Lockdown making you miss out on celebration? Celebrity chef shares recipes for a 3-course meal

So many of us learned how to cook different dishes during the lockdown last year. With the ongoing second wave of coronavirus, a series of lockdowns have been imposed at multiple places in the country. We’re back to staying at home but that’s no reason to feel bad. Take this as an opportunity to spend more time with your family! For their safety and your own, avoid visiting any restaurants and celebrate occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and festivals right at home.

To celebrate, you already have a great company but you will also need the perfect food. Delicious party food, which gives you the restaurant feels, can be prepared right at home. Now, you need not worry about ordering food from outside when you can just prepare some delicious meals with Renu Dalal’s recipes! These simple and quick recipes can save much of your time and ensure you enjoy your celebration with your loved ones, even during a lockdown.

We reached out to Ms Renu Dalal, daughter of the late legendary chef and cookbook author Tarla Dalal, who is the author of the books Simple and Delicious Vegetarian Recipes and Modern Vegetarian Recipes for some simple and delicious DIY food recipes for a three-course meal to make at home to enjoy a complete restaurant meal!

Starters

Camembert Cheese Starter

This is an all-time favourite combination of crackers and cheese. This preparation can be made with different sauces, be it peach, strawberry or kiwi. You can serve the crackers and cheese with any one of the sauces.

Preparation time – 10 minutes | Cooking time – 20 minutes | Serves – 6 to 8

Ingredients you’ll need:

• ½ packet Camembert cheese (62.5 grams)
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp finely chopped almonds
• ½ tbsp of honey
• 10 vegetable cracker biscuits

For the peach sauce:

• 1½ peaches
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp water

Here’s the method:

For the peach sauce

1. Peel the peaches and cut them into small pieces.
2. Place all the ingredients in a mixer and mix to form a thick sauce.
3. Refrigerate and use.
4. You can also prepare the sauce in advance and store the sauce in an airtight container and deep freeze it. Defrost when required.

For the Camembert cheese

1. Place the Camembert cheese on a microwavable dish.
2. Bake in a microwave oven for ½ minute or till the cheese becomes soft.

For the sugar almond topping

1. Heat the brown sugar in a non-stick frying pan and add 1 tsp of water.
2. Add the chopped almonds and honey, sauté for 5 to 10 seconds and

remove from the gas.

Main Course

Pesto Pizza with Basil, Tomato and Cheese

An interesting variation of pizza should be tried by everybody! It can be consumed as a snack, main course or midday meal. 

Preparation time – 30 minutes | Cooking time – 10 minutes | Serves – 4 

Ingredients you’ll need:

• 2 pizza bases readymade approximately 7 inches in diameter.
• 4 tbsp pesto sauce 
• 1 chopped tomato
• 2 tsp chopped basil leaves 
• 4 tbsp grated mozzarella cheese

Here’s the method:

1.Spread the pesto sauce on each pizza base. 

2.Top with chopped tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese. 

3.Bake in a preheated oven for 5 to 7 minutes at 392° F (200°C) till well done. 

4.Slice with a pizza cutter and serve hot. 

Dessert

Chocolate Panipuri Dessert

An innovative and unusual dessert!

Preparation time – 5 minutes | Cooking time – 10 minutes | Refrigeration time – 6 hoursb | Serves – 15 pieces

Ingredients you’ll need:

• 15 pani puris
• 150 grams cooking chocolate
• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup walnuts
• 2 tsp brown sugar

Here’s the method:

For the milk

1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler.
2. Roll each puri in the melted chocolate till the puri is covered in chocolate.
3. Place the puris on butter paper so that they do not stick and put them in the fridge to set for 6 hours.
4. You can also store the puris in the refrigerator in an airtight container and use it when needed.
5. Do not deep freeze.

For the walnuts

1. Break the walnuts into pieces.
2. Heat the brown sugar in a non-stick frying pan, add 1 tsp of water and cook the walnuts for 1 to 2 minutes on a slow flame.

To serve

1. Make a hole in the puris.
2. Place approximately 2 tsp of ice cream in each puri and sprinkle walnuts on top.
3. Serve immediately.

Options

1. Instead of walnuts you can use strawberries and mangoes when in season.
2. Instead of vanilla ice cream you can use chocolate ice cream.

So, what are you waiting for? Get together with your family and prepare this grand three-course meal.