Anshu's Food Odyssey

Loaded with some tantalizing flavors, Tawa Pulao is a delicious and popular recipe from western parts of India, particularly Maharashtra. A wholesome and delectable meal, it finds its origin in the streets of Mumbai; it is said that a couple of decades back, a Pav Bhaji vendor curated this wonderful recipe to put his leftover Bhaji gravy to use. He just added some already cooked rice in the gravy and lo! this beautiful, aromatic and spicy pulao recipe was created, which today, counts amongst the most popular Mumbai Street Food delicacies. And since it is cooked on the same tawa or griddle where Bhaji is cooked, it got its name as the "Tawa Pulao" .  So, ideally this tawa pulao has an already prepared gravy to put to use, however, if we want to relish its tongue-tickling flavors, we can easily prepare it from scratch at our homes. All we need is few basic pantry ingredients along with the most essential, PAV BHAJI MASALA and we are good to go. So, what are waiting ...

Overnight Oats ! Well, if you are hearing this term for the first time, let me start by giving you a quick introduction about the same. Overnight Oats is nothing but an easy, no-cook version of the oatmeal that is more like a dessert, so much tastier, creamier and denser than the regular stove-top cooked hot oats. Served chilled straight from the refrigerator, it makes for a wholesome meal to relish during summers. Not to mention, its quite a versatile dish in terms of flavorings; one can flavor it with fresh fruits of their choice, chocolate, Nutella, or just plain simple nuts and seeds. My version of this overnight oats comprises of a simple base topped with a couple of tablespoons of fresh mango puree, some chopped peaches and cherries and a sprinkle of sliced almonds and pistachios. You can go for the same base recipe and top it with any fruits that are in season; let me tell you creativity is the key here. So, make your brains do some exercise to come out with some inter...

I am always on a look out for recipes that are easy and quick to put together. One of my favorite amongst such recipes is of classic Spaghetti Aglio-e-Olio . Simple boiled pasta drizzled with garlic infused olive oil, a dash of chili flakes and some Parmesan makes for a perfect week night dinner when I am too tired or lazy to make anything elaborate. While this simple and vintage recipe in itself is such flavorful and aromatic, yet at times it may feel a little boring to have it the classic way. That is the reason, to make it look little more vibrant, I sometimes add few veggies to it. And today, I am here with my veggie version of this traditional Italian Spaghetti - Spaghetti Aglio-e-Olio with Mushrooms and Olives . Enjoy !! Spaghetti Aglio-e-Olio with Mushrooms and Olives Ingredients Dried Spaghetti - 1 pound (450 grams) Finely sliced garlic - 8 to 10 cloves Olive oil - 1/4 cup Butter - 2 tbsp Mushrooms (quartered) - 1 cup Black olives (sliced) - 1/4 cup Salt - as pe...

Poha or the flattened rice flakes are indeed one of the most common breakfast delicacies enjoyed all across India, though the preparation for the same varies from region to region and state to state. Having said so, one thing which remains common amongst all varieties is the addition of a number of veggies and nuts that makes it a wholesome meal, full of essential nutrients and fiber. And yes, since its very low on gluten, it can be easily consumed by people sensitive to wheat and barley too. The best part is, whenever you are in a hurry to fix some quick breakfast for your loved ones, poha always comes to your rescue and it definitely came to mine as I was in a big rush today morning. With a handful of frozen corns and sprouted moong lying on my refrigerator shelf, I was able to prepare a delicious poha breakfast just in a whiff of time; and a cup of cardamom tea along with it completed the whole meal. Ingredients (serves 4) Poha/beaten rice flakes - 2 cups Green chili (cho...