Shilpa Seth Bhambri

Vegan Organic Cacao Spread

Here is my go-to recipe for a delicious vegan, creamy chocolaty spread using dates as a natural sweetener. Dip into it or eat it with a spoon. No preservatives, no added sugar, and the trans fats are replaced with healthy fats from cashew nuts and coconut oil. What’s not to love? What is the difference…

Dates as a natural sweetener

Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree, grown in many tropical regions of the world. Dates though intensely sweet, do not have much flavour of their own. They have become quite popular in recent years. Most dates sold near us are dried. Fresh dates are available for a short time during the year…

Getting Nostalgic: Hot Fudge Sundae

During my growing up years, many a late evening or lazy afternoon was spent at the superlative Yankee Doodle ice-cream parlor, situated on the Marine Drive facade. It had a cosy garden swing in the middle of its colorful ambience; and a grand range of ice -cream and sundae selections. When it came to desserts,…

Breaking Barriers, Crossing Borders: Julie and Julia

There’s something about good food – it cuts across every conceivable barrier to unite people. And this is exactly what happens in the 2009 film Julie and Julia, an ode to the connective power of food, uniting two women from vastly different eras and backgrounds. Julie and Julia is a true story that is portrayed…

Essential baking equipment and tools

Here is my list of necessary baking equipment and tools, to acquire if you are starting out to bake. A must-have for all bakers! 1. A good oven: Convection ovens without microwaves are recommended. These bake faster than standard baking (OTG) ovens, and because most of them have an inbuilt fan, they give an even…

Timeless Classics: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ah – chocolate chip cookies. Who doesn’t love them? Freshly baked, with melting morsels of pure chocolate chips; better even when tasted warm, just out of the oven. This is the very first product I baked. I remember my American friends trading it to me eagerly in exchange for a demonstration of the classic sheera…

Cold brew coffee

It’s a phenomenon taking over the world, one tall glass at a time. Right from the world’s most elite roasteries and cafes who have it on tap, to your friendly neighborhood haunt, cold-brewed coffee is becoming very popular. Unlike hot brewed coffee that uses hot water to create the perfect cup, the cold-brew technique uses…

Timeless Classics: Chocolate Ice-cream

Here is my tried and tested recipe for home-made chocolate ice-cream – do give it a go and tell me what you think.

Braised chicken (a la Dum Murgh)

Here’s a recipe for Braised chicken, a la Dum Murgh, a personal favorite! This is perfect for when you need something flavorful and hearty!

Food films: Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana

Up next in my Food Films series is a 2012 release Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, starring Kunal Kapoor and Huma Qureshi in the lead roles. A rare Hindi film that I have liked, and what’s more, it has a predominantly culinary theme. We’ve all heard about coveted family recipes – a secret pickle or…