Kitchen predictions

FOODIE

P redictions are tricky. But when it comes to culinary skills, Meena Kapoor, entrepreneur and co-founder of an astrology-based portal, is confident of a well-turned out evening. “I love cooking for guests,” she declares. Butter chicken and other chicken curries are dismissed while Kapoor settles to demonstrate her chicken achari dish for us, one which gets its fabulous flavouring with two main ingredients; saunf and kalounji.

Kapoor’s chicken achari, a hit number at her parties, is also served at times with some of the Chinese dishes that she also cooks. “I don’t follow the only-Italian or only-Chinese menu. There are always some guests who will miss their dal-roti if it’s not there. I make sure there is always a combination of cuisines on my table,” she shares.

Being associated with astrology, Kapoor is ironically not a staunch believer of it in her personal life. “It has to be understood as a guiding element, not to be followed every single day,” she says. Impressed bt the booming dot com business more than a decade ago, Kapoor aspired to be a part of it. So when the opportunity to start up Astroyogi.com, part of the IT firm Netway India, came along, she jumped at it. “We were initially thinking of starting a portal for NRIs. But after seeing the popularity of daily horoscopes in newspapers, we realised astrology would work,” she says.

Just before the launch of the website in 2001, the overall portal industry went bust. Kapoor, adamant about not shutting shop, diverted into the e-greetings category for a while before gaining success in the astrology portal.

Good food and good books, she says, kept her company during those times. An avid reader of motivational books, this Zen and Art of Living follower admits that her family has a weakness for Punjabi food. “My husband,” she says, “loves sizzling hot paranthas for breakfast but doesn’t believe in between-meal snacking.” She doesn’t like snacking too but a bowl of steaming hot Maggi is something she would never refuse.

FAVOURITE RECIPE

CHICKEN ACHARI
2 tbs oil
1 tsp methi seeds
1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
3 green chillies
3 onions
1 kg boneless chicken
1 cup yogurt
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground kalaunji
1 and 1/2 tsp ground saunf
1 cup crushed cashew nuts
1 bunch coriander leaves

In a pan, heat oil. Add methi seeds and chicken marinated in yoghurt. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Add red chilli flakes and green chillies. Add ground cashew to the pan. Stir well. Add onions, cut medium-sized. Add kalaunji and saunf powder and mix well. Cook for 10 more minutes. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve.