Key Highlights
- Bina, a 74-year-old culinary expert, fuses Rajasthan and Kolkata flavors in her cherished Aloe Vera Curry, reflecting a lifetime of culinary passion.
- Inspired by family traditions, Bina's cooking journey emphasizes the importance of maximizing flavors through unique techniques learned from in-laws and cooking channels.
- Advocating for healthy choices, Bina encourages exploring millets and continental vegetarian options while continuing her mission to make traditional recipes accessible and enjoyable for all ages.
t 74 years old, Bina has a lifetime of culinary experience and wisdom to share. Originally from Rajasthan but raised in Kolkata, she brings flavors from across India into her cooking. Bina learned many of her recipes from her sister-in-law and elders while growing up. Now living in Mumbai, she continues to experiment in the kitchen.
One of Bina's favorite recipes to make is her Aloe vera curry. She remembers enjoying this medicinal curry as a young girl in Kolkata. The recipe was passed down from her elder brother and highlights the unique sweet and sour flavors of aloe vera. "It goes well with different types of paratha or rice," shares Bina. Her goal is to make traditional recipes accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages.
When asked who inspires her cooking, Bina cites the cooks who worked for her in-laws over the years. Although she wasn't very interested in cooking while studying, she was motivated to learn after getting married to impress her joint family. A tip she received from a cooking channel and sister both focuses on maximizing flavors - cooking onions with salt and simmering curries with water in the lid.
Looking to the future, Bina says "I would love to learn protein based non oily vegetarian dishes." For those just starting their culinary journey, she recommends exploring millets, healthy juices and ready-made continental vegetarian options to stay healthy. Bina's passion for passing on traditions and innovating in the kitchen continues to inspire new generations of home cooks.
Here’s Bina’s new and second recipe for all of us: Aloe Vera Curry
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Ingredients:
- Two thin leaves of Aloe Vera (thorns removed, cut into small pieces)
- Two teaspoons of methi seeds (soaked for 6 hours)
- Salt
- Turmeric
- Two teaspoons of oil
- Jeera (cumin seeds)
- 1 clove
- Two black pepper
- Fennel seeds
- Red chili powder
- Coriander seeds powder
- Half a teaspoon of dry mango powder
- Handful of resin kishmish (raisins)
- Two teaspoons of sugar or jaggery (optional)
- Cranberries (optional)
Method:
- Soak methi seeds in water for 6 hours. Boil the soaked methi seeds in a little water for about ten minutes until slightly soft. Avoid touching them by hand.
- Boil cut Aloe Vera in a small amount of water with salt and turmeric. Discard the water, reserving it for morning juice.
- Heat two teaspoons of oil and add jeera, 1 clove, two black pepper, fennel seeds, and a bit of red chili powder.
- Mix in the boiled methi seeds and Aloe Vera. Add coriander seeds powder and half a teaspoon of dry mango powder.
- Add a handful of resin kishmish (raisins) to the vegetable mixture and mix well.
- Optionally, add two teaspoons of sugar or jaggery according to taste. Let it cook for an additional two minutes.
- Optionally, add cranberries to enhance the flavor.
- Your dish is ready to be enjoyed with chapati or rice.
Bina's culinary journey reflects a lifetime of passion, drawing from her roots in Rajasthan and Kolkata to create unique recipes like her cherished Aloe Vera Curry, embodying the essence of tradition, innovation, and a commitment to sharing the joy of flavors across generations.
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