Mix (12 min)
Minced lamb + ginger-garlic + Kashmiri chili; quick chill.
Firecraft Journal — stories, field notes, and balcony recipes
Monsoon Journal
Born for Rain-Laced Evenings
Our journal collects balcony stories, festival cookouts, and tidy techniques for Indian weather. Expect practical notes, measured experiments, and grins when paneer crackles right on time.
- Field-tested tips: humid air, coastal breeze, and city balconies.
- Repeatable cues: vent clicks, color stages, and rest windows.
- Light reads: no fluff; just honest firecraft.
Balcony Run: Seekh Kebab
A fast, flavor-forward session for weeknights. Scroll the ribbon; each tile is a switch or check. Results are steady even when the breeze changes lanes.
Preheat (10)
Half chimney; grate pre-warm to prevent sticking.
Skewer (5)
Tight pack; wet hands; press ridges for crust.
Sear (4×)
Quarter-turns; color first, doneness later.
Finish (6)
Indirect lane; check 70–72 °C; rest & lime.
Charcoal Field Notes
We time lights, weigh ash, and sniff the smoke. The marker below tracks a typical session from spark to rest, while the gallery shows what “clean” actually looks like.
Monsoon Toolkit
Small, smart tweaks keep sessions tidy when the sky won’t decide. Tap a chip to expand the note; the tips are built from balcony runs across wet months.
Spice Smoke Trails
We pair charcoal character with pantry staples. Trails drift across the band — hover to park them and read the quick pairing.
- Kashmiri chili → paneer shine
- Black pepper → tikka snap
- Mustard oil → fish finish
- Turmeric → mellow color
- Garlic → sear-friendly
- Coriander → herb lift
Tikka Clock
Our weeknight timing for skewered tikka. The dial sweeps through three beats: sear, baste, and rest. Watch the pulse; repeat until color sings.
- Sear — quick color, rotate
- Baste — mustard oil + lime
- Rest — off heat, brief
Heat Layout Deck
Swap coal placement to match the job. Pick a layout — the grate diagram updates and the notes switch.
- Coals one side, food the other — fast color then gentle finish.
Pantry Rescue
Three fast sides when rain shortens the cook. Tiles flip on hover/tap and reveal the short method.
Pickled Onions
Vinegar + salt + sugar.
Slice thin; toss with hot water 30s, drain; vinegar mix 10 min. Bright with tikka.
Green Chutney
Coriander + mint.
Blend leaves, lime, green chili, a touch of yogurt. Brush during baste.
Quick Flatbreads
Flour + yogurt.
Knead soft dough; roll thin; 90 s on tawa; finish over grates for spots.
Night Reel
A moving strip of the moments we cook for — markets, balconies, friends. It slides itself; hover to pause.
Myth Lab
We keep hearing the same backyard claims. Tap a card: it flips from myth to field-backed notes — fast, practical, and tested in Indian weather.
“Searing seals juices.”
Great color, yes — but moisture loss depends on doneness and rest.
“Lid open cooks faster.”
Open lid bleeds heat and dries edges in wind.
“Smoke must be thick white.”
White clouds taste harsh when steady.
“More coals = always better.”
Overflow heat overshoots mid cuts.
Wind Compass
Breeze shifts change smoke quality. Pick a scenario — the needle turns and notes update. Use it to aim the clean exit downwind.
- Rotate top vent to leeward; keep bottom vent modest.
Paneer, Three Ways
Tikka, smoke bath, and seekh. Hover to slow the motion; the subtle pan shows texture and color cues.
Balcony Etiquette & Safety
Be a thoughtful firecrafter. Flip tiles to swap between Do and Don’t; these notes come from hundreds of balcony sessions across India.
DO
Preheat under cover; move out once flames are clean.
DON’T
Don’t light in gusts; white smoke clings to food.
DO
Keep a cool lane; finish gentle, then rest warm.
DON’T
Don’t crowd the grate; airflow makes flavor.
DO
Brush grates warm; oil the grate, not the food.
DON’T
Don’t scrape cold; you’ll skid grease and ash.
DO
Warn neighbors on long cooks; pick tidy fuels.
DON’T
Don’t block exits; coil cables and tools.
Winter Rooftop Session
Crisp air, slower burns, and steaming cups. A short photo story from dusk till plate — hover to nudge the pan.
