Nanda Recipe
Giacometta Fritchman
I don't much care for food! What I am interested in is the preparation and presentation of it. I do not claim to know much about that either, I am not a foodie, in fact I am allergic to that word. I detest self-declared 'foodies' and though they seem to have replaced the 'Birkin' as the new status symbol, as much as possible, I avoid dining out with them or asking them for recommendations. I prefer to bungle around a menu and land on something that suits my tastes.(Recipe: Apple and Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast)I am therefore possibly the last person who should be writing a food column, but someone on the editorial team believes otherwise, that or they wanted somebody to cut through the 'baloney' (yes there will be many food related puns) and appeal to those of you who don't know their black cod from plain old regular cod. Here is what to expect: a rudimentary knowledge of food groups, my opinions and thoughts, some fail safe recipes and a lot of fancy language, but I hope along the way I get to learn about food, because well, why the hell not?
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Growing up, and vegetarian to boot, I subsisted on a diet of potatoes, too many types of green vegetables (that I shoved to the side of my plate) and soya nuggets. What I wanted to subsist on- instant noodles (et tu Brutus). Childhood is such a struggle between what your parents think is best for you and what you think in your infinite wisdom to be better! There was one exception to this rule of infantile mutiny, when you fell ill. Something happened to the steely make up of our progenitors when flu was impending or, if luck was on our side, a full blown case of Chicken Pox.(Recipe: Masala Cheese French Toast)There isn't a kinder soul on the planet than an Indian parent when their child has taken ill. Talk about indulgence. Not being particularly big on heavy or rich food, I looked forward to when I was unwell and my mother would let me off after a few sips of soup and some buttered bread. However, once convalesced with your appetite restored, plain old bread wasn't going to cut it, so my mother invented what is known in our house as 'Mamma Toast'.(Recipe: Chilli Cheese Toast)A simple toast topped with tomatoes, potatoes and cheese then grilled in the oven, and sprinkled with oregano - it was the ultimate comfort food, and a complete meal, all delicately balanced on a slice of bread. The ingredients being so basic and easily available meant it could be made anywhere, at any time. Even if the produce isn't fancy or the best quality, the simplicity of its preparation meant that it would taste just as delicious.Add to that the fact that it was quick to make, I'm surprised it's not a super food already. Though it's perfectly fine to make a meal out of 'Mamma Toast', I would recommend you eat it when homesick or recovering from an illness or heartbreak. Depending on the ingredients used, the taste could vary, but it always feels like a nice warm hug.
Ideally paired with a mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows, a cosy blanket and a nice movie!(Recipe: Mushroom Masala Toast)Disclaimer:The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
I like food, appreciate gastronomical complexities, and I am constantly in search of the story behind recipes. I love to travel, study recipes, and bring a bit of what I have enjoyed outside my home back to my kitchen. allthatmasala was developed to share what I cook & learn about ingredients everyday, and I'm in constant lookout for inspirations, new flavours, and basically, the story behind your plate!
I always prepare dalma when my brother visits me, since it is his favorite recipe. So much so, that he declared knighthood to the recipe and calls it Sir. Dalma! Those who are from the same region in India that I am from, Orissa, need no introduction to it. But for those who haven't ever visited my region, this might need some explanation.
Dalma is a staple preparation in Oriya households, and my Mom cooks it at least once a week. Because it is such a simple recipe, every home chef has his/her own version of the recipe. In a way, this can also be considered holy as it is served at Puri Jagannath temple as part of the holy feast.
This usually stores well in the freezer for a few weeks, and can be such a handy vegetarian meal after a hard and long day at work. Dalma is usually enjoyed with some steamed rice. I have learnt to add some lemon juice to my bowl of Dalma before eating for ultimate flavour!
Greek food holds a special place in my heart, and our tummies. We spent about 2 weeks in Greece at the beginning of this year, and were instantly mesmerized by the people, amazingly good food, and vibrant culture. While we did experience a generous amount of Greek food during our trip, I secretly felt there was always more, unseen and unexplored by us. I came back and found myself reading more about Greek kitchen, the flavours, ingredients, and techniques. We slowly found ourselves eating more Greek food than Italian, and I have been ever since frequenting the Greek restaurant in my neighborhood! There is something amazing about mediterranean kitchen. Perhaps owing to my Indian roots, the spices and fresh flavors attract my taste buds quite naturally.
I had several encounters during my holidays in Greece where I found amazing parallels with some of the Indian recipes. For example, deep fried aubergine dipped in a batter of flour is such a common tea time snack in India. Another amazing familiarity was Halva. Halwa, not just has a similarity in name with its Greek counterpart, but tastes so similar back in India. The exact recipe is something I'd need a blog post entirely to justify its greatness. In any case, we are certainly ready, and eager to go back to Greece. This time perhaps to Crete, a multidimensional land with enough diversity to have its own place in the Greek kitchen.
The inspiration for this recipe comes from the lovely stuffed grape leaves I had during my vacation. I cannot find fresh grape leaves here in the Netherlands, so I chose to use bell peppers as a proxy. The grape leaves are usually slow cooked, and the filling is often rice and meat based. I didn't manage my portions during the cooking process and ended up with a huge batch of stuffing. It wasn't a problem though! I just added some extra spices to the rice and lamb mix and ended up with a bonus recipe, perfect for the next days!
We set off to make some veggie burger the other evening with thai infused flavours. We had a bit of everything in this burger, which made it super special. We had fresh thai flavors from the lemongrass, intense fragrance induced by mushrooms and the red chili kick for that satisfying feeling. It was one happy evening to recall with my happy family!
How can we ever say no to a vegetarian burger made out of paneer and chickpea? It was crunchy, packed with loads of amazing flavours, and everything that would make us happy over a good meal with family and friends!
I believe that a good spicy Thai yellow curry possesses the fix to all troubles. I am in love with the Surendra's curry at Wagamama, a Japanese fast food restaurant with amazing South Asian recipes, from Ramens to Curries. This recipe got me a few inches closer to the Surendra's curry and took me only 20 minutes to stir together.
Tiramisu al limone, is a fresh and fragrant Amalfi twist to a classic Venetian dessert. LAdyfingers dipped in lemony syrup and stacked between creamy layers of mascarpone, this is a quick and no-bake dessert recipe that takes a few minutes to whisk together and 3 hours to set.
This grilled fish recipe is so simple, it takes only 5 minutes to prepare this recipe, and let the oven work the rest out. That's it! This is my favorite go to grilled/baked fish recipe henceforth. Super easy, healthy, and delicious!
Who can say no to a carrot cake?! If I had it my way I would eat one everyday however the traditional recipes are often heavy for daily consumption. This recipe substitutes everything that could make me guilty everyday while retaining the flavors. Whole wheat, low sugar, and olive oil goe into this fluffy and healthy carrot cake recipe. Enjoy!
Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert that originated from the Veneto region. Formed out of layers of ladyfingers dipped in espresso and layered between a mascarpone, and custard mix, this makes the best way to beat the Monday blues! I love my tiramisu with a nice cup of cappuccino and some Frank Sinatra in the background. Delish!
A vegetarian burger recipe inspired by Jamie's Italian menu. The burger patty is made of soya beans and chickpea and constructed with balsamic onion, feta cheese, fennel and beet slaw, and a pickled onion!
Today is supposed to be June solstice, when the northern hemisphere enjoys a prolonged day due to the earth tilting towards the sun. Indeed it was bright until almost a tad over half past nine in the evening, but due to the impending rain over the day, it didn't quite allow us to enjoy the extra bit of sunshine outdoors. I have somehow gotten used to the rain in the Netherlands, and don't really mind it until the trains operate smoothly. Commute from Amsterdam to Rotterdam gotta be smooth!
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