From ice-cream to spicy curry, they are preparing everything

Shreya Tinkhede | TNN | May 6, 2020, 04:43 IST

Nagpur: By discovering the hidden chefs in them, citizens are making a variety of ‘lip-smacking’ dishes. YouTube and online recipe manuals are helping them to put spicy saoji chicken, creamy pastas, delicious desserts and a lot more on the table for all the family members to relish.
Even youngsters working from home are exploring cooking. Many are planning their grocery shopping so that they can bake cakes, make pizzas and also cook non-vegetarian delicacies.
Arumita Pawa, a lecturer, never found time to experiment with her food choices, but now, right from making tangy pani puri to hot and crispy samosas, she is making everything with utmost ease. “This lockdown was getting on my nerves. I had to go back to my passion for cooking. I tried making ice creams, pizzas, pani puri, hot chips, snacks and much more,” she said.
Many foodies have also made changes in their grocery list. They are adding English veggies such as red and yellow bell-peppers, broccoli and herbs such as oregano, chili flakes, rosemary and various types of butter and spreads such as peanut butter, hummus and almond butter.
Homemakers, too, are going all out in breaking the monotony of the simple breakfast such as poha or upma. They are spending quality time with their mothers-in-law to learn traditional cuisines. “We don’t have an oven at our home. But I set up a kadhai oven and made pizza and breads for my children as they were missing Italian food. I also made sweet and savoury water for pani puri, sev puri and even tried making dahi bhalla,” said Poonam Khatri, a homemaker.
Youngsters are making the most of this time to learn a variety of dishes by watching them on YouTube. Pasta, Thai curry or spicy chicken, they are learning to make everything on their own. “I’m a law student and most my time would go in studying in the library, but this lockdown has given me the opportunity to try making various dishes. I have learnt to make different types of maggie. I’m prioritizing my health by eating healthy stuff,” said Mayur Hargunani.
While some are making spices for the curry and spicy saoji, the others are trying different types of chutneys by picking veggies from their garden.
Dimple Anandani, who is fond of baking, is opting for a healthy approach. She has started baking cakes by using wheat flour instead of maida. “I’m making a variety of cakes, doughnuts and muffins. I make my own whipping cream, chocolate ganache and change flavours of the cake. It is great that I get so much time to bake my favourite cakes and make various savoury dishes” she said.
Srujal Randive, who often craves spicy food, made aloo bhujiya, Mumbai style grilled sandwich, misal pav and dum biryani. From cakes to sorbets, he made them all. “I have tried my hand at almost everything. I was missing street food and hence, I learnt to make it at home. I also made custard and orange cake. It was very delicious. I never knew I would be this great at cooking, thanks to lockdown,” he said.