Diya Eats Well

My Mom’s Prawn Biryani 🦐❤️

Prawn (or shrimp!) biryani is my favorite kind of biryani - and I’ve demanded my mom make it for me pretty much every time I’ve seen her for over 25 years now (!). I asked her to teach me how to make it. This is not a one-hour, one pot version (like the chicken biryani I’ve shared before). This takes about 2 - 2.5 hours and is something to enjoy the process of preparing, as much as you enjoy the process of eating it. 🤍

My mom wants you to know that this particular version is one she adapted from a recipe in Hajra Mohammed’s book “Recipes of Life, for Life”.

Recipe is at the end of the video - enjoy!

Travel Series, Part 1: What I Ate & Did in 48 Hrs in Florence

There’s tons more to discover, we’ll definitely go back. But here’s where our family of 4 went on our first trip: focusing on local favorites, ingredients and artistry from the region, and history…while trying to avoid tourist traps or overhyped social media spots...and importantly - small kid-friendly too!

Coffee and pastries
Caffe Gilli in Piazza della Repubblica
Cafe Paszowsky in Piazza della Repubblica

Pasta
for the pasta with butter and cheese
for the penne vodka
was easy, v kid-accommodating (read: custom portions and sauces🫠) and near the duomo

Gelato



I know people are gonna have OPINIONS. If you don’t trust me - check local bloggers and foodies websites before you go (emphasis on local here). Oh and if you don’t like pistachio… Firenze will make you a believer.

Shopping
for dreamy dresses and floaty pants (watch your money float away too) 💸
for well, everything (I’m particularly fond of the lemon peel oil hand cream 🍋💸
mostly for plate-watching 💸💸

Museum
jaw-dropping, really

I’m eating this daily until further notice 🍅🌞

Have you made labneh before?



Fermented foods like yogurt can help support gut diversity and digestion, while higher protein and fiber breakfasts can help with satiety and steadier energy through the morning. This meal has about 20g of protein and 8g of fiber - no cottage cheese or high protein marketing required.

Send this to someone currently double majoring.

I wanna have more fun on this account and share more of myself. I find myself overthinking my content a lot lately so this is me doing something different and posting it anyway.

I’m not a trend chaser (despite working in the fashion industry a long time!). I’m an outfit repeater - and these are 3 go-to looks for me. Let me know if you want links to anything xx

Red, White & Blue Dessert Nachos 🇺🇸

One for the 4th! 😋

Ingredients
White chocolate, 1 1/4 cup
Coconut oil, 1 tsp
Blue spirulina, 1/2-1 tsp
Strawberries, 1 pint, hulled and sliced
Lemon juice and zest, 1/2
1 1/2 tsp honey or maple syrup
Pinch of sea salt
Whipped cream, to taste
Sprinkles (optional!)

Method
1) Melt the white chocolate in the microwave in 10-20 second bursts until melted, or over a double boiler.
2) Stir in 1/2 tsp blue spirulina. If you want it more blue, add another 1/2 tsp. Don’t use more than 1 tsp or the texture changes.
3) Pour the blue chocolate onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and set in the freezer for about an hour. 
4) Meanwhile, prepare the strawberry salsa: in a bowl whisk together the lemon juice and zest, honey, and pinch of sea salt. Stir in the sliced strawberries and set in fridge to cool.
5) Remove the blue chocolate from the freezer and break into “chips”
4) Layer the “chips” on a serving platter. Top with the strawberry salsa, bursts of whipped cream, and sprinkles if you wish. Enjoy!

Thank you for the thousands of messages wishing my son a speedy recovery. He is doing really well, it’s me that’s a wreck.

If you’ve been in this place before, comment and let me know your thoughts. What did you do to feel better?

Jokes aside, using the chai maker over the past few months has given me such a strong sense of connection to my roots and childhood — making chai for my parents in the afternoons, or being fascinated watching chai wallahs stir giant vats of steaming chai on the streets while visiting my grandparents in Bangalore.

Sharing a deeply flavorful cup of chai has always been one of my favorite ways to connect with people, slow down, and really savor the moment. So I’m especially glad to have this clever device that makes it incredibly easy to brew an authentic cup without the mess or having to stand over the stove.

For summer? It has to be iced 🧋

Iced Chai Latte Recipe
• 2 tbsp spiced chai mix (I used Loka x Diaspora Co)�• 400ml whole milk (or 2%)�• 200ml water�• Condensed milk, to taste (if you can find cardamom condensed milk online or at an Asian grocery store — highly recommend. You can also substitute with sugar.)�• Ice cubes, as much as you like�• Whipped cream or cold foam to top�• Cinnamon sprinkle, optional

Method
1. Add the chai mix, milk, and water to the Loka chai maker on medium heat. Let it begin to fountain, then brew for 6–8 minutes, or until the chai reaches your desired color.
2. Remove from heat, pour into a pitcher, and allow it to cool to room temperature.
3. If using granulated sugar, add it now and stir well. Otherwise, fill a glass with ice, pour in condensed milk, then add the chai and stir to combine.
4. Top with whipped cream or cold foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy.

Keeps well in the fridge for up to a day, but always best enjoyed fresh.

Messi! ⚽️ And unboxing a .usa machine because as far as husband midlife obsessions go, he could do much worse.

Plus he makes my coffee every morning, so I fully support this.