It’s time to do some #coronacooking the Deeba Rajpal’s way!
Deeba Rajpal a.k.a Passionate about baking, is a renowned food blogger, baker, food stylist and photographer who finds cooking therapeutic and soothing. While some of us can relate to it, most of us usually opt for take-out. But the new normal i.e, coronavirus lockdown gives us a chance to double down on skills that we’d neglected or never had the time to hone. Rajpal puts together a few recipes that are easy to make at home. “To quote Sheila Graham, “Food is the most primitive form of comfort.” and this couldn’t be truer in the times we face today,” she says, “With the lockdown in place, feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and restlessness can be calmed by good, nourishing and colourful food, food that makes you happy. Here are 3 simple recipes to help lift your spirits, to bring happiness to those at home.”
CHEESY GARLIC, WALNUT & ROSEMARY SODA BREAD
This quick and easy, and absolutely delicious Cheesy Garlic, Walnut & Rosemary Soda Bread uses basic pantry staples and is ready to be mixed and baked in next to no time. With a 50% wholegrain dough that needs no rising/leavening time, it’s a fast track way to comfort! It’s also eggless!
Servings: 3-4 people. Prep time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 45 minutes
- 130 g whole wheat flour/aata
- 130 g all purpose flour {maida}
- 1/2 teaspoon rock salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Rosemary sprigs
- 4-5 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup walnuts toasted, chopped
- 2 small rounds Baby Bell cheese quartered {or any semi soft cheese/mozzarella}
- 50 g unsalted butter cold
- 200 ml cultured buttermilk {plain chaach}
- Pink rock salt to sprinkle over
BERRY JELLY & CREAM
If you’d like to make this vegan, simply substitute the cream for a non dairy coconut cream. You can also skip the sugar for a sugar free alternative. Do feel free to also use whichever berries you find in season, but do make it!
Ingredients
- Berry Jelly
- 500 ml cranberry juice
- 1 tsp agar agar powder
- 50 g brown sugar
- 200 g strawberries chopped
- To top
- 200 ml unsweetened cream {Amul} {Use coconut cream for a vegan version}
- 100 g Fresh berries herbs etc
PUMPKIN GREEN GARLIC TURMERIC SOUP
This has two of my favourite ingredients- green garlic & turmeric. Oh, make it three- pumpkin too!! Serve with stir fried broccoli with garlic & sesame seeds, a crusty bread perhaps!
- 200 g pumpkin {peela kaddu} chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 5-6 stalks green garlic chopped
- 5-6 cloves garlic chopped
- 1/2″ piece “fresh turmeric chopped
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ghee or evoo/coconut oil
- 1 tsp adobo chili sauce
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- Salt to taste
- 250 ml coconut milk
- 1/2 – 1 large fresh red chili
- Juice of 1 lime
Image and recipe courtesy: Deeba Rajpal – @passionateaboutbaking
Compiled by: Avani Purohit – @avanipurohit
