Food Styling made easy
My healthy yet delicious take on baklava cheesecake. Orange baklava cheesecake is a delight; every bite reminds you of spring. I used orange blossom honey and zest to make this mildly citrusy cheesecake. The filo sheets act like a vessel holding the cheesecake filling, adding to the texture. The beauty of filo pastry is its ability to add layers. When baked to perfection, they get a gorgeous color.
The sun is so bright early morning, and I am getting summer vibes already. Mayer lemons are the first thing that pops into my mind when I say summer. What better than a crumbly tart filled with golden lemon curd? Butter, sugar, and lemon combine to give you a rich yet light melt-in-mouth curd. We all loved it.
Easy to cook with ingredients from your regular kitchen pantry. Potato and leek soup is creamy, rich, and tastes sublime. Add herbs like thyme and parsley to bring out the best these veggies offer. A one-pot solution for those busy weekdays to avoid takeaways.
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.
On the 28th of August, I conducted a food styling workshop at one of Dubai’s quirkiest and coolest locations: “Bhukkad cafe.” The workshop was titled “The beginner’s guide to food styling.” The idea was to help people who wish to click fantastic food pictures.
Magic Ingredient 