During my conversation with Nik Sharma, a topic about traditional Indian cuisine and family recipes came up. Nik had such a profound message to share when he encouraged creativity and experimenting in the kitchen as a way to take something traditional and make it your own. Check out Nik’s interview here.
My friend Nisha Vedi Pawar from LoveLaughMirch shared such a beautiful perspective as an immigrant and as a mom who is looking to make sure her daughter and family stay connected to who they are, their culture and heritage through traditional Indian cuisine as well. Nisha is so creative in the kitchen and her story of these ‘rainbow roits’ is so much in line with what Nik takes about with creativity in the kitchen that we just had to share it!
From Nisha
My parents immigrated to America when my brother and I were very young. For my mom, this was her second time migrating from India, the first time being after my parents got married and settled in London. Food was something that naturally kept us connected to Indian culture as we settled into our new home.
For as long as I can remember the kitchen was a place of love and childhood memories with lots of traditional Indian cuisine favorites. Whether it was peeking over the counter to see my grandmother lovingly stuff her potato flatbread (aloo parathas), humoring my dad change his kebab recipe for the hundredth time, learning how to make homemade yogurt (dahi) from my mom or learning a recipe via video chat as a newlywed, cooking has always played an integral role in my life.
After getting married, I found myself trying to recreate that home cooked appeal in my dishes while sharing my challenges. This love for cooking and preserving recipes passed on through generations inspired me to tell stories about the foods I love.
In an effort to make traditional nutritious food for my daughter I am often tinkering with recipes and ingredients. Last year my daughter was going through a unicorn and rainbow phase, she wanted everything to be as bright and colorful as possible. At dinner one day she asked me if I could make her rotis that were colorful, and that’s how one of the most popular recipes on my blog: Rainbow rotis was created. It ended up being a challenge for me on how I could take a traditional Indian cuisine staple and turn it into something fun.
Recipe for Nisha’s Rainbow Rotis ( Vegetable Flatbread)
- 3½ cup atta/whole wheat flour
- 3 cup vegetable purée of choice
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- ¾ tablespoon oil
- In a large bowl combine 1 cup of atta/flour, ¾ cup of vegetable purée, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon roasted cumin powder and knead for 7-8 minutes until a smooth dough is formed. You can add more purée if required. Add ¼ tablespoon oil, knead for another minute and place dough in another plate or large bowl.
- Repeat making dough with the next vegetable purée using the same measurements.
- Once your three doughs are formed, cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Once you’re ready to make your rotis, warm a tava/flat skillet on medium high heat.
- Take the leftover ½ cup of flour and spread in a plate to use while rolling out the roti.
- Take a gum ball size of each dough and combine to form a ball (see pictures of examples on how to combine).
- Flour both sides and roll out.
- Cook each roti on the pan slightly for a few minutes until you start to see some bubbles. Flip the roti and cook for another a minute or so . Now put the roti on the flame carefully, letting it puff up slowly. Flip it and allow it puff up on the other side as well.
- Remove from the flame and apply some ghee or butter, if desired.
- Serve warm with your favorite dish or plain yogurt.
{Credits: Words, Recipe and Photos by Nisha Vedi Pawar, website : LoveLaughMirch, instagram : @LoveLaughMirch }
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