Natasha Gandhi: "It's Time to Stop Confusing Veg Biryani with Pulao" | Exclusive

Popular food content creator and 'MasterChef' contestant Natasha Gandhi speaks to Jayveer Singh exclusively. In this delightful conversation, she addresses the most controversial question about veg biryani. She also shares her favorite food and memories from the cooking reality show.

Here are a few edited excerpts of this conversation;

What's your go-to comfort food?

A big bowl of rajma chawal (rajma should be thick and not watery) with sirka pyaaz and raita, made by my mom, no notes.

One cuisine you can't get enough of?

Malabar and Mangalorean: Thalassery biryani, kori roti, ghee roast, appams … it's soul food for me. The spice hits different, and the comfort is unmatched.

If you could eat just one food item for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Biryani. Hyderabadi, Lucknowi, Bengali, just keep them coming. Each one is a different love story.

The most underrated food item, in your opinion?

Besan chilla. High-protein, versatile, and criminally overlooked. It's the OG 5-minute saviour.

Sweet or savoury?

Savoury, unless it's a millet dessert I've made. Then both! Balance is key, especially when dessert is work.

A food rule you love to break.

That veg biryani is just pulao! Nope, it exists, it slaps, and it deserves respect. Let's not gatekeep good food, please.

What's your favourite street food?

Delhi-style gol gappa and papdi chaat, tangy, spicy, crunchy perfection. Even Lucknow chat has my heart. Or Hyderabad kebabs. Love them.

One food item you can't live without?

Coconut. It's in my chutneys, curries, and heart. I could write a love letter to it.

Local or international cuisine?

Local, there's spice, soul, and a story in every bite. Our food is our identity, one region at a time.

One unpopular opinion on any food item?

Anything with unnecessary food colouring: rainbow bagels, blue drinks, neon desserts… I just can't. Food should look like food, not stationery.

Describe the meal that makes you feel most accomplished.

The millet pasta I made on MasterChef. The dish that got me my apron and changed everything. That plate was a full-circle moment.

How do you balance indulgence and healthy eating?

By working out, getting in my cardio, and prioritising protein and fibre. Carbs get cut, not joy. Discipline doesn't mean dull food.

Which city has the best food?

I'm a Mumbai girl, but my heart says Bangalore. Those dosas? That filter coffee? Say no more. It's a foodie's playground. And also of my favorite team.

A quick tip for beginner food bloggers?

Tell stories, not just recipes. And please, create what you love, not what's trending. Authenticity ages better than virality.

An overrated food item?

Truffle oil on everything. It's taken over Bombay menus like a trend that forgot to end. Sometimes, less is more.