As social distancing initiatives continue to minimize coronavirus transmission, many people’s daily dietary habits have been disrupted. It’s still possible to enjoy safe, nutritious and fulfilling meals even if you’re cooking for yourself or a family. Eating good food is a must even though dinner parties and dining out are postponed for the near future.
Don’t follow a recipe perfectly, adapt the dishes to fit your pantry. Rice and Ragi go well with many combinations of veggies, chicken, and spices. More time we spend at home means more in the kitchen. So, throw together new combinations for a twist on old recipes. Embrace the experiments and don’t follow instructions and make traditional recipes your own. If you’re working from a recipe, feel free to swap out ingredients or add your own to incorporate what you already have in the fridge and pantry. Instead of curry leaves and mustard garnish, many South Indian Cuisine recipes call for use chopped nuts, to add texture and protein. Don’t have mutton? Use chicken or eggs, for example. Vegetarians can use chickpeas or soy nuggets. Be creative, be inventive.
Include your kids and other family members in picking recipes. It is a creative process which includes activities like mixing, washing produce, and clean-up.
Cooking and eating can sometimes be related to emotional depth. The healthiest thing one can do is stay inside and wash your hands and give yourself permission to eat whatever is comforting, satisfying and accessible to you right now. Don’t punish yourself by following a fad diet at this moment. So if you are craving for a typical Telangana cuisine go out and make it.
It is always good to have some simple recipes for you to try at home that are suitable for the whole family. These meals make enough food to feed everyone at the table, or if it’s just a few of you at home, box up the leftovers and put them in the freezer for another night. Biryani, Pulao and khichdi are one-pot family recipes that are savoured by everyone.