Recipes to begin your journey into cooking

Locked down, alone and don’t know how to cook? Here are a few recipes to help you get started with cooking.

There is a lot of population of young people in India who are staying alone, away from their native places. Either for studying or for employment opportunities they migrate to cities and towns away from their home town. Many of them are not acquainted with cooking and rely on tiffin services or food delivery to manage their meals. While, under normal circumstances, their inadequacies in kitchen are neutralised by a number of different agents, like food delivery services or appointed cooks, but in current situation of a long drawn lockdown, enforced due to the COVID-19 threat, it might just turn out to be the biggest challenge.

Whatever may be the situation – being self-sufficient and knowing the basics of cooking can be a virtue for anyone. So, to help you get started, here are 5 extremely simple recipes that will kick start your journey into cooking.

These delicious recipes will help you fill your tummy, as well as boost your immunity to fight the corona virus. And all the ingredients needed, are found in every household, or can be sourced even during lockdown. So, let’s give it a shot!

1. Dal Khichdi

A staple dish for Indians that would be cooked in nearly every household. And it just takes two ingredients: Lentils and rice and spices like salt, turmeric power, asafoetida along with some ghee – that’s it. Dal Khichdi is healthy and quite balanced, and it is light on the digestive system. Lentils are a good source of proteins, while rice is a powerhouse of carbohydrates. Add a dollop of ghee to it, and you need nothing else. Currently during lockdown, when physical activity is limited, this should be your go to dish. Let’s get to the recipe, shall we?

2. Besan Chilla

Quite frankly, Besan Chillas are like vegetarian omelettes. Totally different flavour, but equally mouth-watering and easy to make. Often we find ourselves in situations, when we do not have much time on hand, and yet want a nice and tasty breakfast. More so for bachelors, men or women, living alone, face this situation. The Besan Chilla are a boon for them. And they are supremely tasty as well. Here is one of the best recipes of making them by none other than, Sanjeev Kapoor. Check it out.

3. Hummus

This one is probably the easiest recipe on the list. An easy to make and delicious dip that you can enjoy with some bread, mezze chips, roti or just have it alone. It is packed with a lot of proteins and can be stored for a long time. While a lot of people bicker about hummus not being complete without Tahini, but you can for sure make a delicious hummus without it. Those who don’t really want an elaborate breakfast and can do with some quick bites, or those who enjoy late night snacking with friends, Hummus comes in pretty handy. Check out this recipe.

4. Upma

One of the most popular South Indian breakfasts, Upma is personally my go-to dish. It is really easy to make, and can be ready from the shelf to your plate in less than 20 mins. While the recipe includes some basic chopping of vegetables, you can eliminate it if you aren’t very skilled with a knife. Just some ‘Sooji’ is what you need and you are good to go.

5. Scrambled eggs

Eggs are a novice chef’s best friend. Just to understand the numerous properties of an egg and how it helps in various recipes will take an entire semester to learn. But as complex and versatile they are, there are also incredibly easy ways in which you can cook them. Simply put them in boiling water for 6 mins and you have a boiled egg which you can enjoy with a little bit of salt and pepper. However, if you want to make a little more complicated dish, here are 3 different ways of making scrambled eggs that you should definitely give a shot. Team it up with toast and some juice and you are good for the entire day.