Chef Amrita Raichand says healthy cooking is essentially about intent and a little effortPerfect recipe

Manpriya Singh

For anyone who has seen a deluge of FMCG adverts, centered around the concept of families, mummies and children will instantly recognise the face of Amrita Raichand – the host of Mummy Ka Magic, celebrity chef, actor and, of course, the ‘lady seen in a lot many commercials’.

While the switch from a few forgettable mainstream movies and cameos to the very memorable cooking show may appear quite a jump, for her food has always figured in the scheme of things. Right from the days of her schooling, which happened at Sanawar, to her association with home science teacher along with whom she looked after a cafeteria. “And the fact that my mum has been a great cook. But becoming a chef was never a thought because I didn’t want to work in the hospitality industry. I came to Mumbai for college and that’s when my journey with showbiz started.”

Before she knew, she’d done over a hundred ads, a little TV, “But coming from a conservative family, films were never an agenda. It was only after my child was born that I took a two-year break, post which the cooking show Mummy Ka Magic happened,” she shares while in Chandigarh recently to launch a brand of oil.

Healthy, not difficult

In times when fast food is delivered even faster, how much of a challenge is healthy cooking? “In fact, it’s easier. Now with a variety of ingredients available and moreover, choices, both good or bad, have always been there. It’s about making them. I do a lot of pizzas and pastas, and they can be healthy too. I can turn junk into jewel,” she says highlighting how healthy cooking is essentially about intent and a little effort.

The term celebrity chef

It is a cluttered space out there, where celebrity is loosely defined and the term chef is a little exploited one. Which is why she says, “It’s very important to find your space. Mine is healthy cooking and children’s cooking.” Talking of which children’s cooking, her favourite dish while growing up was, “My mother used to make Queen’s pudding and that was one of my favourite desserts.” Personally speaking, “I like Japanese food and ironically that’s the only food I don’t know how to cook.” For somebody who grew up in a boarding school nearby, Chandigarh used to be second home. “I remember we used to do geris, visit Hot Millions. Every time I come here, I like to spend a little time at the Sukhna lake and other landmarks of the city… only this time I am rushing back,” she signs off.

manpriya@tribunemail.com