Everyone
knows the STAR of "Cook
it Up with Tarla Dalal"........a
cookery show that airs twice a week on Sony Entertainment
Television......Mrs. Tarla Dalal !
She
is known world wide for her VEGETARIAN CUISINE ...and lovingly known as
the Queen of Indian Cuisine !
Read
all about her. Here are the categories.
Career
Tell us how
your interest in cooing started and at what age?
I was born in Pune and I moved to Mumbai after my
marriage. My experiments in the kitchen began soon after I discovered
that my husband was an avid food lover. He encouraged me to try cooking
different kinds of cuisines at home. Top
Who were
the biggest inspirations for your career?
My husband and his love for food.
Top
What do you
enjoy most about being recognized as gifted Indian culinary artist?
I enjoy cooking and creating new recipes.
Recognition just came to me. I never consciously strived for it.
Top
What has
been your greatest success?
Being able to impart my knowledge to one
and all. Top
What was -
if ever your biggest setback?
I have none because I have always enjoyed
building my business. Top
What have
you done right that has made your career such a success and brought you
recognition, media attention, and awards?
There were and still are a lot of
cookbooks. What sets me apart is the fact that I try and create recipes
for the common man or woman. I try and use readily available ingredients
and give the recipes in easy steps.
Top
Personal
Preferences
What are
the tools of the trade you use most?
Hard work and dedication.
Top
What are
your favorite kitchen gadgets? Why?
Aprons of course, so I have started
making them under my own brand name -"Tarla
Dalal Homeware". We make aprons, oven
gloves, pot holders, tablecloths and throwovers and table mats. They are
available at Tressorie, Akbarallys, Amarsons and Cinderella in Mumbai.
Top
What are
some of the skills that help all cooks/chefs succeed?
Patience, dedication and hard work.
Top
Do you
taste your recipe before you serve it?
Of course, each recipe that goes into the
book is tested at least twice. Each recipe is tasted, improvised and
then double tested to make sure it is standardized.
Top
Which
cuisine do you enjoy the most?
I like all kinds of vegetarian food.
Top
Which
Indian festival inspires you to cook up a storm? And why?
Nothing like that. Top
If there
was one tip that you would like to share with our audience - what
is your tip for home cooks?
Cooking is not an art it is a science.
Nobody is born a good cook. You just have to be patient and follow a
recipe to the last word to rustle a tasty meal.
Top
What are
three of your all time favorite dishes / recipes?
I like all my recipes.
Please submit one
of your favorite and easy recipe for our audience.
This recipe comes
from Ms. Dalal's book on chocolate.
MANGO
TRUFFLE CAKE
Preparation
time:
30 min. Cooking time:
15 min. Serves/Makes: Makes
1 cake.
(Picture:
Courtesy of www.tarladal.com )
For the chocolate
cake
- 2 tablespoons
cocoa powder
- 1 cup plain
flour (maida)
- 1 teaspoon
baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon
soda bi-carbonate
- 1/2 can (400
grams for full can) condensed milk
- 1/2 cup melted
butter
- 1 teaspoon
vanilla essence
For the filling
- 1 mango,
peeled and finely chopped
For the garnish
- 1 mango,
peeled and sliced
- 8 to 10 red
cherries
- a few mint
leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh
cream, whipped
- chocolate
cream wafer biscuit rolls (optional)
For the truffle
icing
- 2 cups (250
grams) dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup (200 grams) cream
To be mixed into
a soaking syrup
- 2 tablespoons
sugar
- 1 tablespoon
rum (optional)
- 1/2 cup water
For
the chocolate cake
Sift the cocoa
powder, flour, baking powder and soda bi-carbonate. Combine all the
ingredients together with 1/2 cup (100 ml.) of water in a bowl and mix
well using a whisk. Pour this mixture into a greased 150 mm. (6")
diameter baking tin. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°C (360°F) for 20
minutes or till a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Un-mould
and cool on a wire rack.
For the truffle
icing
Put the cream in
a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Remove from the flame. Add the
chopped chocolate and mix well using a whisk till it becomes a smooth
sauce. Cool completely and keep aside.
How to proceed
Slice the
chocolate cake horizontally into two equal parts. Place
the top half of the cake on a serving plate and soak with half the
soaking syrup. Spread a generous layer of the truffle icing and the
chopped mango. Sandwich with the other half of the cake and soak this
half with the remaining soaking syrup. Spread another layer of the
truffle icing on top. Cover the sides of the cake with the chocolate
cream wafer biscuit rolls. Decorate with swirls of whipped cream, mango
slices, cherries and mint leaves. Chill for at least 2 hours before
serving. Top
Advice
from the Expert
Is there
anything else you can tell us about yourself, your career, or the
profession that would be interesting or helpful to others aspiring to
enter and succeed as a chef?
Same hard work and dedication. Top
What advice can
you give to prospective students thinking about an education and career
in the culinary arts?
......
What advice
can you give to busy working moms as far as cooking a nutritious meal is
concerned?
Try and incorporate nutritious cooking
habits eg. substitute whole wheat flour in place of refined flour. fresh
fruits in place of canned juices, etc Top
Do you
encourage cooking for all – boys and girls and at what age should they
get started? And why?
Yes cooking is a necessity. Age is not a criteria
to learn I receive emails from kids of even 9 and 10. My cookbook
Cooking with kids is a huge success.
Top
Your
favorite food quote is ……..
"Haste Khelte
khana Pakao"
Ms.Tarla
Dalal is also India’s best selling cookery author since over 2
decades. She has written a total of 30 titles, several of which have
been translated in various languages like Hindi, Gujrati, Marathi,
Bengali and even Dutch and Russian!
Top
