Sanjeev Kapoor

Master Chef, TV show host, author of best-selling cookbooks, FoodFood TV Channel, restaurant consultant, architect of a unique range of food products and winner of numerous culinary awards.

[sanjeevkapoor]

…and it’s a Guinness World Record!

The first step to accomplishing a task, is to believe that you can do it. This was the sentiment that me and the entire team followed, when we decided to take over this mammoth feat – of creating a Guinness World Record for the largest quantity of khichdiever made and we did achieve it, that too with a huge margin!

World Food India - the country’s first ever and biggest global food event, a gateway to the Indian food economy and an opportunity to showcase, connect and collaborate with international businesses and investors – served as a fitting platform for an event of this magnitude. While the actual cooking of the khichdistarted at the crack of dawn on 4th November 2017, the process and deliberation culminated in this mega event had been on for months! Several protocols, hygiene and safety standards and quality control measures and technological barriers have to be taken into consideration to accomplish this gigantic task. There was no flame involved and the entire cooking was done through steam generated by a 150 meter long pipeline, a good distance away from the podium. Hundreds of kilograms of high quality locally produced rice, dals, bajra, ragi, amaranth, fresh vegetables and pure desi ghee have gone into a 1000 litre capacity, 7 foot diameter kadhai to create 918 kgs of nourishing khichdi and a brand new Guinness World Record.

The fact that Guru Purabwas on the same day, was a very happy coincidence too. A large part of the khichdi was distributed by The AkshayaPatra Foundation to deserving children in Delhi and the rest to Gurudwaralangarsacross the city. It is events like this that make me believe - the joy of giving is more than the joy of receiving!

The grand success of this event was only possible with the effort and cooperation of several individuals and teams – The Government of India, Honorable Minister for Food Processing Industries in India, MsHarsimratKaurBadal, The AkshayaPatra Foundation, the dedicated team at World Food India,my super talented team of chefs, led by Chef AkshayNayyarand last but not the least – the team from Guinness World Record who have been cooperative and helpful in every way!

Other than the charity and world record, there has been plenty ofbuzz about ‘why khichdi?’ My reply is - why not? It is nutritious, healthy, tasty and is eaten pan India, albeit in different avatars! Moreover, we need to understand that the motto of making this khichdi was not just to create a world record, but also to create a buzz and demand for fabulous Indian ingredients in the International market. With all the statistics coming in post the event, I would like to believe we are on the right track. It makes me feel closer to achieving my dream of putting Indian food on the number one spot on the world map.

A dream which I can turn into a reality only and only with the continued love and support of friends, family, fans and my fellow countrymen!

[sanjeevkapoor]

Vegetarian Indian Food - khazana of simple regional recipes

It is hardly a matter of doubt that India has the most amazing variety of vegetarian fare amongst world cuisines. Simple ingredients bought to life with the magic of spices to create dishes that wow even the most hardcore non vegetarians. What’s more you ask? They are super healthy! Did you know that Indian cuisine is one of the Top 5 healthiest cuisines in the world? Having traveled the length and breadth of the country I have come to realize that no matter which part of the country you travel to, the traditional fare of the place is always going to be a well-balanced one, not just in terms of flavor, texture, aromas and color but also when it comes to nutrients.

Regular Indian food, in spite of centuries of modernization and evolution is still rooted to its basic principles and that is the beauty of it.So here I am sharing with you some of my simple Indian vegetarian recipes from regions across the country.

Let’s travel to Gujarat today.

Khaman Dhokla

You don’t have to be from Gujarat to have tasted a khamandhokla. A thick fermented gram flour and yogurt batter steamed till it’s like a soft fluffy pillow. Cooled, cut into squares tempered with mustard seeds and garnished with fresh coriander and scraped coconut – a dhokla is Gujarat’s pride. This very same dhokla can be crumbed and served with accompaniments like assorted chutneys, fried green chilies and a delicious raw papaya salad in a different avatar known as khaman.

Undhiyu

Probably not the simplest dish to make, but Undhiyuhas to be on thislist. This Gujarati specialty is made with a mix of delicious veggies that make an appearance during winters. Yams, brinjals, potatoes, surtipapdi and tuvar lentils are cooked in an herby coriander and coconut masala. That’s not it, deep fried methi and besanmuthias add oomph to the dish.  This is my mother in laws recipe and I assure you it is a crowd pleaser.

SevTameta nu shaak

This recipe is a perfect way to include some Gujarati farsan in your meal. Also one of the simplest things you can whip up in your kitchen. Tomatoes cooked with mustard seeds, curry leaves and powder spices – of course there is a hint of sugar – just to make sure the classic Gujarati sweet-spicy-tangy combination is done justice too. Topped with crunchy sev, you can enjoy these with bhakris, plain rotis or a chaaswaalikhichdi!

Osaman and khichdi

Light, refreshing and delicious –are the best words you can use to describe this runny dal recipe from Gujarat. Made with moong it has a simple tempering of spices in shudhdesi ghee! Tastes best when served with a side of khichdi – try this char dal nakhichdi recipe and get ready for a protein rich meal!

Dal Dhokli

Strips of whole wheat flour rotis cooked in a sweet spicy dal. This one pot meal is a Gujarati classic and a must try if you want to really enjoy the fabulousness of vegetarian Indian cuisine. A tempering of button red chilies and mustard seeds in desi ghee finishes the dish and makes it perfect for a comforting winter meal.

Other Gujarati vegetarian dishes you must try

Khandvi, Mohanthal, Khakhra, Thepla, Khichu

You will find all these recipes and more on sanjeevkapoor.com

Tell me about your favorite simple Gujarati vegetarian recipe in the comments section below!

[sanjeevkapoor]

Tomato trouble

Tomatoes are an indispensible ingredient in a ton of recipes and are seldom used in a stingy manner, but if making a batch of simple tomato puree is going to cost you a few hundred rupees it just isn’t worth it. With the prices of tomatoes in India reaching a staggering Rs 100/ kg and expected to remain so at least till mid-august, we could do with some substitutes for this favourite. Take a look.

Kaddu to the resucue

After years of snubbing kaddu at the dining table, the sky rocket prices of tomatoes are going to make you love them. At literally half the price and their slightly sweet taste and creamy texture, pumpkins make the best low cost substitute for tomatoes, especially in the puree form.

Just blend the pumpkins; maybe roast them before that for some more depth of flavor and a deeper colour. Add in a dash of vinegar to replicate the tartness of tomatoes. To deepen the hue (and nutrition) of your pseudo tomato puree add a roasted/raw red bell pepper, a piece of boiled beetroot, boiled carrots or all three to it. A hint of tomato ketchup can also give it that bright red colour, but will make it sweeter than regular fresh tomato puree. If you need to adjust the consistency of the puree bring it to a boil and let it reduce till it is perfect for your recipe. Keep tasting and adjusting the ratios depending upon what your recipe demands.

Tamarind for tang

Besides adding body, tomatoes lend a delicious tartness to a variety of recipes, especially in Indian cuisine. Tamarind is one of the ingredients which come closest to replicating the fresh sweet-tanginess of tomatoes. Just add a hint of it tamarind pulp or paste to recipes like dals, curries or stir fries instead of tomatoes. You can also buy a batch of fresh tamarind and dissolve a lemon sized ball in warm water and use the extract to give your recipes a delicious tomato-y taste with actually using them.

Yours truly – Yogurt

Yogurt also comes in handy when preparing Indian style curries which have a tomato base. It provides body to the curry and the right kind of tartness – so you won’t be missing tomatoes too much. Just make sure you whisk the yogurt really well and add it towards the end of the cooking process to reduce chances of it splitting. Yogurt works especially well in recipes like biryanis, or thick curries and masalas that require tomatoes.

You can always use a pack of store bought processed tomato paste or puree, but we think these natural substitutes are a better idea. They work out much cheaper, are healthier and also making the perfect no-tomato, tomato puree makes for a very exciting day in the kitchen.

[sanjeevkapoor]

Time for some offsite fun!

A trip to God’s own country amidst hectic schedules, SKR’s Offsite was a refreshing break! It was all about fun, food and a fabulous time for the entire SK Restaurants team. The presence of my better half, Alyona made it all the more special for me and all the team members!

 Read on to know more about this short yet productive vacation…

 Day 1 (September 1, 2016): Destination: Kochi Marriott Hotel

The group got a super melodious and grand welcome with the chenda melam – a traditional music performance with the chenda, a percussion instrument. This was followed by a lavish lunch. The Marriott team outdid itself with this one! Post lunch, it was time for a cycle tour of the picturesque Fort Kochi – the team peddled their way for almost 2 hours in the area and other places of interest in the Old City. Super exhausted and hungry, we went straight for dinner before retiring for the day, and the next eventful day!

 Day 2 (September 2, 2016): Yoga and Sadhya  

Started on a healthy note with a yoga session on the helipad with a view to kill for! After a hearty breakfast, it was time for an exciting water polo match. There were 2 teams, Red and White. The Red team headed by Rajeev Matta played their way to victory!

The most awaited part of the day was the authentic sadhya (‘banquet’ in Malayalam) lunch – an array of pure vegetarian dishes traditionally served on a banana leaf.

After such a heavenly meal, a nap was in order. Soon it was time for the conference meeting where the team members time-travelled with a presentation that spoke about SK Restaurants in the year 2015. It ended with a trailer for FY 2016-2017 and a felicitation ceremony for Rajeev Matta, CEO, SK Restaurants for outstanding contribution throughout the years.

 Day 3 (September 3, 2016): Trek and treat!

An early start to the day with an exhilarating trek at the Athirappilly Waterfalls – India’s answer to Niagara Falls! With munchies to snack on in the bus and an Ad-Mad game alongwith it, the 2 hour journey went off in a blink! Athirappilly Falls is situated in Athirappilly panchayat Thrissur district. Straight out of the movie Bahubali, the falls were a sight to remember! Photography sessions followed by fun in the water amidst flora and fauna – what a day! Reached the hotel for a lovely hi-tea. It was party time in the evening! All the team members were dressed to kill for the dance party, suspenders for guys and minis for the girls. Other than toe tapping music, the highlight was the Fun Awards. And the winners were…

·         Best Dancer (Male) – Saurabh Saxena

·         Best Dancer (Female) – Sugatha Menon

·         Best Dress (Male) – Rajeev Matta

·         Best Dress (Female) – Aditi Mehta

·         Best Entertainer – Anupa Das

·         Most Punctual – Rahil Aga

·         Human Vulture – Swapnil Jaiwant

·         Late Lateef – Amar Mhole

·         Surprise Buddy – Esha Makwana, Reshma Nair and Priyanka Chavda

Day 4 (September 4, 2016)

It was the last day and a day to revel in the beauty of God’s own country and what better way than to float languidly on the backwaters? The team departed for a cruise in a House Boat. Coconut water and endless cups of coffee added to the charm of the day. After lunch, the rest of the day was kept for leisure – some shopping at the nearby markets, a visit to India’s largest mall, Lulu and eating out! Just before leaving for the airport in the evening, SK Restaurants felicitated the team at Marriott with special gifts for their warm hospitality.

[sanjeevkapoor]

Ganesha’s Favourites

It’s that time of the year which every person from Maharashtra looks forward to with plenty of zeal, excitement and joy. For someone who is not from the state, Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are like a revelation. I had a couple of North Indian friends, visiting Mumbai for the first time during Chaturthi last year and I still remember how mesmerized they were with the fervor that takes over the streets during those 10 days. The larger than life aartis, for even larger than life Ganesha idols and the delicious food that follows – it is tough, even for a Mumbaikar like me to not to get lost in these 10 days of pious activity.

Between the joyous homecoming and tearful farewell of Maharashtra’s favourite god are 10 days full of festive fun which like any other celebration in India is studded with stunning food. I believe that bhog for the gods becomes even more special when you prepare it yourself because all that love, dedication and bhakti translates into the food better. So this year I am going to share with you 3 simple but delicious recipes which you can dish up this Chaturthi.

Ukdiche Modak

These little steamed semi-translucent rice flour dumplings stuffed with a sweet jaggery and coconut mixture are and will always be numero uno on the list. Lord Ganesh apparently loves these and I can totally understand why! One bite into the soft coating and you are welcomed by a sweet, juicy filling and the lightest aroma of green cardamom. Though mawa modak is also as amazing, when it comes to that actual feel, these white beauties win hands down. Divine indulgence for sure! Click here to take a look at the other types of modaks you can prepare – right from chocolate centered to melt in the mouth mawa ones to crispy fried modaks.

                        Puran Poli

These thin wheat flour rotis with a generous sweet chana dal stuffing inside are something that every true blue Maharashtrian swears by! The stuffing known as puran is made with a mix of soft boiled chana dal, jaggery and cardamom powder and melts as soon as it hits your tongue. Served with a dollop of ghee or toop as it is known in Marathi, puran poli has its share of serious fanatics and is always in great demand during Chaturthi. You can also shape the puran into laddoos, top with a cashewnuts each and serve it up in a brand new avatar!

 Choorma laddoos

These are not really difficult to make, but can be a bit time consuming. Dough balls made with semolina and whole wheat flour are fried in good old desi ghee till they crisp up and go a gorgeous golden brown in colour. These are then crumbled and mixed with more desi ghee, melted jaggery, powdered sugar and nuts, shaped into laddoos and finally rolled in poppy seeds. These sweet earthy laddoos make one of the best bhog/ prashad items ever. Definitely Ganesh approved.

 What are you eating this Chaturthi? Let me know in the comments section below.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all!

Happy cooking!

Happy eating!

Ganpati Bappa Moriya!

[sanjeevkapoor]

Lessons from the past – The Chinese connection

‘To invent you need a good imagination and a pile of junk’ Thomas Edison the inventor of the light bulb once said. In this series of ‘lessons from the past’ blog posts we talk about inventions that were even beyond the imagination of the creator himself. After the likes of chicken tikka masala, pepper, buttermilk and tea it’s time to talk about chopsticks.

Chopstick culture

Eating with chopsticks is like riding a bicycle – it can be tricky at first, but once you get a hang of it, it’s hard to forget. The history of chopsticks is as interesting as the experience of eating with them.

Chopsticks were discovered way before people actually started using them to eat in 400 AD. Initially they were used to stir around food while cooking. It was during the time, when the population of china was on a rapid increase that cooks in China needed to begin cost cutting. To save on cooking time and thus fuel, they started cutting food into small pieces before cooking. These small bite sized pieces of food could be eaten directly with chopsticks, without the need to use knives at the dining table.

Furthermore, the teachings of Confucius said that sharp objects like knives should not be present during meal times which should be peaceful and calm. Confucius’ disdain for knives at the dinner table increased the popularity of chopsticks. Eventually chopsticks were the preferred traditional method of eating food in China, Japan, Korea and several parts of South Asia. The earliest chopsticks were like tweezers, joined at one end. They were made of silver, bamboo or wood. Over the years they got modified and are now like the way we know them.

In China, chopsticks are also associated with several myths - it is said that if you drop your chopsticks during a meal it brings bad luck and you may end up missing your next flight, train or cab. Researchers say that eating with chopsticks helps improve memory and finger reflexes and also helps to learn the Chinese written script faster. I don’t know about that, but they sure are fun to eat with!

If you are just learning to eat with chopsticks then use wooden or bamboo ones as they are easier to use as compared to plastic or metal chopsticks. Practice with simpler dishes first and then graduate to the more difficult ones. As long as you can manage to get food from the bowl to your mouth you can use chopsticks effectively!

[sanjeevkapoor]

How about some coffee?

Why do people enjoy coffee so much? Is it because of caffeine being a stimulant to the nervous system, an instant energy provider or just a great mood enhancer? The bitter sweet taste of coffee is unique to the tongue and the scintillating aroma of the coffee beans is irresistible.

 All the coffee lovers can thank a man named Omar from Ethiopia and the random expedition of, his search for wild berries. After discovering cherries with distinct seeds, he decided to boil them. With the assumption of being able to consume them, they in fact became hard and left a concoction behind. He had never smelled or seen anything like this, and decided to drink the caffeine infused liquid. The revitalized energy that he gained was spoken about, and soon the information about coffee spread all over. Countries went gaga over the effect; taste and aroma of the coffee bean, and there began the trade, from Ethiopia, to Europe and gradually the whole world. These are how most of the greatest inventions are made, with just a random stroke of luck!

 The first of the two kinds of coffees, is called Arabica, and is grown in the hot and humid climate of the middle-east. This strong scented bean, has a milder flavor with sweet undertones. This is the finest form of coffee and is consumed by 60% of the world’s population. Where- as a lot of people prefer the taste of the sharper and bitter kind, called Robusta. Largely grown in Vietnam, and is used in production of the ever famous instant coffee and cappuccino. Everyone has their days where they want to just enjoy the soothing taste of coffee; mood for Arabica, and also a day where they need a kick start to their day and mood with strong caffeine; mood for Robusta.

 Coffee is famous all around the world, and majority of the people start and end their day with a nice cup of coffee. And with the widespread use of coffee, it has reached beyond the consumption of just as a beverage. A substantial rub of flavorsome coffee on steak is something unusual but very tasty, a popular additive in various bakes like brownies, cakes and the ever famous Tiramisu, and also an ingredient in vinaigrette's for the dressing of salads. Isn’t it great, how the flavours of coffee can be tampered with, from extreme bitter, to flavorsome and also sweet enough, to satisfy all the ends of the palate?

 When a bean is in such high demand, one wonders what the benefits are. Many will be surprised but the consumption of coffee reduces physical pain, stress and the chances of heart diseases. With the abundance of many antioxidants and nutrients, it aids in boosting the immunity and energy levels.

 With so many health benefits and ways in which it can be cooked, coffee remains one of the best inventions in the world. Because no one needs an excuse to have coffee, it’s a mood enhancer, conversation starter and stress reliever. As the say, you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy coffee and both are pretty much the same.

[sanjeevkapoor]

How to bake a Sugar Free cake!!

How to bake a Sugar Free cake

What if we told you get all that awesome sweetness and rich buttery flavour of a pound cake without any of the calories and ill effects that come from using sugar? Well, where there is a -whisk there is a way and where there is SugarFree you can indulge your sugar cravings without any worries every day!

First things first – measure out one cup of Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar. Then heave a sigh of relief knowing that your cake is going to be a deliciously sweet one, but minus any calories and ill effects of sugar.

Mix it in with 1 cup of butter…..

And blend away with an electric whisk till the mixture is light and fluffy and has gone a shade lighter than what it originally was.

Add a total of 3 eggs - one at a time and whisk well till it is well incorporated in the creamed butter sugar mix.

 Next, it’s time to bring in the dry ingredients – 1 cup of refined flour and a teaspoon of baking powder sifted into the wet ingredient mix.

Fold in the mixture carefully with a spatula ensuring the air that you so carefully whisked in, doesn’t get out. This keeps the cake light and fluffy.

 Add a teaspoon of vanilla essence to get rid of any ‘eggy’ smell and add a hint of flavour also a little milk in case you need to adjust the consistency of the batter.

Pour it into a greased baking tine and your Sugar Free cake mix is ready to go into the oven. Bake it at 180 degrees Celsius for about 20-30 minutes. Till it goes from this…

……to this

Cool on a wire rack, cut into wedges and serve.

Now that your basic pound cake is ready you can serve it up just like that with a light sprinkling of Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar or serve it up with a delicious berry compote or just fresh fruit and whipped cream.

This recipe is one of the easiest ways to indulge your sweet tooth without any guilt of the harmful effects of consuming sugar.

Check out more recipes made with Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar, the latest international zero-calorie sweetener on sanjeevkapoor.com

[sanjeevkapoor]

Lessons from the past – The king of sandwiches

This ‘lessons from the past’ series of blog posts has been quite a revelation when it comes to the discoveries and origins of some of our most common food and ingredients. The next post in the series is a story of the humble sandwich - not really of how it originated, but of an interesting story of how it got its name and worldwide recognition.

No spoon or plate – that’s why sandwiches are great!

A sandwich is one of the easiest things to put together in the kitchen. Two slices of bread and any filling in between them – literally any filling! Ever wondered who thought of this brilliant idea? Well, turns out the mighty old sandwich was created as a result of a gambling obsession of an Emperor!

The story dates way back to 1762, London. The fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montague was too involved in his gambling routine to even stop for a meal. He asked the cook to bring him roasted meat between two slices of bread, so he could continue with his game while he ate his meal and that is exactly what happened. The Earl played nonstop for 24 hours and only ate ‘sandwiches’ in between. This trend kind of caught on with people ordering ‘the same as sandwich’.  

Apparently the 1st Earl was to undertake the title of “the earl of Portsmouth” but took the title of “the earl of sandwich” instead. Had he not changed his mind, a sandwich could have easily been called a “Portsmouth” instead.

The sandwich has evolved a hundred folds since then. The possibilities of the combinations of the bread and the stuffing in a sandwich are endless. It could be vegetables, cheese, meat, eggs, tomatoes, jam, beans, lentils, dips, sauces stuffed between slices of any kind of bread. Tortillas, quesadillas, burgers and shawarmas are all types of sandwiches. With the varieties of sandwiches we have today did you ever think that it could be the product of an Emperors humble request?

Picking a favourite sandwich out of all the fabulous ones of the world is quite a herculean task for me. Yet I am going to pick a vegetable triple decker sandwich because I can never bring myself to refuse a slice of it. It is made with bread slathered with butter, green chutney, loaded with veggies and a bit of cheese then grilled. Filling, delicious and very simple to build – just like how a sandwich should be– here is the recipe.

[sanjeevkapoor]

Sugar to Sugar Free…

All of us grew up using refined white sugar. And the ugly news associated with sugars was that most were processed into all kinds of foods we ate. These sugars often carried a high glycemic index rating which means that the sugars were absorbed into the bloodstream faster.

Hence, consuming too much of these nutritive sweeteners or sugar grains resulted in an ‘n’ number of health issues like diabetes, obesity and other heart diseases. So, with some innovation and the human grey matter working at its best, came the invention of artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes that could give us the benefit of enjoying the sweet taste minus the excessive calorie intake. Yes we are talking about the Zydus wellness prodigy Sugar Free, where the products were a lot more times sweeter than the plain white sugar, yet did less harm to the body. And even the doctors didn’t hesitate in prescribing these for a much healthier lifestyle.

 However, with changing times and the constant increase in stress levels due to the super-hectic lifestyles, human health woes increased by leaps and bounds. And the fact that we cannot have a diet completely free of sugar is also true! So, what did we do? Just relied on Sugar Free and ultimately made it a lifestyle product that could be bought off the supermarket shelves – anytime, anywhere! Not anymore did we wait for a specialist to tell us that we need it. We actually knew how much and why we needed it, and helped ourselves!

 Sugar Free is a product that comes in various forms, shapes and sizes that can be used in almost every way that you use sugar in. The best part is that it gives you all the goodness of sugar minus the calories. Right from baking luscious desserts to sweetening our daily cups of chai and coffee to creating marvelous mithais - the range of Sugar Free products comes handy in every way. It is meant for people from all walks of life – the only criteria being the need to live a fitter and healthier lifestyle.

 Available in several forms to make your life simpler, Sugar Free comes in the form of a drop, powder and pellet.

1 drop of Sugar Free Natura Sweet Drops = 1 teaspoon of sweetness

1 sachet Sugar Free Natura = 2 teaspoons of sweetness

1 pellet of Sugar Free Natura = 1 teaspoon of sweetness

 So choose your pick, depending on what you want to do with it. These are freely soluble in water at both high and low temperatures and therefore, can be used in most food products. It is also heat stable and ideal for cooking and baking without any loss in sweetness. It can be used for making a wide range of foodstuffs besides being used as a tabletop sweetener like in tea, coffee, lassis and it also churns out delicious ice creams.

 And before the end, just a little tip, all sugar free sweets and desserts need not necessarily be completely free of all sugar. It actually depends on the ingredients of the sweet preparation. If it has fruits and dry fruits, they have natural sugars. In case you do pick up any food item with the label ‘no sugar’ or ‘low sugar’ or ‘reduced sugar,’ remember that they all contain carbohydrates!

[sanjeevkapoor]

Sugar Free chilling served here!

The one and only thing that comes to mind to counter the scorching heat is to indulge in something cool. Heavy, heat inducing food is shunned and thoughts turn to just, cooling stuff. But when the chillers are loaded with sugar, it becomes a weight watchers landmine.

 Replace your sugar tins with a pack of Sugar Free Natura Sweet Drops or Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar and you can avoid up to 500 calories every day. Being a zero calorie sweetener, these can be added to any of those refreshing beverages. Here are some ways that you can use it, rest is upto your imagination. Innovate, create and enjoy the taste without any stress about added calories!

 Cool curds!

Are you a curd lover like I am? And you cannot imagine consuming this super cooling food without some sugar in it? Switch to the Sugar Free Natura Sweet Drops now! Add a few drops, mix and relish it the way you do with plain sugar. You can also use it to prepare the very Bangla mishti doi.

Ice ice baby!

You can have instant lime squash if you squeeze out juice from a few lemons, add Sugar Free Natura Sweet Drops, some fresh mint leaves and freeze in an ice tray. When you have unexpected guests, just throw in a few of these flavoured ice cubes in a jug of water and a cool tangy drink is ready to serve!

  Spice it up!

Want to take those lovely crispy and refreshing fruit chaats, kachumbers or other sweet snacks to another level without compromising on the calorie intake? The Sugar Free products is the answer. Here’s a simple mix that gets done in a jiffy – equal amounts of chaat masala, red chilli powder, dried mango powder (amchur), cumin powder, black salt and about 2 level spoons of the Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar. Mix it up, sprinkle and experience the magic!

  For the soup souls!

This is the perfect time to treat yourselves with some fabulous cold soups! And let the Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar take care of your health. Just substitute granulated sugar with a level spoon of this wonder product and let the soup chill your system instantly. Gazpachos, Peach and Thyme Cold Soup, Cold Apple Soup, Watermelon Soup and what not! Try it, its quite classy too!

 Just before I end, here’s another tip, make your own almond masala milk/kulfi mix with 100 grams almonds, 100 grams milk powder, 2 teaspoons Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar, a few cardamoms and saffron to flavour. Blend all these to a coarse mixture. Store and use whenever you want! Visit Sanjeevkapoor.com for more tips and recipes.

[sanjeevkapoor]

The world of Sugar Free products

Looking for a healthier, non-toxic and low calorie life without wanting to let go of the taste and feel of sugar? You know what you have to do! Yes, opt for Sugar Free products. And why? Because, with these you can enjoy sweetness in your food without adding extra calories. What’s more? It is absolutely safe to use and has been approved by WHO,USFDA and FSSAI. So, if you are thinking sugar, think of the range of products that Sugar Free offers – drops, pellets and sachets. We give you the details about each and how useful they are for your daily intake. Read on…

Sugar Free Natura Sweet Drops

Handy, easy-to-carry and nutritious, Sugar Free Natura Sweet Drops are the perfect way to substitute sugar in your diet. With Sucralose in it, a non-caloric derivative of sugar, this is pretty much apt for a sugar aftertaste minus the consumption of all the excess calories. With a few drops, you can avoid about 500 calories every day! Not to forget, it can dissolve really fast, is easy to digest and has zero side-effects. The lovely mithais and refreshing summer drinks are waiting for it!

Sweetness meter: 1 drop of Sugar Free Natura Sweet Drops = 1 teaspoon sugar.

Sugar Free Pellets

Available in two variants – Sugar Free Natura and Sugar Free Gold – these little pellets or in simple language, tablets can do wonders to your sweet brigade while cutting down the calories! Sugar Free Natura Pellets contain Sucralose, has zero calories and is 600 times sweeter than sugar whereas the Sugar Free Gold Pellets are made of a protein derivative Aspartame, contain about 0.4 calories per pellet and is 200 times sweeter than sugar. So, when you want to have the fitter version of your tea, coffee and lemon juices – opt for Gold. And when you want to have the sugar free versions of your halwa, custard, ice cream, kheer and the likes – opt for Natura. Infact, the Natura pellets can also act as an alternative for jaggery used in cooking or baking.  

Sweetness meter: 1 pellet of Sugar Free Natura/Gold = 1 teaspoon sugar.

Sugar Free Natura Sachets

Ideal for the weight conscious, diabetics and fitness seekers with a hectic schedule and busy life, these portable and easy-to-use Sugar Free Natura Sachets are the best buddies you can have to keep a check on the calorie intake without missing on the effect of sugar. As it is derived from Sucralose, it does not affect blood glucose levels, nor does it have an effect on blood glucose utilization, carbohydrate metabolism or insulin production. It passes through your body virtually unchanged, enabling you to enjoy sweet eats without a worry!

Sweetness meter: 1 sachet of Sugar Free Natura = 2 teaspoons sugar.

While, we cannot stop talking about the goodness of these products, we also need to keep in mind that they do not perform certain actions that sugar does. You cannot caramelise these products, they lack the browning, tenderizing and moisture retaining properties and baking results might not turn the way you want them to be. However, these foods last longer when refrigerated.

Now is the time for you to go the Sugar Free way!

[sanjeevkapoor]

Top 8 recipes with Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar.

The harmful effects of sugar don’t stop at diabetes; it is also linked to a number of heart, liver and other related diseases. Most of the food we consume contain sugar in some form or the other. Even a couple of cups of chai or coffee with sugar a day contribute significantly to your calorie intake. Your first step towards a healthy and fit lifestyle is to keep in check the amount of calories you consume in a day. The Sugar Free range of diet products helps you do just that, that too without having to compromise on taste and the quality of what you eat.

Check out our 8 favourite recipes made with Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar that you can indulge without an inkling of worry!

Sugar Free Oats and ChocolateCookies

Cookies and milk, a perfect happiness and comfort combination. When these cookies are made with nutritious ingredients like oats and come to you in a Sugar Free avatar the happiness just multiplies as does the number of cookies you are allowed to indulge in. Be sure to bake these delicious Sugar Free Oats and Chocolate cookies in a large batch because they get wiped out pretty soon.

Churma

Made with whole wheat flour, semolina, powdered sugar and mild spices this one is a classic Rajasthani dish eaten with dal and baati. While you can’t make this one without a good dose of ghee you can cut down the calories by substituting sugar with Sugar Free Natura Diet sugar. Sugar Free Natura being a heat stable product doesn’t alter when you fry these flour balls so it tastes just as good as it is supposed to and negates a large chunk of the calories.

Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt has built its reputation as a healthy alternative for ice-cream, but when you add a ton of sugar to sweeten it, much of this reputation is tarnished. Here we substituted table sugar with Sugar Free Natura Diet sugar to give you a dessert recipe that is truly healthy. We added blueberry compote to this batch but you can easily substitute it with any fruit compote of even fresh fruits of your choice.

Pumpkin Bread

Baking a loaf of fresh bread is a kind of therapy in itself. This sweet bread made with refined flour uses Sugar Free Natura Diet sugar to bring out the sweetness of the pumpkin puree in the recipe. With a couple of minutes of kneading and just 20 minutes in the oven this earthy pumpkin bread is ready to eat. Also because it is completely free of calories and other ill effects of sugar you don’t have to restrict yourself to just one slice.

Tender coconut and Sago Kheer

Tender coconut flesh and pearls of sabudana cooked with milk sweetened with Sugar Free Natura Gold and finished off with a generous dose of pistachios, dates and almonds – this one is full of nutritious ingredients and satisfies your sweet tooth minus any guilt. It is a great recipe for any kind of festive celebrations.

Mango Burfi

Made with buffalo milk, alum and fresh mango pulp this burfi requires plenty of tender love and care while preparing it but is totally worth the effort. The use of Sugar Free Natura Diet sugar instead of regular table sugar transforms these delicious reduced milk squares from a guilty indulgence to a brilliant treat!

Gajar ka Halwa

Ever thought you could make gajar ka halwa without any sugar but with all its sweetness intact? Turns out you can! In this recipe we used Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar as a substitute for grain sugar and the final product was as amazing as we expected it to be. Try it out and find out for yourself.

Tutti Fruity Cupcakes

Made with Sugar Free Natura Diet sugar which is a completely heat stable product these delicious cupcakes are perfect for any age group and any mood. You can easily make several other types of cupcakes and cakes using Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar and be assured that the taste and quality of the product will be top notch.

Who said life without sugar can’t be sweet? Check out these and other equally delicious recipes made with the Sugar Free range of products on www.sanjeevkapoor.com

[sanjeevkapoor]

A dream project!

Brand Sanjeev Kapoor has tied up with the HRD ministry to structure and design a special menu exclusively for the students of all the 598 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) across the country. Needless to say, I am super excited about this venture!

Since its inception in 1986, the JNV residential schools have been catering to the extremely meritorious and talented children of rural India, regardless of their socio-economic background. The JNV education system is an exceptional model – 28 out of 30 JNV students appearing for IIT’s get through! And, in such an environment, food is definitely an important factor to bring out the best in the students. Proper nutrition would only lead to the overall well-being of these young ones.

To give you a gist about this quite a dream project for me – I had been in discussion with HRD Union Minister Smriti Irani for a while about how the quality of the meals provided to these children can be improved. I really feel that in today’s age, children tend to end-up eating meals that are not wholesome. Giving importance to nutrition at school levels is the need of the hour and this is the best way I can do my bit towards it. My team and I have been visiting these schools and the R&D is taking a great shape! One important thing here is that, keeping in mind the availability of local ingredients in the specific region, these menus will be customised. I have always encouraged the concept of farm-to-table and I intend to imply it here as well! Not to forget, alongwith making the dishes nutritious, the taste factor will not be compromised. So, its going to be a combination of wholesome yet delicious food!

As I end, with proper nutrition, everything surely falls into place. If the children are eating right, they will perform right and will definitely pave a way towards a brighter future!

[sanjeevkapoor]

Lessons from the past – Potato Bites

In this ‘lessons from the past’ series we have already spoken about the interesting origins of some of our favourite foods.  While several ingredients we spoke about have colonial pasts surrounded by mystery and speculation the invention of potato chips is a clear cut and almost funny story which is definitely worth a read.

A chip on your shoulder

Who doesn't love potato chips? Thin, crisp and fried to perfection, a bag of potato chips is a clear crowd pleaser! People may think that the potato chip is a result of years of experiments and innovation in the kitchen, but in reality it was produced in a fit of indignation. The story dates back to 1853 in Saratoga, New York, when an American Indian Chef, George Crum, was delivering an order of the standard French fries to a customer. This customer however, was unhappy with them as he said they are too thick and sent back the order. Chef Crum then cut up a slightly thinner batch and sent them out, which too were returned. This did not go down very well with Chef Crum and he decided to irk the customer by cutting the potatoes as thinly as he could, so they could not even be picked up by a fork. These chips were served to the customer who completely loved them, much to the surprise of the chef. These thin, crispy deep-fried slices of potatoes soon gained much popularity and were known as Saratoga chips. They began featuring on the menus of several restaurants in and around the area. Later, when Chef George Crum started his own restaurant called Crumbs house, these potato chips were served complimentary at every table!

The humble potato chip has since then been one of the world’s favourite form for munchies. Its popularity continues to grow because as you might have heard and probably also know from first-hand experience that – no one can eat just one!

You don’t have to feel guilty about cheating on your diet while eating potato chips. You can just as easily bake them in an oven tray instead of deep-frying them in oil. Then customize the seasonings to your specifications. My favorites are a hot peri-peri or a cool mix of dried mint and salt – depending upon my mood. What’s yours? Leave a comment below

[sanjeevkapoor]

Lessons from the past – La Tomatina

The next ingredient we are discussing in this ‘lessons from the past’ series is an indispensable ingredient in most kitchens of the world. Its origin and acceptance in the kitchen is surrounded by controversy. We are talking about plump juicy bright red tomatoes – read on and find out how these moved from being in an ornamental garden to your plate.

Tomato trivia

Being considered a vegetable instead of a fruit is not the only misconception surrounding a tomato. This fruit is not new to controversy. It is odd that even though tomatoes were originally from America, they were not consumed there. Tomatoes were initially used as an ornamental plant, because of the pretty red berries on it. Tomatoes were not eaten because people thought they are poisonous. This belief arises from the fact that tomatoes belong to the nightshade family of plants, most of which are indeed venomous in nature. Tomatoes were initially called ‘wolf peach’ for the same reason. The strong nature of odors from the leaves and stems of this plant reinforced this belief. It wasn’t long before people realized that tomatoes are edible and can be used in several ways in the kitchen. By the early 1800’s tomatoes had become an integral part of food cultures all around the world. The popularity of tomatoes increased greatly after the discovery of the pizza and several other dishes from South Europe for which tomato was an essential ingredient. Tomatoes have ever since grown in popularity and are used in millions of recipes worldwide. They are now considered as one of the healthiest fruits - loaded with several beneficial vitamins and minerals that are anything but harmful for you. So go ahead and add several dimensions to your recipes with this great fruit.

Chef Kapoor’s Tip: Choose the smaller, flat, thin-skinned tomatoes for making sauces. They will not only give better quality sauce, even the flavour will be better and there will be less residue after straining the puree. You can freeze leftover tomato puree in ice cube trays and use it as and when required.

[sanjeevkapoor]

Sugar Free – 5 most frequently asked questions

Are you one of those who are super health conscious or calorie counting with every morsel or need to keep a check on your cholesterol levels? If yes, then Sugar Free products are the one-stop solution for you. Presenting some FAQ’s that’ll help you get to know the product better.

1.      Is sugar Free meant only for diabetics or can it be consumed by people without blood sugar issues too?

While Sugar Free products are ideal for diabetics, they can also be consumed by people who suffer from health risks such as obesity and high cholesterol levels. The range of products is also apt for those who want to watch their weight, control calorie intake and stay fit in general. However, it is advised to avoid using sugar free for kids.

2.      Can sugar free be heated or is a product only for table top applications?

Unlike other artificial sweeteners, Sugar Free is stable when heated and is appropriate for cooking or baking food products. So, you can bake a number of delicious cakes, cookies and other similar delights minus any added calories from sugar with just this one product.

3.      Is it okay to consume it on a daily basis?

If you consume sugar every day, there is absolutely no harm in consuming Sugar Free too because it gives you the taste of sugar minus the calories. Plus, it is a natural source of sweetness composed of glucose and fructose which leads you to a healthier lifestyle one day at a time.

4.      Sugar Free products are dangerous for health?

Sugar Free products are approved by the WHO, USFDA and FSSAI – some of the most reliable health organizations of the world. It doesn’t provide you with any nutrition but it doesn’t harm you any way either – Sugar Free is a non-nutritive sweetener, which passes through your body virtually unchanged so you just get the sweet taste without any side effects.

5.      Does Sugar Free has and unpleasant aftertaste?

Sugar Free doesn’t have an aftertaste. In fact it has a natural taste just like sugar. It comes in two varieties made with Aspartame which is 600 times sweeter than sugar and Sucralose which is 200 times sweeter than sugar. So, just a drop or a tiny spoonful is more than enough to give you sweetness like a load of sugar would.

Have any other questions about Sugar Free? Shoot them at us in the comments section below and we will try our best to answer them!