The soon-to-be mommy, Deepika Padukone, is setting maternity fashion goals, by proudly flaunting her baby bump in cute floral dresses, and fans are eagerly waiting for this celeb couple’s little bundle of joy to arrive. Deepika and her husband Ranveer Singh had announced in February that they were expecting their first child in September 2024 through a cute instagram post. Deepika is enjoying her pregnancy phase by giving into her cravings and exploring various foods which she couldn’t do earlier when she had to maintain a certain frame to fit into roles.
Though not exactly a foodie, Deepika had tried her hand at cooking during lockdown and had experimented with Thai cuisine too. But during an “Ask Me Anything” session on instagram a few years ago, Deepika Padukone had revealed that she enjoys baking cookies and is more fond of baking than cooking!
You would be surprised to know that despite her love for Thai and Mexican cuisine, Deepika Padukone absolutely loves desi food, South Indian and all. So, let’s find out foods are on Deepika Padukone’s favorite list.
5 Desi Foods Deepika Padukone Absolutely Loves:
1. Varan Bhaat:
We all know Deepika Padukon eloves to travel extensively and around the world. Once she comes back to Mumbai, she finds comfort in a Maharastrian dish called “varan baat,” which is a moong-arhar dal based dish. According to this article on The Economic Times, moong and toor dal are good sources of plant protein and as we all know, protein can help boost the weight loss process. Varan Bhat is a traditional Maharashtrian dish made with a blend of moong dal and arhar dal. To prepare it, cook 1/2 cup of moong dal and 1/2 cup of arhar dal (toor dal) with turmeric and water until soft.
Mash the cooked dals and add salt. In a pan, heat ghee and add mustard seeds, asafoetida, and curry leaves for tempering. Pour the tempering over the dal mixture and stir well. Serve the warm varan with steamed rice, a squeeze of lemon, and a dollop of ghee on top. Enjoy this nourishing and flavorful meal.
Also Read: 5 Desi Foods Alia Bhatt Absolutely Loves
2. Upma:
Upma is a South Indian dish that gets sidelined by more popular ones like idli and dosa. Upma often is seen as a simpler, everyday dish, while idli and dosa are considered more versatile. However, upma is an easy-to-prepare, filling dish that can be made more nutritious by adding a variety of veggies. Here’s a vegetable upma recipe that you can try at home. To make vegetable upma, start by dry roasting 1 cup of semolina (rava) until it turns golden and set it aside.
In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil or ghee and add 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds. Once they splutter, add 1 teaspoon of urad dal, a few curry leaves, and a pinch of asafoetida. Sauté 1 finely chopped onion, 1 chopped green chili, and a variety of mixed vegetables like carrots, peas, and beans. Add 2.5 cups of water and salt to taste, bringing it to a boil. Gradually stir in the roasted semolina, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Cook until the water is absorbed and the upma reaches a fluffy consistency. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.
3. Rice and Rasam:
Rice and rasam is a popular combination in South India and seen as a comforting food that is easy to prepare, light on the stomach, and full of tangy and spicy flavours. Additionally, rasam is believed to be good for digestion, so it’s a staple food in a lot of households.
To make authentic rasam, start by soaking a small ball of tamarind in warm water, then extract its juice. In a pot, boil the tamarind juice with chopped tomatoes, turmeric, and salt. Separately, coarsely grind a mix of black pepper, cumin seeds, and garlic cloves. Add this spice mix to the boiling tamarind water. Cook until the raw smell of tamarind goes away. In another pan, prepare the tempering by heating ghee and adding mustard seeds, dried red chilies, asafoetida, and curry leaves. Pour this tempering into the rasam and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot with steamed rice for a flavourful South Indian meal.
4. Dal Chawal:
Do you know Ranbir Kapoor had once called Deepika Padukone his “dal chawal,” i.e., his comfort food! Deepika Padukone too loves dal-chawal and used to regularly cook it for herself while she was shooting in Canada for her hollywood movie “Return of the Xander” a few years ago alongside Vin Diesel.
5. Pani Puri:
Fun fact: Just like us, Deepika enjoys indulging in street-side food like pani puri, often in disguise! A pani puri (puchka) stall right outside Sabyasachi’s showroom in Kolkata is her favorite place to gorge on this street food.
Apart from this desi foods, Deepika Padukone is extremely fond of a Bhutanese food called “Ema Datshi.” It’s also called the national dish of Bhutan with spicy chili peppers and cheese as the main ingredients.
To prepare it, start by chopping about 10-12 medium-sized green chili peppers and removing the seeds for a milder flavor. In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and sauté finely chopped onions until translucent. Add the chopped chili peppers and cook for a few minutes. Then, add about 200 grams of crumbled or grated Bhutanese cheese (like datshi or any other mild cheese), stirring until it melts and combines with the peppers. Pour in 1 cup of water or broth, bring to a simmer, and cook until the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt to taste. Serve hot with steamed rice for a spicy and creamy Bhutanese delight.
In conclusion, actresses like Deepika Padukone prefer simple foods like dal chawal to support their active lifestyles. They emphasize eating in moderation while focusing on eating a balanced and nutritious diet.
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