Nik Sharma’s masala chai recipe combines fresh ginger with green cardamom, black tea, and milk for a gently spiced and perfectly balanced cup. Cinnamon, sugar, and smokey black cardamom are optional (but highly recommended!). Get the recipe here.
Sunday was one of the most fun days I’ve spent in a while. It began with coffee and pastries at Sightlglass with Phi of Princess Tofu. The record player was spinning old-school blues, our croissant was stuffed with pistachio frangipane and blackberry jam, and our coffeecake boasted ample streusel, fresh figs and plums.
We took the scenic 280 down to Santa Clara where we met Nik of A Brown Table, his dog Snoopy, and the flock of ducks that lives on his street. He served us apple halva in tiny cups, a thick sorbet kissed with saffron and cardamom, before we headed to his favorite chaat house for Indian street food.
We gorged on tiny, spiced vegetable sliders, crispy puris filled with yogurt that shatter in your mouth, and battered paneer (fried cheese!) dipped in tamarind sauce and mint chutney. Afterwards we stopped at a teeming Indian market to pick up some jaggery and butternut squash, then at a pumpkin patch where Phi showed us how to get ahead in life. Back at Nik’s, we learned how to make masala chai Nik’s way, and Phi whipped up one of her awesome culinary creations for dinner. We raided Nik’s prop cabinet, played with cameras, and talked a lot about this funny little world of food blogging.
Masala chai always seemed like a big production to me, requiring an hour or more to make, so Nik wowed me by just throwing a batch together in a matter of minutes and without consulting a recipe. His method turns out a perfectly spiced pot with just the right amount of milk, and the sugar is optional. I mentioned that I’d been wanting to try a chai with black cardamom, which is a different variety of the spice that gets dried over wood smoke and takes on a campfirey flavor. Nik added a pod, which gave the chai an addicting smokiness that I couldn’t stop thinking about that night (and not just because I was wired and couldn’t sleep).
I made a batch at home yesterday with the ginger, green cardamom, black cardamom, and cinnamon. I used 1 1/2 tablespoons decaf black tea since it was late in the afternoon, and I added milk and a touch of unrefined muscobado sugar that I had on hand.
Nik’s masala chai is going to be my new routine, one that I plan to make on a daily (if not hourly) basis.
Get the recipe on Nik’s lovely blog, A Brown Table, and check out his five easy Indian dishes that everyone can make on Food & Wine today (including masala chai ice cream!).
thanks for sharing his recipe and your beautiful photos. I can't wait to try that chai.
Thanks jaime!
Gorgeous, chai is one of my favorites!
Me too! :)
Lovely photos, this chai sounds delicious and I just purchased some black cardamom a week or two ago. ; )
Thanks, Crystal – how perfect! Let me know what you think if you make it. :)
That chai is the most beautiful thing to have on a chilly morning!
I couldn't agree more!
Gahhh, your photos get better with EVERY blog post. These are just exquisite and make me want good authentic chai so badly. You are a photography QUEEN!! :)
You are too kind! But I must say that Princess Tofu styled the shots – they're all her fault!
#ChaiInABush is going to be a trend. just you wait!!! <3
I hope that isn't a euphemism…
Sounds like a lovely Sunday!! This Chai sounds incredible.
Thanks, Liz – it was on both counts! :)
Mmm….I want to wrap my hands around a mug of that!
Aw!
It was so much fun to spend day with you and Phi. When did you sneak in a picture of the duck? I'm looking forward to our next adventure :)
They greeted us when we showed up. Me too!
Chai is such a comforting drink – especially in fall! Love this!
I completely agree. Thanks Katrina!
I love chai and can't wait to try this at home! It's among my favourite drinks – cinnamony and creamy and sweet! I have a thing for tea cups and these are super lovely.
I highly recommend it! Super simple and with stunning results. We went completely mad for Nik's tea cup collection – jealous!
Wow! Stunning pictures! Great action shot and gorgeous composition with the jeans/tea cup.
And I'm totally craving this chai now. With drinks like this pretty one, I may get used to this season.
Thanks you Denise! Phi and Nik are super fun to work with and helped style all the shots. I too am planning to drink this all throughout fall and winter.
Ooh, homemade chai sounds just about perfect–must try. Sounds like you guys had an amazing day! I, of course, need to go to Chaat Bhavan now. You have to love the sheer volume of terrific Indian food in the south bay :) (Have you ever been to Sakoon in downtown MTV? So good!)
I think you're gonna love this version, Eileen! And Chaat Bhavan, too. I've never tried Sakoon but I'm putting it on my list – thanks for the recommendation!
absolutely gorgeous photos
Thank you so much, Heather.
Ahhhhh this sounds like the PERFECT day. Chai is such a comforting drink for me and it's so lovely that you got to try some! This is the start of SF summer and it's time to take full advantage :)
Thanks Shikha – we had way too much fun, and the chai was (and is) to die for. :)
I've always thought that chai takes for ever to make but then again all things that are good are worth waiting for! Thank you for sharing such gorgeous photos. You three together make such a dream team!
Totally! I didn't mind waiting so long for chai, but I was also thrilled to learn Nik's process which is much faster and the results are just as tasty. The three of us are having way too much fun together!
I love Chai tea, and I've never thought to make my own before. Thank you for this amazing idea! And can I just say your writing and your photos are so enchanting. Your blog is so lovely!
Oh thank you so much for the kind words, Julia! I really love creating this space… almost as much as I like making chai. :)
Isn't Nik the best? I was sad when he left DC but I'm glad he's found some awesome, talented bloggers to hang out with in California. I told him I'm coming to visit at some point and I want to meet everyone! :)
He totally is – we're very lucky to have him. :) I'm a big fan of your work and can't wait to meet you when you come out here!
I love all the these cups and saucers! Soo vintage and charming! Indian masala tea is the best stress buster for me!
Yes, Nik has the most amazing props, and I feel the same way about the chai – so soothing.