Food Styling made easy
Do you look for healthy alternatives when baking treats for your family? Carrot cakes are a delight, so I had to make sure they had the right ingredients to make them a healthy treat. Cinnamon and ginger spiced carrot cake with yogurt frosting to take care of those cravings.
A mild curry that I prepare at least once every two months. Light, fragrant and healthy. Green Thai curry with baby aubergines and sweet peas served with hot rice is a delight.
As a stylist, I create textures on food to get those beautiful shadows that hold attention. What do I mean by textures on food? The layers we create on the surface of your dish, just like the layers
A basic recipe with the right ingredients can make a difference. Spaghetti Aglio e olio with cherry tomatoes is one such dish. We love this simple recipe, with Olive oil being the star ingredient.
Here is a recipe inspired by the Hakka noodles I had from street vendors back in Assam. It is filled with vegetables and is a sure shot winner in my family.
w about some healthy ragi cookies with the goodness of clarified butter (Desi ghee) and coconut sugar. I had to come up with these as I wanted my son to eat different kinds of flour. Ragi is millet and is rich in minerals. Roasted Ragi flour has a slight nuttiness, and we loved it.
What do you do with leftover vadas? I turned them into my favorite “Dahi vadas.” With festivities in full swing back home, people look for easy vegetarian recipes in some parts of India. Vadas are a massive hit in my family. I love serving them for breakfast with chutney, with tea, and at times in lunchboxes.
I love making kebabs with cheese. Even though the usual choice is meat, fish, or veggies for a change, I tried halloumi cheese as the hero. Cheese is a relatively easy ingredient to work with, and it takes less time compared to others. I usually use Indian cottage cheese for making vegetarian kebabs. However, for a middle-eastern-inspired meal, I choose Halloumi. Honey and thyme roasted halloumi kebabs tasted perfect with couscous and salad.
When we decided to eat fewer carbs just for a week, I had to get creative. I rely on veggies and lean meat. Since the sweet potatoes are always a hit, I decided to pair them with whipped garlic yogurt sauce. Magic happens when they get roasted with a few herbs and spices. It is a perfect side dish, but we had it for lunch. Thyme roasted sweet potato is a delicious meal in itself and I am making some again.
Chicken dumpling soup with turmeric and coconut is a simple, soulful recipe. This soup is light, silky with the goodness of coconut and turmeric. Turmeric has medicinal properties, and it lends a beautiful golden color to the soup.
When you want to start the day on a healthy yet delicious note, Poha or flattened rice is my favorite savory breakfast which is light and keeps me full for a long time. Occasionally I make poha as a snack with tea; the recipe remains more or less the same. Here I am sharing the whole package – poha and tea.
Sometimes the simplest of dishes are more fulfilling. Spaghetti with roasted cherry tomatoes and basil is one such dish and my go-to pasta when I am not in the mood to cook an elaborate meal. I love the simplicity and freshness of this pasta.
Sweets are part of our Indian culture and tradition; halwa is a quick, easy way to make special occasions. A couple of years ago, I created mango malai laddoo (Indian sweet) for a special occasion, and this year it had to be halwa. The leftover mango puree, which I had frozen, went into my halwa. Mango Kesar halwa has to be hands down my current favorite.
What did you do when you did not go for your grocery shopping on time? You search the pantry and fridge to fix a quick meal. I am glad I always keep a can of chickpeas. Chickpeas stew to the rescue on a hectic day.
I have always been apprehensive about cooking crabs. And somewhere deep down, I was also scared. Recently, I put my fears to rest and bought a few crabs home to make some delicious crab garlic butter.
