In a world where culinary trends lean toward complexity and health trends, Anushka Rawat stands as a beacon of simplicity. Through her Instagram handle (@the.food.cravers), she champions the virtues of traditional Indian cuisine, proving that eating well doesn't have to be complicated and that simple meals are often the most satisfying. doing.
Anushka Rawat defends return to traditional diet
Most people would say that Indian cooking with all its flavors and spices is never simple, but for home chefs Anushka Rawat, simplicity has another meaning. For the past few years, he has taught himself to be a chef. content creator She shares her perspective on what it means to eat well in modern times, and through her Instagram page (@the.food.cravers), she inspires people that eating well doesn't have to be complicated. is shown.
While we live in a time when people are obsessed with healthy food trends and elaborate superfood recipes, Anushka is a proponent of a return to tradition. Indian cuisine It's extremely healthy.
We sat down with the chef and content creator to learn more about her journey and what drives her passion for simple food.
How did you become interested in food?
I live for delicious food and have always been a big gourmet. I was staying in Delhi for her 3 years for graduation and Delhi University has very good food outlets. After graduating, she lived in Hyderabad for a year and a half and was eating a lot, so she decided to start a food page. I started “The Food Cravers” just to post pictures of food because I loved food.
During the lockdown, I didn't know how to cook anything other than basic meals like Maggi, Chai, Coffee, Macaroni and no one could eat out so I decided to try something unique. I thought about it. Around that time, I learned how to cook from my mother and started posting recipes online. At the same time, I took up a corporate job as a debt manager in Dehradun. Because at the time, social media was just a passion for me. Her mother suggested that I share local food on my social media handles and this became the inspiration for the 'Pahadi Food' series, which worked well for my page and continued growth of the page. I supported it. My cooking skills have improved considerably over time and I can proudly say that I am a good cook. I then decided to quit my job and pursue content creation as a full-time career.
You're on a mission to glorify simple food. Can you explain how you do it?
I think simple food is underrated. For example, pahadi food. People didn't know much about the dish until I posted this series. But since this recipe went viral, I've seen a lot of people posting recipes from the area, which is very healthy. I love experimenting and cooking simple and healthy meals. Of course, fine restaurant food is good, but at the end of the day I crave a simple dal, chawal or roti sabzi. Therefore, my mission is to decorate and beautify simple meals.
According to Anushka Rawat, the best food is always the simplest
What is the most interesting regional recipe you have tried?
One of the most unusual recipes I came across was Tohan Mosden, which originates from Tripura. Chicken stewed with plenty of chili peppers, ginger, and garlic, mixed with raw onions and coriander. I was surprised by the explosion of flavor, as boiled chicken is often bland, but this one was delicious. One of the things he noticed about regional cuisine as a whole is that no matter where you go in India, the basic ingredients of the recipes are more or less the same, the only difference being how they are used.
How do you think Indian cuisine fits into modern concepts? clean eating?
Indian cuisine fits perfectly into the modern concept of clean eating. Most of my pahadi food is vegan, including my native recipes. Millet called 'jhangora' is also known as 'sama ke chawal' and is a vegan, nutritious and clean eating option. An interesting fact about this is that it has existed since ancient times as part of the diet of our grandparents and ancestors. 'Bhatt Ki Dal', also known as black soybean, is a vibrant source of protein and very healthy. Although we are told not to eat foods like dal and rice, all of these foods are healthy if you control your portions. Of course, nutritionists and nutritionists would know better, but this is just my observation. I'm a fitness enthusiast and I try to eat clean and healthy. For that reason, I don't make fancy meals, but only delicious “Digi Kana”.
We all need a meal plan that we can stick to, so we think it's important to incorporate these traditional foods into your diet. People can't survive on quinoa, oatmeal, and salad every day. Regular daily meals are delicious and can be continued.
How can people protect and defend India's disappearing traditional recipes?
A few years ago, regional recipes were dying out, but now they're all over social media and people are loving them. There are so many creators sharing their local food and recipes right now, and that's a really healthy thing. I also tried some of their recipes and loved them. So, in a way, social media is keeping India's national cuisine alive.