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When Modi treated his guests to saatvik food
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to be quite a culinary charmer with his guests. And this time he charmed German chancellor Angela Merkel and other delegates from Germany, along with industrialist Sunil Mittal and business tycoon Azim Premji. Modi hosted a saatvik lunch at event in Bangalore as part of Make in India and Digital India initiatives. On a special request from the PM’s office, chef Kunal Kapur presented a culinary theatre of India with a focus on South Indian cuisine and saatvik food that is freshly cooked, vegetarian and prepared with naturally sourced ingredients. The menu consisted of items such as the welcome drink Sambharam —spiced buttermilk flavoured with lemongrass. The veg starters included Murungaelai Adai (drumstick leaf pancake) teamed with homemade pickle Mahali (a traditional Tamil Brahmin pickle made of roots), and Vazhapoo Vada (banana blossom fitters), served steaming hot with coconut chutney. The main course included Palkatti Pattani Masala (cottage cheese and green peas simmered in coconut and nut gravy) and Nilgiri Korma (seasonal veggies simmered in coriander and mint gravy).
“It was an honour to cook for the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. With the PM bringing India together through the Digital India campaign, the team also tried to bring the concept alive through a culinary fare,” says Kapur, who put together food from across the country at the same platform, tweaking the recipes slightly to suit Modi’s preference. “The focus was on home-cooked food using simple recipes to keep the lunch light, healthy and delectable,” he says.