Om ji's Chole Bhature

Isha Chaudhry
Dreamer, Foodie, Blogger






Everyone has some special childhood memories. Mine is the chole bhature Sundays.Ever since I was 7 we eat Om ji's chole bhature once every month.

Located on Desh Bandhu Gupta road in Karol Bagh, then it was just a small corner where you had to take your own utensils to take the chole home.

Years later it is more successful, larger and flourished. It is no longer just a small shop on the corner.They have renovated and expanded, but the taste has never changed.It is still the same old amazingly and adequately spicy and delicious chole along with the perfectly made bhature, rich with butter to tease your taste buds and give you a sumptuous meal on a laid back Sunday. Also now you dont have to worry about taking some utensil because now they pack the food in airtight sealed containers. So whenever we are just too tired to cook something we just drive off to get our special. My special Sundays still go on and I love it.

So what's your chole bhature story? Share with us at info.zickpea@gmail.com

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Food and Yoga

While celebrating International Yoga Day, we bring to you some habits and food that would help nurture your body along with the Yoga asanas.

1. Self-Discipline- This principle is followed in every aspect of yoga and therefore in the eating involved too. Whatever you eat must be in moderation and nor in excess as to banish all the good benefits of Yoga.

2.    Sweet Fruits- Fruits which are naturally sweet aid a lot in increasing the metabolism of your body along with Yoga. These include apples, raisins, pears, kiwis, apricots.

3. Milk Products- As “satvic” foods are recommended for people practising Yoga; these include all the milk products from paneer to yoghurt.

4. Avoid onions and garlic- Satvic foods always involve food which lead to purification of body, mind and soul. Onions and garlic are said to be dark and dull and falls under the category of Tamasic foods.

 5. Anti-oxidants- Coffee and Tea leads to insomnia, nervousness, extra calories too. Therefore, limit its intake to maximum 2 cups a day. You can also opt for Herbal tea or Green tea.

6. Spices and Alcohol- Low spice content is recommended. Alcohol is considered to be a “nutrient-thief” and also weakens an individual mentally and physically.

7.  Plant-Based Oils- this include-Olive, Safflower, Sesame, Sunflower oil.

These practices and choice of food-eating might not work overnight. However, if you follow it for a considerable period of time along with Yoga, it is sure to instil purity in your lifestyle.

How far have you gone to change your lifestyle with yoga?

Share with us your before and after story at info.zickpea@gmail.com

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10 MINUTES FOOD FOR SCHOLARS

Hardik Mahi
Writer, Foodie, Blogger







Well most of those who go through this website are students I suppose.

So here is something really helpful for those who immerse themselves in books (not because they want to but because they have to :p) and can’t spare time to cook when they really want something delicious to eat ( pizza is not good for health dude. Don’t order it :p ) and let’s not say anything about maggi

(2 minutes silence) .

You cannot understand the importance of mid-night food or can-be-cooked-in-10-minutes-still-yummy  food unless you’re a student.

Thus I would like to bring you some really easy-to-make and tasty-as-hell food to cook in less than 15 minutes.

1. BREAD VEG ROLLS

Sounds yummy ? Well it tastes yummier. It’s nothing but the bread browned to be crunchy and stuffed with vegetables and rolled and served. Any left-over vegetables your mother cooked last night and keeps on scolding for not eating it can be enjoyed with such a delightful savour.

2.   PANEER SALAD

Just some chopped pieces of paneer mixed with chopped tomatoes, peas, cabbage, mushrooms , olives, kiwi or anything you’re having in fridge. That’s it. 

3.   BHEL PURI

Put that bowl of aaloo bhujia down and add on some great spices and savours . To simple Aloo bhujia add some puffed rice( in case you don’t have that, only aloo bhujia can also help watering your mouth). Chopped veggies, coriander, and lots and lots of Chaat masala and spices (if you have a spicy craving and if you don’t, still add lots of spices, you’ll love it :D ). And you’re done.

4.   OMELETTE  TOAST

I was just cooking some omelette and my little sisy just slipped a bread slice into the pan :p . And it turned out to be the most aromatic and delicious thing ever :p

5.   NUTELLA SANDWICH

Hey sweet tooth people ! There’s something for you. T’s the easiest the tastiest and the chocoliest. Go get a nutella nad do it !!

6.   BANANA CHAAT

Chopped bananas in a bowl covered with coriander and chaat masala and lemon juice. That’s it. Ready to eat. 

share with us your 10 minute recipes at- info.zickpea@gmail.com

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FoodZoned!

Yash Ujjwal
Writer, Foodie, Blogger






You were a simple kid who just liked to eat your lunch in silence, savouring the taste of every bite.You did not think ill of anyone, neither did you care about who is eating what. You were content with your own share of pie, never complaining.

All was going well until you met the food thugs.These are mean and nasty people wearing veils of friendship waiting to rob you of your food.You would not even realize you've met them.They carefully calculate their every move. They move around cafeterias carefully registering your names on their vicious minds.First, they will talk to you, listen to your problems, make you laugh. Slowly, you will start feeling as if they are your friends, that they care for you, that they like you for what you are and not for what you eat.But, before you even propose friendship to them and bam! you realize that you have been foodzoned! 

You realize how they are never around you when your not eating. You realize that the only place they hang out with you is the cafeteria and how hungry you have been feeling ever since you've met them.

You know that there is nothing you can do now because the food thugs know no shame. No matter how much you run away from them, they will find you and they will eat your lunch.

If you are one of the victims, its your time to fight back.You cannot let the atrocity against you continue to happen.You must take a stand and retaliate.

 As a wise fat old man once said

"You can love me, you can hate me,

But never ever dare to eat my roti"

Please share with us names of food thugs in your life, it will help us raise awareness.Let it not happen to others, what happened to you.

Peace.

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Paans!

Isha Chaudhry
Dreamer, Foodie, Blogger





Ever heard about Paans? What do you know about them? Can you associate them only to the roadside "bhaiyas"? Well I beg to differ!

Presenting before you an entirely different variety of paan.

Right infront of Khan Chacha in Block D of Connaught Place you will find a small stall of the paan wala, (larger than your the usual paan wala shops). It has all kinds of paans sans the areca nut(supari) and tobaco. The chuski paan, chocolate paan and the meetha paan are few of my favourites.

The chuski paan gives you the bliss off the chuski on a hot summer day with different flavors of blueberry, strawberry and chocolate. Along with that it gives you the "bhaiya" wali feeling of having a paan except that by the end of it you would be smiling (but not with betel smeared teeth).

This paan wala has a huge variety of paans to offer as per your liking and I am sure once you try it you would always want to come again. So the next time you go to CP try a paan and let me know about your experience.

P.S.  He might end up shoving the chuski paan into your mouth on his own to give you the "Brain-freeze" so beware, you have been notified.

What's your paan brain-freezing  story? Tell us at info.zickpea@gmail.com

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ARE YOU A FOODIE?

Yash Ujjwal
Writer, Foodie, Blogger

Does your mouth water at the first sight of delicious food? Do you believe that everything's fair when it comes to love, war and food? Does happiness mean good food to you?

The whole human race can be divided into two kinds of people, first kind- the foodies, second kind- everybody else. So, under which category do you fall in? 

Here is a short quiz that will help you realize how much of a foodie you are:

Let the game begin:

1. Do you think about what you will be having for lunch immediately after eating the breakfast?

2. When on vacation, the thing you care most about is what you'll be eating (rather than things like sightseeing etc.)?

3. On days when there are unlimited pizza offers or a 1+1, do you almost always find yourself at one of their stores or ordering from them?

4. Do you have at least one app related to food on your mobile phone right now?

5. Do you find the smallest of the reasons sufficient enough to go to your favourite restaurant and have a good meal?

6. Do you divide your day into 3 halves namely before breakfast, before lunch and before dinner?

7. Have you ever been appreciated by your friends in phrases like "kitna khayega?","khaadur","bas bhi kar ab"?

8. Do you find yourself unable to talk or concentrate while waiting for your food at a restaurant?

9. Are you always one of the first ones in your group to reach at a restaurant when meeting for a party?

10. Do you wait to eat till the time you are hungry or do you wait for time to move quickly so that you can eat?

11. Do you often ignore your boyfriend in front of food?

12. Is your favorite Joey dialogue from FRIENDS- “JOEY DOESN'T SHARE FOOD!!” ?

Reward yourself with a +1 in every question if you answered a "Yes", sum it up, that's the level of foodie you are.

If you scored below 5, I am really sorry to say but you come under the category of non-foodie people, but don't be disheartened, we will help you overcome, just keep reading and following Zickpea.

Mail us your score at – info.zickpea@gmail.com

Enough of gaming, let’s go back to eating. Until next time.

Hell Yeah!

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Food and Bollywood

Sakshi Singh

Senior editor, Foodie, Blogger


  

For any girl living in India, Bollywood is a canvas on which we paint (read: anticipate) our lives. For any food lover, food on screen is watering mouth off-screen. When food and Bollywood amalgamate, I can’t say a no. 

Some of the favorites are:

1. Stanley Ka Dabba

One reason why I found it so touching is Amol Gupte’s bright concept of bringing in food and child labour problem together. The fat kid’s lunch box was a treat to watch. It has truly displayed the sense of affection and sensitivity towards food when Stanley describes his dabba food recipes towards the end. Sukhwinder Singh’s song “Bann raha hai Dabba” is a true ode to all the mothers out there who have prepared lunchboxes and to those who continue to do so. Take a bow.

2. The Lunchbox

Whenever there is a movie that makes you speak low about Indian cinema, next is a movie which boggles your mind immediately.  The Lunchbox was one such for me. I Food building bridges between two strangers via the Mumbai dabbawalas and eventually leading to love and escape. Splendid work.

3. Garam Masala 

Most of you would wonder that there was no such food content in this movie, but the number of times Paresh Rawal has to throw the amazing food dishes that he named, in the dustbin, my heart pained. 

4. Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana

Village, culinary family, discovering age-old chicken recipe, dhaba reviving, fun-loving and ever-so-enthusiastic Punjabis. What’s not to love?

5. English Vinglish

Sridevi as “Laddoo Entrepreneur”, perfect mumma, Manhattan coffee and sandwiches. And the whole shaadi planning going on amidst. Full-on Bollywood.

6. Ramji Londonwaley

Typical Bihari setup starting with the wedding of a halwayi’s sister and then moving onto conquering the whole food stats of London being the same Indian at heart. Paper Dosa, Gajar halwa for Diabetes patient, amazing fish and the whole shaadi food, Madhavan did it like a boss!

7. Bawarchi

Enigmatic Rajesh Khanna chopping vegetables faster than a machine, eveready with his gharelu nuskas. The movie was one of its kinds in the 70s.

8. Break Ke Baad

Modern era cheesy guy Imran Khan carrying on with the movie theater business to maintain father’s legacy getting paranoid about his break-up , moves to Australia in order to repair relationship and discovers the chef in himself. The smiley sandwiches, rolls business, cooking tandoori chicken. Who is up for a chef boyfriend?

9. Salaam Namaste

The hot and spicy chef Saif Ali Khan preaching the difference between a wife and a mistress to perfect a dish, what swag!

Did I miss something? You are most welcome to add at – info.zickpea@gmail.com

Food is God.
Eating is worshiping.
Movies are dear.
Poetry is tough.

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Mughlai Paratha - A Royal Feast

Sakshi Singh

Senior editor, Foodie, Blogger

  

A flatbread, a roti or a paratha, whatever you call it, it surely is the main requirement with every kind of Indian dish. A dish might have a taste of its own, but a paratha complements it, completes it. I don't have to even give details of what chemistry a paratha shares with your favorite dish. It's the best example of a supporting role, butwhen you talk of a Mughlai Paratha, definitions change, beacause its a dish in its own. All you do is order one, mix it up with a chutney and sit back and enjoy! Read on as I share my experience with this super tasty and exclusive dish and my love for it.

Just to tell you there is not much difference between the Mughlai and Awadhi cuisines only that Awadhi is a little influenced from Mughlai and follows the slow cooking (dum-cooked) as profoundly said. In Lucknow, you can always find Awadhi cuisine and very rarely you find a place which serves authentic Mughlai. Awadhi kebabs are cooked on a tawa while Mughals preferred their kebabs grilled.

This is what I have heard a lot about Mughlai cuisine but never got a chance until now to taste it.

So It was Saturday evening and we were at NJP (Not Just Paranthas) with family for dinner. 4 out of 7 were non-vegetarians and so randomly ordered a Mughlai Paratha, Chicken-Pizza Paratha, Chicken-do-pyaza naan and Kadhai Chicken to go with it.

The golden brown crisp of eggs over it made it tender to eat. You put it in your plate, have a bite and in not more than 2 minutes you would be one mughlai down. The square-shaped portions are actually rolled over a circular roti in order to keep the filling of minced meat, eggs and spices intact and to be cooked evenly. Inside the wraps dry kebabs with a tangy flavour are filled that are effortless to be chewed. Unlike the Awadhi kebabs that melt in your mouth instantly, Mughlai kebabs increase the retention time I feel. Mughals used to eat “like a boss” and so their dishes involve a rich blend of nuts and spices.

The cheesy one was of course the Pizza Paratha, but trust me, I have had dreams about the Mughlai Paratha ever since Saturday.

Looking at the photos, you do get the idea of how delicious it can be. So go have it asap, coz life is too short and this Mughlai Paranthas are too awesome to miss out on.

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8 Foods to Boost Your Sex Life

The connection between food and sex encompasses so much more than enjoyment and pleasure. Eating healthy foods rich in protein and vitamins are great for boosting your libido and studies show that having sex more often is beneficial to your health. Find out which foods, from healthy snacks to tasty treats, can help kick start your sex life.

Akshit Khandelwal

Dreamer, Photographer, Swaggy

Disclaimer- These have tried and tested by experts. Please DO try these at home!

1.Dark Chocolate

Fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants should be a part of your daily diet already because they can provide many health benefits. Luckily, delicious dark chocolate is chock-full of antioxidants so it’s a yummy way to get more of it. Antioxidants have been linked to reducing the signs of aging, reducing the risk for cervical cancer in women and enhancing sexual pleasure. With all those benefits and a devilishly good taste, this item shouldn’t have any trouble making its way into your grocery cart.

2.Strawberries

The color red is known to help stoke the fire: A 2008 study found that men find women sexier if they are wearing red, as opposed to cool colors such as blue or green. Strawberries are also an excellent source of folic acid, a vitamin B that helps ward off birth defects in women and increase the sperm count in men.

Special effect: try 1 with 2 and your partner will be all in for you. 

3. Oysters

The aphrodisiac properties of oysters have been touted for years. What you may have believed to be a myth may actually have validity. A boost in hormone production translates into heightened sexual desire in many cases. Oysters are also an excellent source of zinc, which aids blood flow to the genitals in both genders.

4.Garlic

High in an ingredient called Alicia, garlic can help stimulate circulation and blood flow to sexual organs in both men and women. Although, you should try to eat this in moderation because the intense smell of garlic on someone’s breath, may kill the mood. You can also opt for garlic pills if you want to bypass the mood-killing odor altogether.

5.Spinach

Leafy green vegetables, like spinach, contain lots of folic acid, which can help increase fertility and boost your libido. So now we know why our favorite cartoon character, Popeye would have it so often.

6.Kiwi

Vitamin C is known to help increase both libido and fertility. Kiwi, a deliciously exotic fruit, is loaded with Vitamin C so it’s a great item to toss in your grocery cart every week, along with other citrus fruits, like oranges, which are rich in the vitamin, as well.

7.Nuts

These tasty nuts contain selenium, a nutrient we already know can cut the risk of prostate cancer in men. In addition, selenium stimulates the production of healthy ova and sperm.

8. Red Wine

Obviously! The greatest ingredient of romance in every possible situation. A glass of red wine may help ladies get in mood. Research shows a glass or two of red wine helps in increasing the sexual desire and lubrication in women.

These are all facts that we found through my research on the net. Please don't come beating on me, if you any of this does not work for you.

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