Fast 15 with Chef & Author Nandita Iyer

You already know and love Dr. Nandita Iyer for her healthy vegetarian recipes and penchant for fragrant herbs. Now you can have 100 of her most fuss-free recipes at hand with ‘The Everyday Healthy Vegetarian: Delicious Meals from the Indian Kitchen’, her very first book available for purchase from January 10, 2018.

In the book, Nandita will also share tips on starting your own roof garden and cooking diabetic-friendly meals. Interestingly, there was a time when she just about knew how to make tea. So if that’s how inexperienced you are, you know there’s hope.

We got chatting with the Bangalorean food blogger on her culinary favourites:

Best food/drink to start the day with?

​Warm water with a lemon quarter squeezed in​

One thing you must always have in your fridge?

​Coriander. I cannot make a single Indian dish without a generous garnish of coriander. ​

Three favourite spices?

​Cumin, green cardamom ​and saffron (of course!)

Favourite cuisine?

​Mediterranean​

Most memorable meal?

​I got back home after a week of hectic travel and eating out and my husband had made a big pot of vegetable stew and rice. He is a very occasional cook. This one was delicious and it hit the spot.

Favourite restaurant/cafe/bar?

​Toscano's for Italian food with my family. We eat there regularly and have never had one bad dish. Consistently good food.

Would you ever give up vegetarianism?

​It's not about giving up, but if I were stranded on an island with no vegetarian food, then may be :)​

Favourite cook?

​I first saw Dominique Crenn in Chef's Table and fell head over heels in love.

First dish a novice should try?

​A basic Dal Fry​

Three fruits/veggies one can easily grow at home?

​Curry leaf, tomato and lemon grass​

The dish you eat most often?

​I think there would be a tie between Dosa and Poha. I can eat breakfast for any meal of the day.

One dish you'd never try?

​Make it fruit. Durian. ​

Fastest vegetarian breakfast?

​This would be overnight oats​

Coffee or tea?

Tea​

Favourite drink?

​A peaty single malt​

You can pre-order the book here.