Earth and Space News: vegetarian Caesar Salad

Showing posts with label vegetarian Caesar Salad. Show all posts

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Kolkatan Chef Kirti Bhoutika's Ragi Wheat Crackers Complement Caesar Salad

Summary: Kolkatan chef Kirti Bhoutika's Ragi Wheat Crackers complement Caesar Salad as crunchy side dish or crouton substitute for the classic salad.

Kolkatan chef Kirti Bhoutika's Ragi and Whole Wheat Crackers flavorfully crackle as crouton substitute, side dish or snack: Kirti Bhoutika, via Facebook Aug. 4, 2019

Kolkatan chef Kirti Bhoutika's Ragi Wheat Crackers complement Caesar Salad as a crunchy side dish for her version of the classic salad or as a crispy substitute for the salad's croutons.

Chef Kirti shares her Ragi and Whole Wheat Crackers recipe via Facebook Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. She backdrops her recipe choice: "Made these Ragi and whole wheat crackers to satisfy my chips and dips cravings."

The recipe is also available on her website, Chef Kirti (chefkirti.in), with the delectable title, "Ragi and whole wheat crackers with guacamole." The recipe's image, identical with her Facebook post, frames an enticing bowl of chopped avocado-and-tomato guacamole with perfectly baked ragi and whole wheat wedges. Chef Kirti's website provides the selfsame Facebook recipe for the delicious, healthy crackers.

Chef Kirti's Ragi and Whole Wheat Crackers recipe begins with making a dough. The flatbread's flours are proportioned at 1/2 cup of ragi flour and 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour. The flour is seasoned with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of red chili powder.

The dry ingredients are moistened with 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and 3 tablespoons of yogurt. Warm water is added, as required, to soften the dough.

The dough is set aside for 30 minutes. Then it is rolled as thinly as possible. Chef Kirti recommends avoiding sticky surface complications by rolling the dough between two Silpat silicone baking mats or two sheets or parchment paper.

After rolling, the dough may be cut as crackers with a pizza cutter. Chef Kirti partitions the dough into attractive wedges. Nevertheless, the crackers may assume traditional shapes as squares or triangles or alternative shapes, such as ribbons, according to preference.

The doughy crackers are transferred to a preheated oven and baked, to crispness, at 170 degrees Celsius (338 degrees Fahrenheit) for 20 to 22 minutes. Chef Kirti cautions against overbaking or underbaking.

Allow the crackers to cool. They may be stored in airtight containers or served, when cool, "with a dip of your choice."

Chef Kirti's Ragi and Whole Wheat Crackers recipe refreshes as a chips-and-dip snack. The recipe also pleases as a side dish, especially with such fresh vegetable dishes as Caesar Salad. Chef Kirti's version of the classic salad crunches with iceberg lettuce and brightens with brown bread croutons, black olives and sun-dried tomatoes ("Kolkatan Chef Kirti Bhoutika Styles Caesar Salad With Olives and Tomatoes," Earth and Space News, Thursday, June 9, 2022).

Beyond accompanying Caesar Salad as a side dish, Chef Kirti's Ragi and Whole Wheat Crackers also qualify as flavorful substitutes for the salad's signature seasoned croutons. The cracker wedges may be cubed or broken into attractively irregular pieces as crouton substitutes.

As her recipe title indicates, Chef Kirti's Ragi and Whole Wheat Crackers recipe calls for ragi. Ragi is familiar in India as a versatile staple, according to The Hindu Business Line's Jan. 1, 2012, article, "Ragi: Versatile, Wonder Grain." Ragi is marketed in the West as a specialty flour.

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is known as ragi in India. The annual herbaceous plant is grown as a cereal crop, i.e., a grass with an edible grain, in Africa and Asia. Ragi is a gluten-free whole grain.

As a gluten-free grain, ragi lacks the protein, gluten, found notably in wheat and other cereal crops such as barley and rye. Gluten sensitivities range from allergies to serious medical conditions, such as celiac disease and gluten ataxia. Contrarily, ragi offers easy digestibility.

As a whole grain, ragi retains the three edible parts (bran, germ, endosperm) of its seeds, also known as kernels. Also, whole grains preserve the proportions of bran, germ and endosperm presented during the field-growing stage.

Chef Kirti's repertoire of cracker and ragi recipes extends beyond her Ragi and Whole Wheat Crackers recipe. She also presents Cheese Jeera Crackers via Facebook Oct. 3, 2020; via Instagram Oct. 3, 2020; and via YouTube Oct. 5, 2020. She shares her Chilli Cheese Crackers recipe via Facebook April 29, 2022, and via YouTube April 27, 2022. Her recipe for Oat and Ragi Bread appears Jan. 19, 2021, via Facebook and Instagram.

Kirti Bhoutika's win in the fifth season of MasterChef India epitomizes the Kolkata-born Bengali's culinary commitment and talent. Her win, at age 20, on Christmas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, qualifies her as the youngest MasterChef India winner.

Youngest MasterChef India winner Kirti Bhoutika poses with the treasured medal, December 2016: Kirti Bhoutika, via Facebook Dec. 31, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.

Image credits:

Kolkatan chef Kirti Bhoutika's Ragi and Whole Wheat Crackers flavorfully crackle as crouton substitute, side dish or snack: Kirti Bhoutika, via Facebook Aug. 4, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/photos/pb.100044500056871.-2207520000../2469656369929601/

Youngest MasterChef India winner Kirti Bhoutika poses with the treasured medal, December 2016: Kirti Bhoutika, via Facebook Dec. 31, 2016, @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/posts/1900569896838254/

For further information:

Acharya, K.T. (Konganda Thammu). "Ragi." Pages 21-22. The Story of Our Food. Chapter 3 "How Weeds Became Foodgrains," 18-29. Hyderabad, India: Universities Press (India), Limited, 2000.
Available @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Story_of_Our_Food/bk9RHRCqZOkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA21

Bhoutika, Kirti. "Kirti Bhoutika." LinkedIn India.
Available @ https://in.linkedin.com/in/kirti-bhoutika-14a1b2140

Chef Kirti Bhoutika. "About Me." Chef Kirti > About Kirti.
Available @ http://chefkirti.in/about.php

Gomes, Lygeia. "Rise of the Digital Chef: 200K followers on Instagram? ‘My secret ingredient is to be myself,’ says Kirti Bhoutika." The Telegraph Online > My Kolkata > People. March 23, 2022.
Available @ https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/masterchef-india-winner-kirti-bhoutika-on-her-youtube-and-instagram-game-cooking-show-kolkata-baking-studio-sugarplum-cakery/cid/1857251

The Hindu Business Line. "Ragi: Versatile, Wonder Grain." The Hindu Business Line > Markets > Commodities. Jan. 1, 2012.
Available @ https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/commodities/Ragi-Versatile-wonder-grain/article20380256.ece

Kirti Bhoutika. "ALL ABOUT SUGARPLUM CAKERY by KIRTI BHOUTIKA." YouTube. March 11, 2019.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxCJsFT0B4Y

Kirti Bhoutika. "BEST EVER CAESER SALAD." Facebook. May 28, 2021.
Available @ https://m.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/videos/233601101441744/

Kirti Bhoutika. "BEST EVER CAESER SALAD." YouTube. May 28, 2021.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRydXVZ-a0w

Kirti Bhoutika. "Cheese Jeera Crackers." Facebook. Oct. 3, 2020.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/videos/cheese-jeera-crackersflaky-buttery-and-cheesy-crackers-that-are-perfect-with-a-d/1857944297676684/

Kirti Bhoutika. "Cheese Jeera Crackers / Only 4 Ingredients." YouTube. Oct. 5, 2020.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tRjh4sCV0s

Kirti Bhoutika. "Chilli Cheese Crackers." Facebook. April 29, 2022.
Available @ https://m.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/videos/chilli-cheese-crackers/527423492117286/

Kirti Bhoutika. "Chilli Cheese Crackers / Perfect tea time snack." YouTube. April 27, 2022.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmKNvKxvuDk

Kirti Bhoutika. "First post of 2017. Ready to cook and bake through this year #masterchefindia5 #masterchefindia #notjustahobby #goodfood #newyear #newyearnewme #2017." Facebook. Dec. 31, 2016.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/posts/1900569896838254/

Kirti Bhoutik. "I love breads but I love eating my whole grains! Which is why, this OAT AND RAGI BREAD is perfect!" Facebook. Jan. 19, 2021.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/videos/i-love-breads-but-i-love-eating-my-whole-grains-which-is-why-this-oat-and-ragi-b/417440606173957/

Kirti Bhoutika. "It was all worth it. All the pressure and hard work, everything. Thank you each one of you for your support. This journey from a homecook to a chef would not have been possible without you. #masterchefindia5 #masterchefindia #notjustahobby #goodfood #coat #cooking #cook #food." Facebook. Dec. 11, 2016.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/posts/1890598134502097/

Kirti Bhoutika. "I’ve been lately obsessed with changing my food habits and making healthier food choices and it has helped me in more ways than I can explain. Made these Ragi and whole wheat crackers to satisfy my chips and dips cravings🤤 Sharing my recipe here, happy baking." Facebook. Aug. 4, 2019.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/photos/pb.100044500056871.-2207520000../2469656369929601/
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/posts/2469656369929601/

kirtibhoutika. "Best Ever Caeser Salad." Chef Kirti Bhoutika (@kirtibhoutika). Instagram. May 26, 2021.
Available @ https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPVenpsBciH/

kirtibhoutika. "Cheese Jeera Crackers." Instagram. Oct. 3, 2020.
Available @ https://www.instagram.com/tv/CF36ClVhcOy/

kirtibhoutika. "Oat and Ragi Bread." Instagram. Jan. 19, 2021.
Available @ https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKN_FBEBP-C/

Lifestyle Desk. "Make crunchy Caesar salad tonight with this easy recipe." The Indian Express > Food & Wine. July 19, 2021.
Available @ https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/caesar-salad-7375645/

Marriner, Derdriu. "Beware the Ides of March: The Assassination of Julius Caesar." Earth and Space News. Thursday, March 3, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/03/beware-ides-of-march-assassination-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Caesar Salad Recipe: Named for Chef Cesare Cardini, Not Julius Caesar." Earth and Space News. Thursday, March 17, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/03/caesar-salad-recipe-named-for-chef.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's Caesar Salad: Italian-American Classic in India." Earth and Space News. Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/05/chef-sanjeev-kapoors-caesar-salad.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Chicken Caesar Burger by Sanjeev Kapoor: Grilled and Caesar Flavored." Earth and Space News. Thursday, April 28, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/04/chicken-caesar-burger-by-sanjeev-kapoor.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Chicken Tikka Caesar Salad by Sanjyot Keer: Indian Flair for a Classic." Earth and Space News. Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/05/chicken-tikka-caesar-salad-by-sanjyot.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Kolkatan Chef Kirti Bhoutika Styles Caesar Salad With Olives and Tomatoes." Earth and Space News. Thursday, June 9, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/06/kolkatan-chef-kirti-bhoutika-styles.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Mumbai Caesar Salads: Creative, Original and Sophisticated Variations." Earth and Space News. Thursday, March 24, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/03/mumbai-caesar-salads-creative-original.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "South Indian Caesar Salads: Classic and Wrap Variations in Chennai." Earth and Space News. Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/03/south-indian-caesar-salads-classic-and.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "North Indian Caesar Deviled Eggs by Sanjeev Kapoor Blend Two Classics." Earth and Space News. Thursday, April 7, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/04/north-indian-caesar-deviled-eggs-by.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "North Indian Caesar Chicken Salad in Parmesan Cups by Sanjeev Kapoor." Earth and Space News. Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/04/north-indian-caesar-chicken-salad-in.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "North Indian Chef Kunal Kapur's Veg Caesar Salad Crunches With Flavor." Earth and Space News. Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/05/north-indian-chef-kunal-kapoors-veg.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "North Indian Chef Shantanu Gupte's Vegan Caesar Salad Colorfully Appeals." Earth and Space News. Thursday, June 2, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/06/north-indian-chef-shantanu-guptes-vegan.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "North Indian Chicken Caesar Salad: Celebrate Julius Caesar's Birthday July 12 or 13." Wizzley. Monday, July 12, 2021.
Available @ https://wizzley.com/north-indian-chicken-caesar-salad-celebrate-julius-caesar-s-birthday-july-12-or-13/

Marriner, Derdriu. "Veg Caesar Wraps by Ajay Chopra Satisfy Caesar Salad and Wrap Cravings." Earth and Space News. Thursday, May 12, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/05/veg-caesar-wraps-by-ajay-chopra-satisfy.html

Oldways Whole Grains Council. "What's a Whole Grain? A Refined Grain?" Oldways Whole Grains Council > Whole Grains 101 > Help Is on the Way > Understand What Whole Grains Are.
Available @ https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/whats-whole-grain-refined-grain

Picuki. "@kirtibhoutika Chef Kirti Bhoutika." Picuki > Profile > kirtibhoutika.
Available @ https://www.picuki.com/profile/kirtibhoutika

The Restaurant Times. "MasterChef India Winners: A Rundown." The Restaurant Times > Features.
Available @ https://www.posist.com/restaurant-times/features/masterchef-india-winners.html

Vikaspedia. "Ragi." Vikaspedia > Agriculture > Crop Production > Package of Practices > Cereals and Millets.
Available @ https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/cereals-and-millets/ragi#

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Kolkatan Chef Kirti Bhoutika Styles Caesar Salad With Olives and Tomatoes

Summary: Kolkatan Chef Kirti Bhoutika styles Caesar Salad with olives and tomatoes in her version of "one salad that is always found in every restaurant menu."

Twenty-year-old Kirti Bhoutika became the youngest winner of MasterChef India with her December 2016 win in the competitive cooking game show's fifth season: Kirti Bhoutika, via Facebook Dec. 11, 2016

Kolkatan Chef Kirti Bhoutika styles Caesar Salad with olives and tomatoes in her homemade version of the classic salad "that is always found in every restaurant menu."

Classic Caesar Salad is approaching its 100th anniversary. In 1924, Italian immigrant restauranteur Cesare "Caesar" Cardini (Feb. 24, 1896-Nov. 3, 1956) debuted his new recipe in his restaurant, Cesare's Restaurant, in Baja California state's resort city of Tijuana in northwestern Mexico.

Since its debut, Caesar Salad has been welcomed into the world's cuisines. Caesar Salad's ease of preparation and basic ingredients have facilitated the recipe's ubiquitous appearance on restaurant menus and its abundant, global non-vegetarian, vegan and vegetarian variations.

Parmesan cheese, garlic-toasted croutons, coddled eggs and romaine lettuce leaves compose Chef Cesare's appealing bouquet of salad ingredients. His original recipe's dressing, Worcestershire sauce, which contains anchovy pieces, accounts for subsequent misperceptions of anchovy fillets in the salad's Tijuana introduction.

Kolkatan Chef Kirti Bhoutika (born Jan. 1, 1996) reminds her social media followers that "I love salads" in her "Best Ever Caeser [sic] Salad" video postings to Instagram May 26, 2021, and to Facebook and YouTube May 28, 2021. She notes Caesar Salad's reliable appearance on restaurant menus. She explains that demonstrating her recipe will overcome the intimidating, albeit erroneous, notion that homemade Caesar Salad cannot compete with restaurant offerings. She encourages by describing her Best Ever Caesar Salad as "Must try for all salad loversss!" She assesses: "Yummy, yummy salad recipe. It's a classic. You're going to love it."

Chef Kirti begins her Best Ever Caesar Salad with the salad's dressing. She deposits 2 to 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of mustard sauce, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).

Two cloves of garlic are grated into the dressing bowl. Then 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese is added.

Two to three tablespoons of water are poured over the ingredients. All ingredients are blended well together. Then salt is sprinkled, according to taste, and stirred into the dressing. The dressing is set aside.

Chef Kirti's croutons call for two pieces of bread; she prefers brown bread. The bread is cut into cubes and added to a pan with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 2 or 3 sprigs of thyme. Salt, according to taste, is sprinkled. The flavored bread cubes are sautéed to the point of crouton crunchiness.

The Best Ever Caesar Salad recipe's next focus is assembling the salad. One head of iceberg lettuce is torn into a bowl. Several tablespoons of the dressing are drizzled in circles over the lettuce. Then Chef Kirti hand-blends the lettuce with the dressing.

The dressed lettuce is hand-plated. Chef Kirti colorfully, deliciously and nutritiously decorates her version of traditional Caesar Salad with sun-dried tomato pieces and black olive slices. Croutons are positioned atop the salad. Parmesan cheese is grated for the final flourish.

Chef Kirti appends three suggestions about ingredients to her Best Ever Caesar Salad recipe. She prefers iceberg lettuce, which she assesses as "the crunchiest of all the kinds of lettuce you get in the market." Nevertheless, any lettuce may be substituted. Also, different lettuce varieties may be mixed.

Processed cheese may be used instead of Parmesan cheese. Chef Kirti recommends making a sauce with the processed cheese, which then is mixed into the dressing.

Indian yogurt, known as hung curd, also qualifies as a healthy substitute for Parmesan cheese. Hung curd contributes to the dressing's body.

In addition to her Best Ever Caesar Salad, Chef Kirti's salad repertoire includes Greek Pasta Salad and Mango Quinoa Salad. She especially appreciates Asian salads, with tantalizing recipes for Raw Papaya Salad (Som Tam Salad) and Soba Noodles Salad in Peanut Butter Dressing

Chef Kirti received her secondary education at Mahadevi Birla World Academy in Kolkata, West Bengal. The school was established in 1959 by Bengali industrialist Sir Basant Kumar Birla (Jan. 12, 1921-July 3, 2019) and his wife, Sarala Birla (Nov. 23, 1923-March 28, 2015). The English-medium school takes its motto, "Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamay" ("Lead Us From Darkness To Light"), from a verse in the ancient Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (I.iii.8).

Chef Kirti entered Kolkata's J.D. Birla Institute in 2013. She received her bachelor's degree in Nutrition Sciences in 2016.

Sushila Devi Birla founded the institute in June 1962 in honor of her mother-in-law, Shrimathi (Smt.) Jawahari Devi Birla. Shrimathi Sushila's husband was Lakshmi Niwas Birla (July 11, 1909-Aug. 29, 1994), an older brother of Sir Basant Kumar Birla.

Chef Kirti's win in December 2016 in the fifth season of India's competitive cooking game show MasterChef India established her dedication, expertise and precocity. Twenty years old at her win, Kirti rates as the youngest MasterChef winner.

Beyond salads, baking holds a special place in Chef Kirti's culinary repertoire. She founded SugarPlum Cakery in her hometown in February 2018.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chef Kirti Bhoutika (@kirtibhoutika)

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

Kolkatan Chef Kirti Bhoutika colorfully, deliciously and nutritiously decorates her version of traditional Caesar Salad with olives and sun-dried tomatoes: Chef Kirti Bhoutika (@kirtibhoutika), via Instagram May 26, 2021, @ https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPVenpsBciH/

For further information:

Bhoutika, Kirti. "Kirti Bhoutika." LinkedIn India.
Available @ https://in.linkedin.com/in/kirti-bhoutika-14a1b2140

Chef Kirti Bhoutika. "About Me." Chef Kirti > About Kirti.
Available @ http://chefkirti.in/about.php

Gomes, Lygeia. "Refreshing summer salads by Insta chefs (and where to find them in Kolkata)." The Telegraph Online > My Kolkata > People. March 22, 2022.
Available @ https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/lifestyle/best-summer-salad-by-chefs-nandita-iyer-kirti-bhoutika-surabhi-sehgal-and-hina-bisht-and-where-to-find-them-in-kolkata/cid/1857056

Kaur, Jasmine. "Beat The Heat With This Refreshing Salad Recipe By Chef Kirti Bhoutika." Slurrp > Articles. March 25, 2022.
Available @ https://www.slurrp.com/article/beat-the-heat-with-this-refreshing-salad-recipe-by-chef-kirti-bhoutika-1648192255467

Kirti Bhoutika. "ALL ABOUT SUGARPLUM CAKERY by KIRTI BHOUTIKA." YouTube. March 11, 2019.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxCJsFT0B4Y

Kirti Bhoutika. "BEST EVER CAESER SALAD." Facebook. May 28, 2021.
Available @ https://m.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/videos/233601101441744/

Kirti Bhoutika. "BEST EVER CAESER SALAD." YouTube. May 28, 2021.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRydXVZ-a0w

Kirti Bhoutika. "GREEK PASTA SALAD." YouTube. April 15, 2021.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6whY1zXbegs

Kirti Bhoutika. "Greek Pasta Salad. Summer is here and its the perfect excuse for me to keep eating salads!" Facebook. April 5, 2021.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/videos/greek-pasta-saladsummer-is-here-and-its-the-perfect-excuse-for-me-to-keep-eating/1014178252322806/

Kirti Bhoutika. "Greek Pasta Salad. Summer is here and its the perfect excuse for me to keep eating salads!" Facebook. May 6, 2021.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/videos/greek-pasta-salad/1032001133873851/

Kirti Bhoutika. "Hi guys! You guys always want me to share healthy recipes that are yummy but good for you at the same time. Here is my MANGO QUINOA SALAD recipe that is so versatile and delicious, you can play around with it depending on the ingredients you like!" Facebook. June 26, 2020.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/videos/hi-guys-you-guys-always-want-me-to-share-healthy-recipes-that-are-yummy-but-good/272460877197172/

Kirti Bhoutika. "Throwback to this day in the kitchen we served over a 100 guests. In the picture is my final course, Gajar Halwa baklawa. This filo pastry, filled and baked with Gajar Halwa smothered in honey and garnished with silver is a dessert I'm super proud of." Facebook. Nov. 2, 2017.
Available @ https://m.facebook.com/chefkirtibhoutika/posts/2053140498247859

kirtibhoutika. "Best Ever Caeser Salad." Chef Kirti Bhoutika (@kirtibhoutika). Instagram. May 26, 2021.
Available @ https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPVenpsBciH/

kirtibhoutika. "I am a salad lover and asian salads are my favourite in the list." Instagram. June 14, 2020.
Available @ https://www.instagram.com/p/CBa3G6yhKve/?hl=en

kirtibhoutika. "SOBA NOODLES SALAD in PEANUT BUTTER DRESSING." Chef Kirti Bhoutika (@kirtibhoutika). Instagram. June 14, 2020.
Available @ https://www.instagram.com/p/CBa3G6yhKve/?hl=en

Picuki. "@kirtibhoutika Chef Kirti Bhoutika." Picuki > Profile > kirtibhoutika.
Available @ https://www.picuki.com/profile/kirtibhoutika

The Restaurant Times. "MasterChef India Winners: A Rundown." The Restaurant Times > Features.
Available @ https://www.posist.com/restaurant-times/features/masterchef-india-winners.html

Tinan, T.N. "Birla group divides business, Aditya's branch of the family gets lion's share." India Today > News > Magazine > Economy. Sep. 30, 1986.
Available @ https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/economy/story/19860930-birla-group-divides-business-aditya-branch-of-the-family-gets-lion-share-801286-1986-09-30

Thursday, June 2, 2022

North Indian Chef Shantanu Gupte's Vegan Caesar Salad Colorfully Appeals

Summary: North Indian Chef Shantanu Gupte's Vegan Caesar Salad colorfully appeals with red and yellow bell peppers, olives and cherry tomatoes.

Chef Shantanu Gupte creates a vibrant Vegan Caesar Salad, with substitutions for non-vegetarians and vegetarians as well: Get Curried @GetCurried, via Facebook Nov. 28, 2014

North Indian Chef Shantanu Gupte's Vegan Caesar Salad colorfully appeals with creative additions of vibrant red and yellow peppers, black olives and cheery cherry tomatoes.

Caesar Salad originated almost 100 years ago in northwestern Mexico's Baja California state. Italian immigrant restauranteur Cesare "Caesar" Cardini (Feb. 24, 1896-Nov. 3, 1956) introduced his creation in 1924 in his restaurant, Caesar's Restaurant, in Tijuana. The exciting resort city, nicknamed "T.J." and "Gateway to Mexico," is described online by San Diego State University's Sage Project as ". . . the most visited border city in the world, . . . . also known for its great culinary offerings . . ."

The culinary history of Caesar Salad reveals a recipe with a reach that has transcended its Mesoamerican birthplace. Chef Cesare's salad has achieved universal popularity and has displayed adaptability and versatility in the recipe's receptivity to a plethora of variations. Caesar Salad so smoothly appears in Earth's varied cuisines that the recipe impresses as epitomizing a universal dish rather than exemplifying fusion cuisine.

Mumbai-based North Indian Chef Shantanu Gupte's culinary hospitality commitment began with his diploma of distinction in 2002 from the prestigious Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (IHMCTAN) in Maharashtra's coastal, capital city of Mumbai. According to his LinkedIn profile, Chef Shantanu received his Master's Degree in Hospitality Administration and Management from the University of North Norway in 2008.

Chef Shantanu's culinary expertise encompasses regional and international cuisines. His culinary repertoire includes different categories, ranging from protein-rich pancakes to scrumptiously, sumptuously customized cakes.

Chef Shantanu Gupte's culinary achievements include his Cloud Kitchen Brand, Chef Shan Cakes and More: Chef Shan Cakes, via Facebook Aug. 3, 2014

Chef Shantanu introduces his Vegan Caesar Salad in Get Curried's YouTube video for Monday, April 14, 2014. He explains that he is making the "nice crunchy" recipe on "a nice sunny morning" for friends who will be visiting. His Vegan Caesar Salad excludes the original recipe's anchovies and eggs.

He begins his Vegan Caesar Salad by placing seven garlic cloves on a cutting board. He dusts the cloves with salt and then mashes the ingredients together with a knife.

He then deposits 1/2 cup of vegan mayonnaise into a bowl. Chef Shantanu explains that the avoidance of dairy products distinguishes vegans from vegetarians.

The salted, mashed cloves are added to the vegan mayo. Then freshly ground black pepper is distributed with a pepper mill.

Chef Shantanu notes the popularity of red wine vinegar as an ingredient in the dressing. Instead, he prefers the zing of lemon juice, so he squeezes a lemon slice over the bowl.

Parmesan cheese usually associates with Caesar Salad. Chef Shantanu points out that non-lactose, soy-based cheese substitutes well. The grated cheese (75 grams; 1/3 cup) is whisked into the mayo mixture until the dressing achieves thick creaminess. He squeezes another lemon slice to thin the dressing, while he reiterates the possibility of using vinegar as a thinner.

Chef Shantanu emphasizes the importance of being "very particular" about the Caesar dressing, for the taste of the dressing is integral to the taste of the salad. His taste test reveals the dressing to be "yummy."

The croutons are the recipe's next component. Chef Shantanu uses a hamburger bun. He halves the bun's top dome from its flat bottom and quarters each half lengthwise and then widthwise. He aims for "nice big chunks" that yield "nice and big rustic croutons."

The bun cubes are placed in a pan. Chef Shantanu adds a dollop (1 tablespoon) of butter as well as dashes of salt, black pepper and garlic flakes. He suggests substituting olive oil as a healthy, vegan alternative. He, however, prefers the "nutty crunchy taste" imparted by butter. He increases the buttery tastiness with another dollop (1 tablespoon) of butter and allows the croutons and garlic flakes to reach golden brown crispiness.

One red and one yellow plump bell peppers are diced and added to the croutons. The peppers receive a brief cooking to capture the flavor without losing their crunchiness.

The salad base calls for equal amounts of iceberg lettuce and romaine lettuce. Chef Shantanu aims for romaine's "deep flavor" and iceberg's crunchiness.

Chef Shantanu encourages hand-tearing each small bunch of lettuce. There is no need to "go delicate" with a knife. He firmly twists and rips the romaine bunch into thirds. He halves the iceberg head with his hands and tears each half into big chunks.

He notes the importance of "nicely" washing the lettuces because they are "raw." Importantly, the washed lettuce needs to be drained "nicely" to avoid a "watery" salad.

The torn lettuce then is decorated with a combination of six whole and halved cherry tomatoes. Chopped basil leaves are not "compulsory," but Chef Shantanu appreciates the "fresh feel and flavor" that basil leaves contribute to the salad.

After hand tossing the greens, he flavors the salad with black pepper. For more spiciness, he suggests chili flakes or Tabasco sauce.

The salad is topped with around two tablespoons of Caesar dressing. Then everything is blended via two large wooden spoons. Chef Shantanu considers the importance of last-minute, small additions of dressing to the salad, as a preventer of wilting and softening of the greens caused by increased acidity from intense amounts of the lemon-based dressing.

The dressed greens are plated and decorated with cherry tomatoes. A few spoons of dressing are dropped at various points. Finally, aesthetic arrangements of the seasoned crouton-bell pepper mixture, sprinklings of small gratings of cheese and coarse black pepper, and a few drippings of water-thinned dressing complete Chef Shantanu's Vegan Caesar Salad.

Chef Shantanu appraises the completeness of his Vegan Caesar Salad. "Good" looks and "good flavor" yield a dish that is "a meal by itself."

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

Chef Shantanu Gupte creates a vibrant Vegan Caesar Salad, with substitutions for non-vegetarians and vegetarians as well: Get Curried @GetCurried, via Facebook Nov. 28, 2014, @ https://www.facebook.com/GetCurried/posts/396368200540033

Chef Shantanu Gupte's culinary achievements include his Cloud Kitchen Brand, Chef Shan Cakes and More: Chef Shan Cakes, via Facebook Aug. 3, 2014, @ https://www.facebook.com/chefshancakes/posts/1573930589501124/

Get Curried, "Veg Caesar Salad / How To Make Caesar Salad At Home / Caesar Dressing / Healthy Salad Recipe," via YouTube April 14, 2014, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWtnI3m-p8g

For further information:

Ahluwalia, Sandhya. "Chef Shantanu Gupte -- A Food Stylist Says 'Keep Trying Till You Achieve Your Recipe Of Success' In Conversation With Sandhya Ahluwalia." AdvantageHRM.
Available @ https://www.advantagehrm.com/PostMaster/DetailNews.aspx?id=288

Chandani, Priyanka. "Celebrity Chef Shantanu Gupte shares recipes for three protein-rich pancakes that you could whip up in a jiffy." The New Indian Express > Food. May 29, 2021.
Available @ https://www.indulgexpress.com/food/2021/may/29/celebrity-chef-shantanu-gupte-shares-recipes-for-healthy-pancakes-that-promise-to-boost-immunitynbsp-33906.html

Chef Shan Cakes. "Let The Festivities Begin With Chef Shan Cakes and more . . . Call for your order now!!!" Facebook. Aug. 3, 2014.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefshancakes/posts/1573930589501124/

FoodFood. "Chef Shantanu Gupte." FoodFood > Recipes by Chef.
Available @ https://www.foodfood.com/recipesbychef/chef-shantanu-gupte

Get Curried @GetCurried. "As easy as 1, 2, 3! #ChefShantanu tosses up a sumptuous and colorful #CaeserSalad here: http://goo.gl/1rOzsB." Facebook. Nov. 28, 2014.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/GetCurried/posts/396368200540033

Get Curried. "Veg Caesar Salad / How To Make Caesar Salad At Home / Caesar Dressing / Healthy Salad Recipe." YouTube. April 14, 2014.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWtnI3m-p8g

Gupte, Shantanu. "Shantanu Gupte." LinkedIn India.
Available @ https://in.linkedin.com/in/shantanu-gupte-73937b1b7

John, Manoj. "The out-of-the-box chef." BakeryBiz.
Available @ https://bakerybiz.com/tag/chef-shantanu-gupte/

The Sage Project at SDSU. "City of Tijuana." San Diego State University Digital Library > Featured Collections > The Sage Project.
Available @ https://digitallibrary.sdsu.edu/islandora/object/sdsu%3A4994

Singh, Sakshi. "Food presentation is a key differentiator: Chef Shantanu Gupte." ETHospitalityWorld > Hospitality News > Latest Hospitality News > Restaurants. Sep. 20, 2021.
Available @ https://hospitality.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/restaurants/food-presentation-is-a-key-differentiator-chef-shantanu-gupte/86359246

Thursday, May 26, 2022

North Indian Chef Kunal Kapur's Veg Caesar Salad Crunches With Flavor

Summary: North Indian Chef Kunal Kapur's Veg Caesar Salad crunches with flavor in an anchovy- and egg-free vegetarian version of Classic Caesar Salad.

"Kunal with Knife," Nov. 1, 2018: Chefkunal, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons

North Indian Chef Kunal Kapur's Veg Caesar Salad crunches with flavor in a Classic Caesar Salad-inspired vegetarian version without anchovies and eggs.

Caesar Salad's origin traces back to 1924 in northwestern Mexico's Baja California state. Italian immigrant restauranteur Cesare "Caesar" Cardini (Feb. 24, 1896-Nov. 3, 1956) created his elegantly simple salad recipe in his restaurant, Caesar's Restaurant, in Tijuana.

Chef Cesare decorated his salad's base of torn romaine lettuce leaves with garlic-toasted croutons, grated Parmesan cheese and coddled eggs. Worcestershire sauce dressed the salad.

The main misperception about the original recipe entails attributing anchovy flavor and texture to the presence of anchovy fillets or anchovy paste on the ingredient list. The salad's mistaken association with anchovy fillets or paste derives from the anchovy specks in the salad's fermented Worcestershire sauce.

In the 100 years since its creation, Caesar Salad has achieved global popularity. Caesar Salad's easy preparation and accessible, appealing ingredients have ensured the recipe's acceptance and appreciation and also have encouraged a plethora of non-vegetarian, vegan and vegetarian variations.

North Indian Chef Kunal Kapur acknowledges Caesar Salad as world famous and menu conspicuous in his June 23, 2021, YouTube and Aug. 23, 2021, Facebook videos. He presents his Veg Caesar Salad as a vegetarian recipe with egg-free dressing and no anchovies that resolves Classic Caesar Salad's anchovy and egg problems for vegetarians.

Chef Kunal identifies romaine lettuce leaves, croutons and dressing as the essential elements in his Veg Caesar Salad. He freshly constructs the croutons and dressing for the recipe.

The croutons call for 1 cup of bite-sized, diced bread. Chef Kunal notes the difficulty of cutting fresh bread and suggests the acceptable alternatives of dried or stale bread. Then the bread cubes are placed in a baking tray.

A small clove of garlic is chopped, equivalent to 1 teaspoon, and dropped into a small bowl. Two tablespoons of olive oil are spooned into the bowl. The garlic pieces and olive oil are stirred together and then are drizzled over the bread cubes in the baking tray.

The baking tray is placed in an oven set at 150 degrees Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit). They will toast until they are lightly crisp.

On the video, approximately two minutes elapse between the tray's entry into and exit from the oven. The recipe as it appears on his website, Chef Kunal Kapoor, suggests 15 to 20 minutes at 100 degrees C. (212 degrees F.). My family's version of Veg Caesar Salad, which resembles Chef Kunal's recipe, requires at most five or eight minutes.

While the croutons crispen, Chef Kunal makes the dressing in a small, portable blender. The dressing calls for 1/4 cup vegetarian mayonnaise, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon mustard paste, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 clove of garlic, black pepper powder and salt to taste and 1/2 cup olive oil.

For the dressing, Chef Kunal notes preferences and substitutions. He uses a French mustard, Dijon, for the mustard paste. Any hard cheese may be substituted for Parmesan cheese.

The dressing's ingredients are blended until smooth. A little olive oil may be added if, according to preference, the dressing blends thickly. The dressing is transferred to a squeeze bottle.

The garlic- and olive oil-seasoned bread cubes exit from the oven as crisp, lightly browned cubes. Their rattling sound as Chef Kunal shakes the baking tray attests to their readiness. The croutons are set near the dressing for assembling the salad.

Chef Kunal arranges the romaine lettuce leaves on the serving plate. He does not tear them, which is consistent with Chef Cesare's original recipe.

The bed of romaine leaves is squirted aesthetically with the squeezed dressing. Then the croutons are placed on the romaine leaves. The final topping is a handful (about half a dozen) of small, thin cheese slices, which have been shaped by a peeler.

Chef Kunal's Veg Caesar Salad provides two servings. The time from start to finish is estimated at 15 minutes, according to the recipe's card on the Chef Kunal Kapur website.

Chef Kunal presents his Veg Caesar Salad recipe primarily in Hindi, interspersed with English, in his June 23, 2021, YouTube and Aug. 23, 2021, Facebook videos. English subtitles are available and helpful. Also, each ingredient is captioned in English, separately from subtitles, on the screen.

The June 23, 2021, YouTube video (immediately below) offers, as an option under the three dots menu, to "show transcript" of Chef Kunal's English comments, with their timestamps. Also, the ingredients are listed in the "Show More" option located under the channel name, Kunal Kapur.

The "Show More" option gives five timestamps for Chef Kunal's presentation. The timestamps are listed as 00:00 Introduction; 01:24 Recipe begins; 01:55 Croutons; 04:05 Caesar Dressing (Veg); 06:21 Assembling Salad.

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

"Kunal with Knife," Nov. 1, 2018: Chefkunal, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kunal_with_Knife.jpg

Kunal Kapur, "Veg Caesar Salad Recipe / Eggless Cesar Dressing / Healthy Veg Salad / Kunal Kapur Healthy Recipes," via YouTube June 23, 2021, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qLK9SqlMig

For further information:

Kapur, Chef Kunal. "Veg Caesar Salad: Crunchy Romaine Lettuce With a Veg Version of the Caesar Dressing." Chef Kunal Kapoor > Recipes.
Available @ https://www.chefkunalkapur.com/recipe/veg-caesar-salad/

Kumar, Anuj. "The tangy taste of patience." The Hindu > Features > MetroPlus. Sep. 25, 2015.
Available @ https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-tangy-taste-of-patience/article7689456.ece

Kunal Kapur. "The BEST Veg Caesar Salad with Egg-Free Dressing / Veg Salad Recipe / Kunal Kapur." Facebook. Aug. 23, 2021.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/thekunalkapur/videos/the-best-veg-caesar-salad-with-egg-free-dressing-veg-salad-recipe-kunal-kapur-he/544746993400447/ Available @ https://www.facebook.com/thekunalkapur/videos/544746993400447/

Kunal Kapur. "How to Cut Watermelon / Kunal Kapur / Made In Minutes." YouTube. April 14, 2018.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89uqBIbvhLI

Kunal Kapur. "Veg Caesar Salad Recipe / Eggless Cesar Dressing / Healthy Veg Salad / Kunal Kapur Healthy Recipes." YouTube. June 23, 2021.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qLK9SqlMig

Kunal Kapur Chef. "Can't wait for MasterChef Season 5. The show has evolved a lot and is going to be very exciting. #NotJustAHobby STAR Plus Garima Arora #masterchefindia5." Facebook. Sep. 13, 2016.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkunalfanpage/posts/1182221971850137

Kunal Kapur Chef. "Gurgaon or Gurugram, home is home." Facebook. April 25, 2016.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkunalfanpage/posts/1068019203270415

Kunal Kapur Chef. "Who said food isn't a serious business? Looking forward to movie 'Chef'. Saif Ali Khan #RajaKrishnaMenon." Facebook. Sep. 25, 2016.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkunalfanpage/posts/1184306808308320

Kunal Kapur Chef. "Yes it is that exciting #NotJustAHobby #MasterChefIndia5 STAR Plus." Facebook. Sep. 26, 2016.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/chefkunalfanpage/posts/1195468050525529

Nair, Rohit. "Breaking the mould with Kunal." Khaleej Times > WKND. Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. Last updated Friday, Nov. 13, 2015.
Available @ https://www.khaleejtimes.com/wknd/breaking-the-mould-with-kunal

Nair, Rohit. "Cooking with Kunal Kapur." Khaleej Times > UAE. Saturday, June 4, 2016.
Available @ https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/cooking-with-kunal-kapur

Rupawala, Rabab. "Kunal Kapur + Good Food = Master Chef of India." Adgully > Exclusive. Feb. 8, 2013.
Available @ https://www.adgully.com/exclusive-kunal-kapur-good-food-master-chef-of-india-53302.html

Singh, Preeti. "Reminiscences of a life lived making meals for the world." Sunday Guardian Live > Food & Drink. Feb. 6, 2016. Last updated Feb. 9, 2016.