Home Chefs Of Mumbai - Part 7 – Shital Kakad

Have you noticed that the longest time we fritter away at the shopping mall is by the kitchen appliance section to check the latest gadgets? 

Sometimes, it can be hard to shop when we already have stocked our kitchen with latest and greatest appliances.  But still, nothing compares with the utensils and the tools that our moms and Grandmoms used in their kitchen. Maybe, that was one of the reasons that their food was tastier, healthier, sustainable, because they used their muscle power for everything. Kitchen was also their gym where all workouts were done while cooking - grinding, lifting, bending, squatting, cleaning, washing, churning, steaming, the list goes on.

 Luckily the retro is in. People have started using clay, copper and iron utensils. A lot of Indian homes have mortar and pestle in their kitchen, which not just personifies their rustic charm, but it also helps crush the ingredients, releasing essential oils and full-bodied flavours. Crushing is anytime better than grinding in a machine.

 

I am sure that one of the secrets to Shital Kakad’s cooking is in her use of Silbatta.

 

Shital Kakad is the multi-talented home chef. She has always loved to paint, embroider, crochet & reading was/is almost her shadow. She owned a Fashion Studio before she started food blogging. Her love for food brought her closer to foodie friends and she was encouraged to open ‘Shital's Food Cottage’ (her dream project) that has taken shape beautifully. It is her haven for creating new recipes, has some amazing ‘Food Events’ and she also conducts ‘Workshops’. ‘Shital's Food Cottage’ has a special Chai Masala, loved by many and is highest saleable masala!!! (This can be almost called her Heirloom recipe.) She has created signature Egg-free recipes and she takes orders for the same.

 

 She specialises in Indian Global Vegetarian food that has been highly influenced by her travels but her Forte is definitely her Traditional Authentic Gujarati Food like Gujarati Thali, Street Food specials, Mithai Jars, and also Teatime Cakes, Cookies, Dips & Appetizers

 

She keeps thinking about the food she had on her trip to Zurich.

“I can never forget Surat no locho, Amritsar Lassi & the handmade Pizza I had at a small café in Zurich which was owned by an Italian & who allowed me in his kitchen to show me how he makes it.”  She smiles.

 

But her First Eureka moment definitely is her Mom's food. She loved the special Batata nu Shaak that her Mom would make for her to take on school picnics, that till today she calls it as her picnic Shaak. Her mom has been her teacher in a true sense.

 

“The first thing my Mom taught me was making Gujarati Rotlis which are really thin Phulkas & I was only in the sixth grade when I used to make perfect Rotlis. I loved Cooking since I was child as my family on both sides are big foodies.”

 

She is happy to share Green Sprouts Curry that has the healthy Buttermilk & fresh Fenugreek leaves which makes it highly Beneficial as well as Delicious.

 

 

1.    Heat 2tsp oil in a kadai.

2.    Add  one onion (chopped length wise) & brown it a little.

3.    Add 1 tbsp garlic paste.

4.    Add 1 cup finely chopped fenugreek leaves(use less if preferred).

5.    Add ½ tsp turmeric & 1 tsp red chilli powder along with the salt.

6.    Add 1 cup green beans sprout.

7.    Add 2 tbsp of water.

8.    Cook for 5 minutes till they become slightly soft.

9.    Lastly add 1 cup buttermilk & bring to a boil ( if the buttermilk is curdling, just add in a teaspoon of besan / chickpea flour & mix).

10. The Delicious Green Sprouts Curry is ready to be served along with some piping hot Rotis or Rice or with some Jowar Rotis.

 

Lockdown gave her an idea to start her E MAGAZINE called Chai Shai Aur Baatein (She hosts a WatsApp group under the same name). Since she could not meet her group friends during these times, she launched the e-magazine so that they could share some amazing recipes as well as lifestyle articles.

 

 

You can order her food on 9821876249

Or by messaging her on Facebook page- Shital Food Cottage

You could follow her Instagram handle at ShitalKakad

 

You could visit her blog for more of her authentic regional recipes