Home Chefs Of Mumbai- Part 40- Smita Verma and Alpana Varma

Pandemic has opened many doors behind the closed doors. 

Social network helped every one to walk virtually in all directions, and so many different avenues have opened up. We have done virtual harvest tour and cook_along with Nancy Silverton sailing through 40 acres of Bledsoc farms watching pistachio harvest, (the tour organised by @foodbloggerai) We walked with @pikturenama and attended the Indonesian food carnival. We have travelled with @rushinamg and explored her stories on spice chronicles. We have visited ethnic kitchens with @historywali to far off rural areas and watched locals cook. We have received deeper knowledge on ingredients from Dr @Kurushdalal, heard food-stories from @thefinelychopped, and many more. The food knowledge during pandemic has been more than we can hold in one plate.

With restaurants receding into dark shadows, home chefs came to rescue, specially for those who had no help at home. The good thing is that the regional cuisines of India have come into focus. Our diet of Pizzas, Hamburgers, French Fries have got replaced with much healthier diet of home-cooked food, more nutritious and tastier. We have finally learnt to appreciate the food that we ate at grandma’s house during our trips in summer holidays. And Gosh! What a variety we have in our country! Same vegetables, same spices, but the cooking methods differ from city to city, region to region, creating plethora of food, tingling our taste buds, craving for more.

Thanks to home chefs, we now have variety of food in Mumbai from all over India, many of them specialising in their own family cuisine. Alpana Verma and Smita are friends who specialise in Bihari Cuisine

After a college reunion in 2016 , Smita and Alpana instantly struck upon the idea of bringing the richness of Bihari food to Mumbai. Both friends have long years of executive grade corporate exposure from HR to Banking and beyond . In 2017 they donned the mantle of 'Self Appointed Ambassadors of Bihar' and have not looked back.

 “By Eureka you mean self discovery. On that note Smita always knew she is a good cook . The pop up cafe initially was my idea and we served 5 course meals from our homes . What set us on this road was the confidence in our Ahuna Mutton Vegetable estews and Rohu Rassedar recipes . They are organic and Bihari in essence.” Says Alpana

Pop up cafes and online delivery have worked like a beauty for them. People from all over Mumbai & Thane have eaten their 50+ types of authentic Behari cuisine . 

“We thank them from the  heart. People from Peddar Road to Bandra, BKC to Thane , Mahim to Powai have eaten our food and every time it’s appreciated” says Smita

 Alpana and Smita specialise in Bihari cuisine and ‘Litti Chokha’ is their signature dish.

Art is another thing they are passionate about, specially Madhubani art from Bihar and now they offer free gifts on order above Rs1000 to all their clients, to make it as popular as Warli art. 

 “The breakfasts from our childhood were fit for kings and remain a cherished memory which we often recreate . We are doing the same for others now. Puri/parautha , Gobi bhujiya , bhuna kaleji, kheer, baingan ka saun maun is there on our menu.” Says Smita

They are happy to share the recipe of Pharul Masala

Pharui masala is a very common evening snack  in Bihar. Its also called Jhal Muri in some parts of Bihar bordering Bengal . It is very easy to make and tasty to eat.

Method

1. Take 2 cups of Pharuhi (also known as Murhi or Kurmure). 

2. Add one medium size finely chopped onions, 2-3 green chillies and half spoon Mirchi achar masala. 

3. Mix all the ingredients. 

4. Add 2tsp Mustard oil and 2-3 spoons of soaked Channa. 

5. Serve crunchy, crispy Pharuhi masala as evening snack

They can be reached on authenticcook.com or on Mytree.com, also on Zomato

Watsapp them at 75440 06053

Follow them at @tbis_thebiharistudio

Home Chefs Of Mumbai – Part 39 – Sneha Senapati

Believe it or not, street food is always delicious.

 Everybody is aware that the food cart parked at the street corner is covered with dust, there may not be clean water to use,  its not even hygienic on many levels, but the taste is really unique that cannot be replicated at the food court in any fancy malls.

And if you thought that this trend of street food is new, then let me tell you that it has been there since 79AD and it has been proven by archeologist, who have made extraordinary find of frescoed hot drink and food shop that served the equivalent of street food (like salty fish, baked cheese, lentils, spicy wine) to poor residents who had no proper cooking facilities in their homes in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

So what makes street food so tasty?? Very clearly,  it is authentic, cooked according to the local taste of the city and moreover, the food is made by the owner of the stall or food truck. It is readily available, easy on the pockets, and you can have it anytime on a go. 

During the pandemic, street-food was missed the most. Specially during those first three months, when nobody dared leave their security net to venture out, but many women got busy in their kitchen trying out various dishes to please their family. 

There were many home chefs who excelled in street food, and Sneha Senapati is one of them.

 Sneha Senapati's journey began in 2006 when she came from Bhubaneswar, Odisha to study in TISS in Mumbai. Since then, Mumbai has been home to her. Like anyone living away from home, there were times she would miss home food immensely, but there wasn’t a single restaurant in Mumbai that served food from her hometown. So, as we say, necessity is the mother of all inventions that’s when she started cooking on her own (under the guidance of her mom). She became a chef by passion while managing a full time corporate job. 

Sneha Snehapati specialises in Odiya cuisine. While her aim is to make Odia food popular she has a free style of cooking where she likes to create stuff using less oil.

She has hosted brunches by partnering with restaurants in Andheri West (Versova) under the name of ‘Odiya Bhoji’. So far, She has done about  five pop-ups in the past 2yrs  serving only Oriya Food to a crowd of 120-150 people. She is also empaneled with Authenticook.com where she does home meals.

 "During the lockdown I was doing home deliveries across Mumbai which have been published by CNtraveler, Midday and Mumbai Mirror." she informs.

"Odia Bhoji’ Creates Buzz In Mumbai!  @MyCityLinks - is the link to one of the brunches I did." she continues to talk about the excitement she felt when she read about the mention of her cuisine

Sneha Senapati is fond of good food and likes to explore the local food of the city that she visits. She clearly remembers her visit to Hell’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay at Las Vegas, where she enjoyed the set meal, "I specially loved chicken wings." she says.  But of course she still misses her mom’s food the most, whose memories lives with her through her recipes.

Sneha Senapati is happy to share Bhubaneswar style Chaat

Method 

1. Soak 150gms (clean and washed) Chana dal (white peas) in water for 4-5 hours. 

2. Boil the soaked white Peas in Salt and 2 small tsps Garam Masala powder in a pressure cooker 

3. Cook uptil 3-4 whistles on medium flame 

4. Once done keep the pressure cooker on the side turn off the gas and wait till the pressure cooker cools down 

5. Meanwhile, take a pan, heat it on low flame, once heated add 4tbsp oil to the same

6. When oil is heated add 2 chopped Onion and cook till it turns transulent. 

7. Add  2 chopped tomatoes, 7-8 chopped green Chillies, 4tbsp ginger garlc paste and stir well 

8. Add Salt and 3tsp Turmeric powder, 1tsp Garam Masala powder and keep stirring till the mixture starts leaving oil 

9. Add 2tsp red Chilli powder and further mix well. 

10. Remove the boiled white peas and drain them separate from the stock. 

11. Save the stock for later use 

12. Add the boiled white peas, 

13. Add 1 boiled potato to the masala mixture and mix well 

14. Once the white peas and the masala mixture have blended well. add the stock and let it boil on medium flame with covered lid. 

15. Keep cooking for 10-15mins. checking occasionally on the consistency. 

16. The same should be thick gravy and not too runny. 

17. Now garnish with 2tsps roasted cumin powder, coriander leaves 

18. Take some in a serving bowl top it up with chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies, bhujia sev and julienne ginger, some chaat masala, tamarind pulp, hot n sweet tomato sauce – 

19. The chaat is ready 

Sneha Senapati can be reached on her Watsapp no 75066 43020

Follow her on her insta at @snehasenapati

First Pop Up at Wild Asparagus Table from Peru

Pandemic has really tested our patience and our tolerance. I am beginning to forget what a normal life used to be. In good ole days, my Foodie friends and I would meet month after month at our Wild Asparagus Table to enjoy the international cuisine of the world. It was a potluck affair, Each person studied the food, the culture and then demographics of the place,  tried one dish of that particular country and we would create a large buffet table on the big day. It was a party nobody wanted to miss.

Things have changed. Not that we have lost touch with each other. Nah! We meet online and have enjoyed the virtual feast and festivals, some live talk shows and specially where food is concerned, we are wiser now. Lot of food knowledge has flooded our homes through Insta-lives and Zoom sessions, nevertheless, we still craved for physical presence.

In July2020, all members of WAT had cooked Peruvian cuisine and shared it virtually, I had even blogged about it Here , we all cooked but ate in our own house sharing it with our family members. It was Pandemic, remember, so we had no choice. But testing the patience of a foodie is a tricky affair.

So, finally WAT happened, potluck changed to pop-up. We braved the virus, followed the Covid 9 norms, lips sealed, hidden behind the mask, private transport arranged, hygiene and social distance in place, and we met at the Ananya’s cook-studio at Wadala to enjoy the deliciousness of Peru Cuisine specially prepared by Ananya Banerjee.

As we entered the studio, it seemed like we had checked into a 5star restaurant, the ambience was vibrant with state-of-art table deco, the cutlery, the flowers, the lamps, it was the most romantic set up. And what a joy of meeting everybody after what seemed like ages. It brought back the memories of our first French WAT meeting on that heavy rainy day. (remember our dripping wet meeting). After the initial formal chat of eye expressions and inaudible voice chats, it was time to peel off the masks and settle down to have sit-down meals. 

Wine glasses clashed, with red/white smiles and cheers touched every corner of the rooms, the twinkle in the eyes glowed as the first course of Empanadas made its appearance on our table.

“Empanadas are like samosas, stuffed with minced meat, but they are baked instead of frying” explained Ananya, as we chomped on small bites. This was served with cabbage salad sprinkled with white and black sesame seeds. It was exceptionally good.

Plates was cleared after the first course, making room for next course ‘Caviche’ Technically, Ceviche is not raw, but it’s not cooked either. Cooking requires heat, and ceviche never touches a skillet. The acid from the lime “cooks” the fish in a chemical process called denaturation. Tuna fish was marinated in lime juice and citric juices and and served on a bed of salad leaves and veggies. Each chunk of fish had amazing buttery flavours.

This was followed by Polo a la Bresa, a roasted chicken served with an authentic creamy dipping sauce along with the cup full of fried rice (Arroz Chaufa) and potatoes stuffed with pepper, smoked paprikas and olives.  

Food was authentic and was aptly paired with California Born West Chardonney, (refreshing n full of flavours), and Born West Cabernet Sauvignon, that had aromas of red current and Raspberries, (combine with vanilla and pepper.) Sincere thanks to Shweta Mohanti from #Astraspirits @bornwestwines for the compliments of wines.

I had my fill (actually a bit more than what I could eat) but then who can refuse a dessert? Specially Tres Leches that was topped with fresh fruits. Tres Leches cake is light and soft sponge cake soaked in sweet three milk mixtures and topped with whipped cream. The translation of Tres Leches from Spanish is three milks. 

Evening was spent with lively conversations and laughter and time ticked on till it was time to say our good byes with the promise to meet once again with yet another cuisine from other country, at another venue by other creative home chef. 

With a great support of @Salonim2 and @chefananyabanerjee of #FBAI, the same theme of cooking international food will continue. There will be regular pop-ups by home chefs of Mumbai at different venues, the food will be hosted and invitees can enjoy the food for a fee. Saloni Malkani and Ananya Banerjee will help the home chefs in organising these pop ups, share their culinary expertise, surrounded by complete ambience of restaurant type set-up, and these delicious dinners can be arranged for private/corporate parties too. 

But till then, I plan to take a bigger bite....

Virtual Party for Dhal Divas – Jan2021

Pandemic has brought me closer to my foodie community. I have learnt a lot without stepping out of my comfort zone. There have been so many series of Instalives that sometimes I have not been able to cope up and have caught up by watching IGTV (thank God for that)

Dal divas is celebrated by my food community every January but this year due to pandemic, the celebration happened online and it stretched over 11 days. This is initiated by @Rushinamg and with the help of her #11daysDhal team, I got to learn various types of dhal. 22 different dhals were discussed online. 

Generally speaking, I don't normally eat dhal everyday. I get confused with too much variety of food. For lunch, its normally only one cooked vegetable  with chappati or rice. Dhal, for eg Moong dhal is usually cooked when there are fried potatoes or bhindi fry. Then we have tidhali (combination of 3 dhals,) that I eat with chappatis, or Channa dhal with Pakwan or Tuddi channa dhal.  Sindhi curry is cooked on festive days or when there is family gathering.  

I was surprised by the diverse ways the dhal was cooked over 11days. the tempering with pure ghee made the dhal look so appetising. Some cooked dhal with meat (dhal ghosh) and some with fish heads(Bengali Maachar Maatha). Some roasted moong dhal before cooking, some sprouted the beans(Matkichi), some powdered the dhal(Kumaoni Ras) before cooking. Some dried the dhal to make Vadis and some roasted to make sweets(dal da Halwa). I could never have imagined that dhal had so many different ways of cooking and the method varied from region to region, North to South, East to West of India. There were  interesting discussions and I tried to watch most of the sessions

I was inspired to cook too. I contributed in a small way by cooking Rajma   You may watch the recipe of Rajma on my u-tube channel 

 

And also enjoyed khichdi seasoned with condiments from all over India at Tresind. 

 

This week I prepared Ragda, served it as street food with Patties and it was quite delicious

1. Soak the 2cups Ragda over night. 

2. Boil it with 5 whistles. 

3. In a pan, 2tbsp heat oil. 

4. Add 1tsp Cumin seeds, 2 Bay leaves, 2 Cloves, 2 Cardamoms and 1tsp Chana masala. 

5. Add 2finely chopped Onions. Fry till light brown. 

6. Add 2tbsp garlic-chili-ginger paste. 

7. Add 2 chopped Tomatoes. 

8. Add 1tsp turmeric powder, 2tsp coriander powder, 1tsp red chilli powder, 2-3 Kokum flowers. 

9. Cook till oil begins to separate. 

10. Add the boiled Ragda. 

11. Mix it well. 

12. Add 2glasses of water. 

13. Add salt as per taste. 

14. Let it boil. 

15. Lower the flame and simmer for 45 minutes. 

16. Garnish with finely chopped onions, lime juice, red chili powder, cumin powder and finely chopped coriander leaves.

Home chefs Of Mumbai – Part 38 – Kalpana Mirchandani

Most of the Indian restaurants use too much oil in their cooking. The gravy glitters and floats in the pool of oil. The parathas are fried in too much ghee. It tastes good, it is the integral part of cooking, no doubt, but in this weight conscious world, many would want to avoid it. 

Then there is new fad, people are too much awed by Olive oil, so much so, that most of them are not even aware we have a better range of healthy oils in our own country 

Infact,  different oils are favoured across India, that mainly depend on the climate and food preferences of that region. Peanut in Gujarat, Coconut in the South, Sunflower in Maharastra, Mustard in Bengal, and with people moving around, tastes have merged and people are experimenting different flavours of oils in different cuisine. There is more variety now. Healthy oils have their own properties, they all are good. But when using it for first time, it is better to start with moderation  

Its good to explore the area of cooking in edible oils and getting the right kind of oil for use.  Its all about medium of transfer of heat. Besides cooking and deep frying, some oils are for enhancing the flavours (in salads), some for garnishing (in tampering), some for emulsification (in Mayonaise) and some for preservation (in pickles).

We learn from personal experience about its use. Oil gets rancid when exposed to oxygen, it should be sealed properly or else the flavour changes so does the colour.

Kalpana Mirchandani can be trusted for her delicious food that has just the right kind of oil as per taste.

Kalpana Mirchandani had a happy childhood surrounded by family of  food lovers. Cooking has been her passion throughout her childhood and her adult life. 

She spent some years in Bangkok and catered home-cooked food to expats Indians and even to Thai locals. Her Biryanis and Butter Chicken were highly appreciated. She catered customised food as per their taste/interest and served party orders too. She even sold Pizza and Pastas 

“When people appreciated my food, I kind of got a special thrill and I am inspired to cook even better.” She says.

She has travelled around the world and every time she tastes something new, on her return back home, she will try something similar for her son and brother who are foodies. 

“I still remember that amazing grilled Salmon with chestnut, crab and farro Rissoto that I ate at Tampa Bay’s multi faceted food scene at Florida.  I did try to replicate that taste but I crave to eat that salmon again.” She says

Kalpana Mirchandani specialises in several cuisines such as Sindhi, Punjabi, Thai cuisines.  She loves making dips and sandwich fillers as well. She is proficient in party orders and specialises in finger food. She has been gradually adding her own variety of fillings, dips, finger food and other main course items to her menu. 

“Nowadays most people like to keep stuff  like Mexican dip with nachos  to go with it. Chicken tikka, paneer tikka, to pair with garlic bread, rotis as quesadillas.  lavash or garlic toasties with hung curd, garlic dip, cheese corn mushroom fills with volevones...or canapes, and also small bites of pakwan topped with dhal, tamarind and mint chutney and onion salad. The choice is endless.” She confirms

During her childhood, her dadi used to cook yummy Sindhi cuisine for the family. Her favourite dish has always been sindhi mirchi bhajiya. That dish has been her first memorable moment of having tasted a yumm dish .

Kalpana is happy to share the recipe of traditional Sindhi Recipe of Mirchi Ka Bhajiya

1. Slit 10 large sized light green chillies from centre all the way down on one side. 

2. Extract most of the seeds. 

3. Mix the dry masalas like  1tbsp coriander-cumin powder,  1tbsp pomegranate powder, 1tsp black salt, 1tsp lime juice. 

4. Fill in this masala mixture in between the chillies and keep aside for 1 or 2 hours. 

5. Mix 1cup gram four in 1/2cup water and make a smooth batter.  

6. Add salt,  1tsp turmeric powder.  

7. Dip in the chillies in the gram flour batter

8. Deep fry till golden brown and crispy. 

9. Serve with mint chutney.

Follow her Insta handle @Kalpana.mirchandani 

Kalpana can be reached on her Watsapp no 99200 49543

Home Chefs Of Mumbai – Part 37 – Aanchal Khanna

Mumbai's temperature is not too cold..winter hardly ever comes..er..not like they have in the North India, where people are wrapped up in multi layers of warm clothes, and have to eat a particular kind of food to keep their body warm. 

In Mumbai, just a shawl should suffice...but still, its good to celebrate winter by eating right kind of food. Yes. Market is flooded with lots of winter veggies nowadays and everybody seems excited by enjoying the flavours, and saving the winter vegetables in the form of pickles or just freezing them in their natural form. 

And in winter, the flavours are authentic, colours so bright, and so is the taste, that fresh chunky bites of root vegetables, those heat'y effects of honey and ginger, those bright greens of leafy veggies and people are hungry all the time. 

Truly, winter is the time to celebrate food.

Aanchal Khanna is all set for this winter with some delicious Punjabi dishes that she wants people around Mumbai to experience, some finger smacking dishes like Dhal Makhani, Gajrela, Sarson da Saag, Til Phugga and many more.

Aanchal Khanna (of thepickledstory fame) is born and brought up in the family that breathes food. Cooking good food & eating good food (home cooked) is like meditation to them. They wake up to discussing what is going to be cooked throughout the day and sleep talking about food. They hardly have any store-bought-ready-made eatables. From Ghee to white butter to Paneer, dahi… Papad to achaar to namkeens to desserts to street food to chaat.. absolutely everything is done at home by her Mom & Daadi. Her grandfather was from Lahore and post partition migrated to India. The love for good food is in their blood. After Lahore it was Amritsar and then Mumbai post marriage to earn a living. her Mom hails from Amritsar. Her Naani & Maasi are another set of super humans who cook up a storm each time they cook. It is quite clear to sense the seriousness that goes around in the house about flavours, textures and combinations. 

“I really can’t recollect one but there are so many beautiful memories.. Sundays, especially, my grandfather used to go to the market early morning to buy the fresh catch (Only Pomfret), come home and clean it all by himself.. I still have some fade memories of him doing it. It was like a slow happy dance. Perfecting every move.” says Aanchal, thinking aloud about her grandfather’s love for Pakodas specially of Kaddu and baigan. 

Aanchal specialises in street food of Mumbai like Bharwaan Aloo, Tikki Chole, Pav Bhaji, Chilli Paneer, simple salad & Kulhad wali Gulabi Kheer. She also takes orders for small family gatherings. No fancy menu. She talks to the customers and understand the type of food they are looking for and accordingly suggests.

“I am still learning and exploring. But I see to it that I learn everything from them to a T. I have just started and I keep updating the menu. The snacks and Laddu menu is what I am working on. I strongly feel that the new generation (torch bearers of our culture and tradition) need to be exposed more to what we ate and what our grandparents ate or still eat. It is more local and sustainable which also means it is healthy.” She believe that as adults it is our responsibility to introduce our children to such food, that is nourishing and healthy.”

On her last visit to Bali and KL, she feasted on Nasi Goreng and Mei Goreng. “We were put up in Kuta,in Bali, just across the beach. Breakfast was usual fruits, eggs, pancakes, waffles. But I couldn’t really explore the food around the city because my trip was cut short for personal reasons.” She is a big fan of stir fried veggies/chicken and one pot meals but her Punjabi khaandhan and genes always pull her back to having elaborate spread of Khaana leaving her few opportunities to cook one pot meals.

Aanchal Khanna is happy to share her recipe Makhana Kheer (Foxnut Pudding)

1. Roast 50gms (approx. 4 fist full) Makhanas in 3tsp of ghee. 

2. Stir continuously till it becomes toasty and changes colour slightly. 

3. Turn off the flame. 

4. Carefully add 300-400 ml milk while the flame is off. ( cow’s milk has been used. Full cream could be another option) 

5. Turn on the flame and keep stirring on low flame. 

6. Let the mixture of milk and makhanas boil for 5 mins.  

7. Add 2 pods of cardamom. 

8. Add soaked and chopped nuts of your choice and cook for another 5-7mins. 

9. If you are using raisins, add it in the end after putting off the flame. 

10. Add 3-4 tbsp sugar and cook for 2 mins. 

11. Keep a check on the consistency of kheer as per your liking. 

12. You may add more milk if it is too thick for you. 

13. Serve it hot or chilled.

Tip: add Kesar (saffron while boiling milk, that will give a beautiful color to the kheer.

You can follow her on her Instagram Handle @ThePickledStory

or Watsapp at 9999448052

Ice Cream Falooda - Sindhi Speciality

 I love savoury dishes and I normally experiment on spicy dishes. Sweet dishes (I hardly ever make, I am too lazy)  I normally eat at the restaurant or at festive events. 

But recently, I received an ice cream courtesy Brookyl Cremery  and I decided to experiment with it.

Sindhis have their speciality in desserts called Rabri Falooda and during parties, you are likely to be served this rich flavoured milk and vermicelli dessert.

This was a good opportunity to try with different flavours. Instead of kulfi, I decided to use this ice-cream and the result was delicious.

Ingredients

Rabdi

1 litre full cream Milk

2tbsp Sugar

50 gms unsweetened Mawa

2 Saffron threads

2 Cardamoms

Falooda

1/4 cup boiled Vermicelli or Falooda Sev

1tbsp soaked Basil seeds

1 Orange soaked bread slice (I used fresh orange juice)

1/4 cup crushed ice

1tbsp Ice Cream

1 tbsp Rabdi

1tsp crushed Pistachio

1 tsp crushed walnuts

1 red cherry

Method

For making Rabdi

1. Boil milk in a heavy bottomed pan, stirring occasionally. 

2. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes 

3. Add sugar, stir till it dissolves. 

4. Cook till the milk reduces to half its original quantity. 

5. Add Mawa and mix till it has a thick creamy consistency.  

6. Take the pan off the heat. 

7 Add saffron, cardamom, almonds and pistachio 

8. Set aside to cool. 

9. Place it in refrigerator for 3-4 hours, till very cold.

To assemble

1. Take a tall glass, 

2. Place the boiled vermicelli at the bottom. 

3. Cover it with orange soaked bread. 

4. Top it with crushed ice. 

5. Add ice cream ,

6. Add Rabdi, pistachio and walnuts,

7. Top it with a cherry.