Cheesy Delights

Arya Babbar
The actor might have been part of jail, but while on its sets he was treated to Mcdonalds

I am
A hardcore non-vegetarian but since the past six months I have become a vegetarian because my friends have challenged me to live without non-vegetarian food.u00a0

I begin my day with

A glass of warm water with a pinch of lime. After that I go for my run. When I return, I have a big glass of milk or juice.

My breakfast is

Usually cornflakes with milk or oats porridge.



MY Lunch IS

I prefer carrying my lunch. I eat salad and sabzi or chicken and two rotis. I don't like to eat a lot when I am shooting.u00a0
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My evening snack is

A protein bar or fruits. My favourite fruit is mango, I also love bananas, apples and oranges.

My dinner is

I drink soup and eat one roti. If it's after 9 pm, I avoid eating food and settle for a brown bread sandwich.

In sweets i like

I can resist sweets till I see them. I am not particularly fond of them. I like motichur laddu, coconut laddus and modaks. I love gujiya, made by mom during Holi. I love Kit Kat, Twix, chocolates with biscuits and Snickers. I hate cheesecakes, I don't understand why sweet and sour have to go together.

My fitness regimen

I do my cardio for 45 minutes. I prefer running outside than on the treadmill. I do push-ups. I don't pick up weights but I do free hand exercise. I work out for about two hours. I like having a protein shake after I am done.u00a0



My Sunday lunch

The best Sunday lunches are the ones that my mom cooks. Be it anything from a paratha to just roti and chicken. Sometimes, when she is in a very good mood, she makes korma, biryani or steak.u00a0u00a0
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My favourite cook

My mom. No one can even come close to her.u00a0

I can cook

Biryani. Once I tried a recipe which I call buttery cheesy chicken. I can also make a few paneer dishes. I bake good cakes; my cakes have never gone bad.

My childhoodu00a0u00a0memory of food

I was very fond of gajar halwa as a kid. One day I came back from school and I asked my mom where the halwa was and she said it was in the fridge. I put my hand in the bowl and grabbed a big chunk of 'halwa'. My mom, who was standing behind me, told me to be careful because she had also kept pudina chutney in the fridge. And sure enough, I had stuffed my mouth with pudina chutney.u00a0u00a0
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My idea of a romanticu00a0u00a0meal

I would happy be in a place like a yacht or a terrace decorated withu00a0 scented candles and music playing in the background. I would let the lady order whatever she wants. I would totally avoid sizzlers because half the time you have to save yourself from the smoke.

On the sets of Jail

I ate a lot at McDonalds.u00a0

My favourite...

Cuisine: Punjabi and Mughlai

Spice: Jeerau00a0

Cooking appliance: Apron.
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Poison: I don't drink.

Favourite Restaurant

Bade Miya
Tulloch Road, Apollo Bunder, Behind Taj Mahal
Tel:u00a0 22848038
Arya says, "I am fond of going to places like Bade Miya. I love having roadside dosas. I would love to stand and gorge on bhel puri and sev puri. I really miss Bade Miya ever since I turned vegetarian.

A waiter, Munna, who has become my friend, always serves me. I am sure he is also missing me. In India when I had Japanese food it did not go down too well with me but when I had it at an Australian restaurant, I fell in love with it. There was this restaurant which had a live sushi bar. I enjoyed the live performances there."

Bade Miya that operates from a bylane in Colaba is a favourite joint of late-night party hoppers who want a quick bite.

Their roll are especially famous try their chicken tikka and paneer tikka rolls.
You might have to shout extra hard to get 'chotu's' attention though.

Favourite recipe: Buttery Cheesy Chicken

Ingredients

1 whole chicken boneless (cut into small pieces)
For the marinade
1 tbsp tandoori masala
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp clove powder
1 tsp cumin seed powder
3 tbspu00a0 yoghurt
Salt to taste
For the gravy
2 medium tomatoes (blended to a smooth paste)
2 medium onions (finely chopped)
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
3 tbsp cashewnuts (powdered)
2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp curds
50-100 gm butter or as required
1 tbsp cream
5-6 slices of any good cheese
Finely chopped coriander leaves (to garnish)

Method

Clean and wash the chicken pieces. Marinate the chicken in the marinade for one hour.

Lightly heat some butter and fry the chicken till well done.

Remove the chicken, drain and set aside.

In the remaining butter, fry the chopped onions till golden. Add the ginger-garlic paste and fry, sprinkling little water occasionally till the oil separates.

Add the cashew paste, chilli powder, tomato paste and cook for 10 minutes.

Add the curds, whipped cream and the chicken.

Mix well and while cooking take out one by one as many chicken pieces you desire and wrap them in a cheese slice and put them back to be cooked till done. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot with well toasted garlic bread with butter.u00a0