گیا؟ کیا سالن بچ سکتا ہےMasala stuck and burnt at the bottom? How to save a burnt curry, when it is too far gone, and how to get rid of the burnt smell.
Salan Too Sour from Tomatoesٹماٹر سے سالن کھٹا ہو گیاSalan tastes sharp and sour from tomatoes? How to fix a curry that is too sour with longer bhuna, a pinch of sugar or baking soda, dahi or cream.
Roti & Paratha Totkay
Soft rotis, flaky parathas and dough that behaves, even with supermarket flour abroad.
Roti Gets Hard After Coolingٹھنڈی ہو کر روٹی سخت ہو جاتی ہےRotis soft off the tawa but hard and chewy an hour later? How to keep roti soft for hours: a softer dough, the right tawa heat, ghee and a covered roti box.
Soft Roti with All-Purpose Flour Abroadبیرونِ ملک عام آٹے سے نرم روٹیNo chapati atta in your supermarket? How to make soft roti without atta, using all-purpose or plain flour mixed with wholemeal, warm water and a little oil.
Roti Not Puffing Upروٹی نہیں پھولتیRoti stays flat instead of puffing into a ball? Why your roti is not puffing and 6 fixes: dough, resting, even rolling, tawa heat and when to flip.
Dough Too Sticky (Atta Fix)آٹا بہت چپچپا ہو گیاAtta dough sticking to your hands and the bowl? How to fix sticky roti dough without making it hard: rest it, oil your hands, add flour slowly.
Paratha Not Flakyپراٹھا پرت دار نہیں بنتاParathas come out dense instead of flaky? How to make a flaky, layered paratha with ghee and flour between the folds, the right rolling and slow cooking.
Keep Parathas Soft for Lunchboxلنچ باکس کے لیے پراٹھے نرم رکھیںParatha hard and leathery by lunchtime? How to keep paratha soft in a lunch box: softer dough, ghee, wrapping warm in foil and the right tiffin.
Rice & Biryani Totkay
Fluffy, separate grains every time.
Rice Turned Mushy: Fix and Preventچاول گیلے ہو گئے: علاج اور بچاؤRice soft, sticky and mushy? How to fix mushy rice by draining and drying it in the pan or oven, what to turn it into, and how to cook basmati right.
Rice Grains Breaking in Biryaniبریانی میں چاول کے دانے ٹوٹ جاتے ہیںBasmati grains breaking into small pieces in your biryani? Why rice breaks and 6 ways to keep long, whole grains: washing, soaking, boiling and layering.
Long Separate Grains Every Timeہر بار لمبے اور الگ الگ دانےHow to make basmati rice grains long, fluffy and separate every time: aged basmati, washing, soaking, the right water and resting before fluffing.
Biryani Too Dry (Fix After Dum)بریانی بہت خشک ہو گئی (دم کے بعد علاج)Biryani came out dry and hard after dum? How to fix dry biryani with saffron milk, ghee, yakhni and a second short dum, and how to stop it next time.
Rice Undercooked After Dumدم کے بعد بھی چاول کچے رہ گئےBiryani rice still hard after dum? How to fix undercooked rice in biryani with a splash of hot water, a tight seal and more dum, without making it mushy.
How Long to Soak Basmatiباسمتی کتنی دیر بھگوئیںHow long to soak basmati rice for biryani, pulao and plain rice: 20 to 30 minutes for most rice, and what happens if you soak too long or not at all.
Frying & Oil Totkay
Crisp pakoras, less oil and less splatter.
Pakoras Not Crispyپکوڑے کرکرے نہیں بنتےPakoras soft, soggy or oily? How to make pakoras crispy: rice flour in the besan, a thick batter, hot oil, small batches and a quick double fry.
Samosas Absorb Too Much Oilسموسے بہت تیل پیتے ہیںSamosas greasy and soaking up oil? Why it happens and how to fix it: a stiff dough with the right moin, proper sealing and frying on the right heat.
Oil Splattering While Fryingتلتے وقت تیل اچھلتا ہےHot oil jumping out of the karahi? How to stop oil splattering when frying: dry the food, add it gently, use a deep pan and a splatter screen.
Reuse Frying Oil Safelyتلنے والا تیل محفوظ طریقے سے دوبارہ استعمال کریںHow many times can you reuse frying oil? How to strain and store pakora oil, how often to reuse it, and the signs it is time to throw it away.
Kebabs Breaking While Fryingتلتے ہوئے کباب ٹوٹ جاتے ہیںShami kababs falling apart in the pan? Why they break and how to fix them: a dry mixture, the right grind, an egg or bread binder and chilling.
Seekh Kabab Falls Off Skewerسیخ کباب سیخ سے گر جاتا ہےSeekh kababs sliding off the skewer on the grill? 6 fixes: fattier mince, double grinding, squeezed onions, a little binder, chilling and flat skewers.
Dahi & Raita Totkay
Thick homemade dahi in any season, and quick fixes when dahi, raita or dahi baray go wrong.
Set Dahi in Cold Weatherسردیوں میں دہی جماناHow to set thick dahi in winter or in a cold kitchen abroad: warmer milk, more jaag, and warm spots like the oven with the light on, a casserole or a towel.
Dahi Not Setting: 6 Reasonsدہی نہیں جم رہا: ۶ وجوہاتDahi still runny after hours? The 6 most common reasons dahi does not set, from milk too hot or cold to old starter and UHT milk, and how to fix each.
Thick Dahi with Supermarket Milkسپر مارکیٹ کے دودھ سے گاڑھا دہیDahi from supermarket milk too thin? How to make thick yogurt with store milk: full-fat milk, boiling it down, milk powder, and straining.
Dahi Too Sourدہی بہت کھٹا ہو گیاHomemade dahi too sour (khatta)? Why it happens, how to make sour dahi milder for raita and lassi, and the best dishes to use very sour dahi in.
Make Dahi in an Oven or Instant Potاوون یا انسٹنٹ پاٹ میں دہی بنائیںHow to make thick homemade dahi in an Instant Pot (yogurt setting) or in a regular oven with the light on. Step by step, with times.
Starter (Jaag) Without Dahiدہی کے بغیر جاگNo dahi for jaag? How to make dahi without a starter: the easy shop-yogurt way and the traditional chilli stem method, with honest results.
Ghee, Paneer & Malai at Home
Ghee from store butter, paneer from store milk, and how to collect malai.
Ghee from Store-Bought Butterبازار کے مکھن سے گھیHow to make ghee from store-bought butter: unsalted butter, low heat, 15 to 25 minutes, when to stop, how to strain it and how to store it.
Desi Ghee from Malaiملائی سے دیسی گھیHow to make desi ghee from malai collected from milk: store it in the freezer, churn it into makhan, then cook it into fragrant ghee.
Paneer from Supermarket Milkسپر مارکیٹ کے دودھ سے پنیرHow to make paneer from store-bought milk: which milk works (and why UHT does not), how much lemon or vinegar to use, and how to press it firm.
Paneer Crumbling? Fix Itپنیر بکھر رہا ہے؟ ٹھیک کریںHomemade paneer crumbling when you cut or cook it? Why it happens and how to fix it: knead and re-press, soak in warm water, and cook it gently.
Collect Malai at Homeگھر میں ملائی جمع کریںHow to get a thick layer of malai from milk at home: full-fat milk, a slow simmer, a wide pan, cooling covered and chilling overnight.
Khoya from Milk Powderملک پاؤڈر سے کھویاHow to make khoya (mawa) from milk powder in about 10 minutes, for gajar halwa, gulab jamun and barfi, with exact amounts and how to store it.
Storage & Freshness Totkay
Keep herbs, pastes, masalas and cooked food fresh for longer.
Store Dhania So It Lasts 2 Weeksہرا دھنیا دو ہفتے تک تازہ رکھیںDhania going limp and yellow in two days? How to store coriander so it lasts up to 2 weeks: the jar of water method and the dry box method.
Store Green Chillies for Monthsہری مرچیں مہینوں تک محفوظ رکھیںHow to store green chillies so they stay fresh for weeks in the fridge and months in the freezer: remove the stems, dry them and keep them airtight.
Freeze Ginger Garlic Pasteادرک لہسن کا پیسٹ فریز کریںHow to make and freeze ginger garlic paste in ice cube trays so you always have it ready, how long it keeps in the fridge and freezer, and food safety tips.
Keep Masalas Fresh (Shelf Life Chart)مسالے تازہ رکھیں (کتنی دیر چلتے ہیں)How long spices stay fresh, in one shelf life chart: haldi, lal mirch, garam masala, zeera and more, plus how to store masalas so they keep their flavour.
Store Onions and Potatoes Abroadبیرونِ ملک پیاز اور آلو محفوظ رکھناShould you store onions and potatoes together? Why it is better to keep them apart, and how to store both in a small kitchen or flat abroad.
Keep Atta Free of Bugsآٹے کو کیڑوں سے بچائیںBugs in your atta? How to keep flour bug free: freezing new flour, airtight containers, cleaning the cupboard and what to do with infested atta.
Stains & Cleaning Totkay
Haldi stains, burnt pots and looking after your karahi and tawa.
Remove Haldi Stains from Clothesکپڑوں سے ہلدی کے داغ نکالیںHaldi stain on your clothes? How to remove turmeric stains: scrape, rinse in cold water, dish soap, baking soda paste and sunlight, and what not to do.
Remove Haldi Stains from Countertopsکاؤنٹر سے ہلدی کے داغ نکالیںYellow haldi stain on a white counter, worktop or plastic box? How to remove turmeric stains from countertops, laminate and plastic, safely.
Season a New Iron Karahiنئی لوہے کی کڑاہی کو پکا کریںHow to season a new iron karahi so it stops rusting and food stops sticking: clean off the factory coating, heat, oil in thin layers and care for it after.
Clean a Rusty Tawaزنگ لگا توا صاف کریںIron tawa covered in rust? How to clean a rusty tawa with vinegar or lemon, salt and a scrubber, then re-season it so the rust doesn’t come back.
Clean a Burnt Pressure Cookerجلا پریشر ککر صاف کریںDaal or rice burnt at the bottom of your pressure cooker? How to clean a burnt pressure cooker, safely for both aluminium and steel cookers.
Clean Oily Kitchen Cabinetsکچن کی تیل والی الماریاں صاف کریںSticky, oily film on your kitchen cabinets from tadka and frying? How to clean greasy kitchen cabinets with dish soap, warm water and baking soda, gently.
Cooking Smells & Smoke Totkay
Keep masala smells out of the hallway and the smoke alarm quiet.
Fried Fish Smell in the Houseگھر میں تلی مچھلی کی بوHouse still smells of fried fish? How to get rid of the fish frying smell after cooking: air it out, boil vinegar or lemon, clean the oil and wash fabrics.
Cooking Smells in Apartmentsفلیٹ میں کھانا پکانے کی بوLiving in a flat or apartment and worried the neighbours can smell your masala? How to keep curry smells down while cooking and get rid of them after.
Smoke Alarm Goes Off When Making Tadkaتڑکا لگاتے ہی اسموک الارم بج اٹھتا ہےSmoke alarm goes off every time you make a tadka or bhuno masala? How to cook desi food with less smoke and stop false alarms, safely.
Keep Masala Smell Off Your Clothesکپڑوں کو مسالے کی بو سے بچائیںSmelling of tadka at work or school? How to keep curry smell off your clothes and hair, and remove it from coats that can’t be washed.
Fry Fish Without Smelling Up the Houseگھر میں بو پھیلائے بغیر مچھلی تلیںHow to fry fish without the whole house smelling of it: fresh fish, a lemon and besan wash, the right oil heat, lids, ventilation and frying outside.
Onion Smell in the Fridgeفریج میں پیاز کی بوFridge smells of onions and garlic, and the milk tastes of it? How to remove onion smell from the fridge and stop strong foods from spreading their smell.
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