Sliced citrus fruit salad with orange and lemon, garnished with chili flakes on a white plate.

BETTER WITH SPICE

Recipes

Welcome to Better With Spice, a selection of recipes, travel guides to some of my favourite restaurants along with tips and tricks to elevate your cooking.

Growing up in India and now calling Sydney home, my cooking style weaves together a treasured knowledge of spices with the joy of discovering and reimagining new dishes in my kitchen.

From quick curries layered with flavour, simple weeknight meals, sides and dips, to spice-filled baking, my recipes are quick, fresh and easy to recreate at home. Follow along and fall in love with cooking, and you’ll slowly realise that everything really is, better with spice.

Find out more about me and how Better With Spice came to be below.

Illustration of a star anise with eight points

ABOUT ME

Turkish poached eggs with yogurt and chili oil.

Breakfast

Dried red chilies with various spices on a dark surface

MAINS

Rich, dark chocolate frosting with a glossy texture.

Arugula salad with mandarin slices, walnuts, and Parmesan cheese on a blue plate, garnished with lemon and served on a white tablecloth.

SNACKS &
SIDES

DESSERTS

Karina Arora 28/6/25 Karina Arora 28/6/25

One Bowl Spiced Apple Loaf Cake

Apples and warming spices come together for this easy one-bowl spiced apple loaf cake. Taking just 20 minutes to prep, the recipe uses Greek yoghurt, fresh apples and olive oil for a perfectly moist, crumbly texture.

Karina Arora 9/6/25 Karina Arora 9/6/25

Vegan Coconut Rice Pudding

Try my creamy vegan coconut rice pudding inspired by traditional Indian kheer. This dairy-free dessert features cardamom, cinnamon, and coconut milk for a plant-based comfort food that you can eat for breakfast or dessert.

Karina Arora 20/5/25 Karina Arora 20/5/25

Easy Cheat’s Tiramisu

My easy, cheat’s tiramisu recipe is so creamy and delicious! It’s eggless and uses mascarpone and whipped cream for the smooth texture, strong coffee and traditional ladyfingers for the layers.

Karina Arora 3/5/25 Karina Arora 3/5/25

Rich Vegan Hot Chocolate

A thick, vegan hot chocolate recipe that uses ground dates, nuts and flaxseeds for a smooth, velvety texture. It’s also packed with nutrients and is perfect for enjoying by itself or with a sweet treat.

Karina Arora 20/4/25 Karina Arora 20/4/25

The Best Chocolate Tart

A decadent baked chocolate tart recipe with a rich chocolate ganache filling. This recipe is a little tedious but so worth the effort and is an absolute treat for chocolate lovers.

Karina Arora 13/4/25 Karina Arora 13/4/25

Sticky Spiced Roasted Plums

The perfect use of seasonal stone fruit, this recipe combines plums with cinnamon, star anise and a splash of balsamic vinegar, served with vanilla ice cream or dollop cream for the perfect dessert.

Karina Arora 8/4/25 Karina Arora 8/4/25

Marbled Chocolate Sesame Banana Bread

Transform overripe bananas into my delicious marbled chocolate and sesame banana bread with this easy recipe. The bread has a moist, fluffy texture with nutty tahini and rich chocolate swirls. A fool-proof recipe and perfect beginner bake, great for breakfast or dessert.

Karina Arora 6/4/25 Karina Arora 6/4/25

Chocolate Cherry Hot Cross Buns

My take on the classic Hot Cross Buns, made slightly devious with dark chocolate, cinnamon, coffee and cherries. Serve these buns warm out of the oven, or toasted and slathered with butter.

Karina Arora 16/3/25 Karina Arora 16/3/25

Carrot Cake With Brown Butter Frosting

This moist carrot cake with brown butter cream cheese frosting is pure comfort food. Made with warm spices, fresh carrots, and a nutty brown butter twist - ready in 60 minutes!

Karina Arora 9/3/25 Karina Arora 9/3/25

Brown Butter Fig And Almond Cake

A simple recipe for my brown butter, fresh fig and almond cake topped with cinnamon sugar. This easy bake uses seasonal fruits and can also be made with strawberries or stone fruit.