Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna is a chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker and host of the TV show "MasterChef India." He is the author of several cookbooks, including Flavors First: An Indian Chef's Culinary Journey. He is the founder of Cooking for Life and SAKIV organizations, which host events in support of relief efforts and awareness issues. Khanna has received several awards, including the Access to Freedom Award from SATH and The Shining Star Award from Just One Break, Inc. The documentary series "Holy Kitchens" was based on his journey to discover the spiritual foods that create shared identity.
Recipes and Stories by Vikas Khanna
Roasted Peaches with Brown Sugar
Roasting is a great cooking technique and makes fruits tender while intensifying the sweetness. In addition, the pieces here are glazed with a spicy-sweet flavor from the cayenne and sugar. The layer of creamy annatto-infused yogurt is a great complement to the peaches.Slow Cooked Yams with Apples
This brings back memories of the festive family tables where I cooked these in large quantities. You can make this dish hot by adding chili flakes or powder, imparting a beautiful yet contrasting flavor of pungency, combined with the sweetness of yams and apple. Sweet potatoes are commonly used in place of yams, as they are more easily available and similar in taste and texture. Yams should be thoroughly scrubbed before cooking.Pumpkin Biryani with Pistachios
A quick and easy biryani recipe made with quinoa. This healthy gluten-free cereal cooks fast and has a chewy yet fluffy texture. It is a good substitute for rice or even couscous. It is important to rinse the quinoa very well before cooking to remove the natural coating, which has a slightly bitter taste.Crunchy Snap Peas and Pearl Onions
Sweet, crunchy snap peas get an Asian burst of flavor when sauteed with soy sauce and scallions and a nice zesty kick from the red chili flakes. I love the sweet mild flavor of whole red pearl onions. Their small size and color complements the bright-green fresh snap peas and adds to the presentational appeal of the dish. I always add snap peas toward the end of the cooking process to help them retain their crunchiness.Beet and Yogurt Soup
A great comforting winter soup, especially when there is a surplus of root vegetables. The potatoes add a very nice creamy texture and thickness while the earthy flavor and vibrant ruby red color come from the beets. Garnishing with yogurt swirls adds to the presentation.Honey and Sesame Comfort Bread
Gram or chickpea flour or besan has a warm nutty flavor, and is high in protein and gluten free. It is combined with whole wheat flour that binds the dough together and is also a nutritious grain, thus making this bread a tasty and healthy alternative. Toasted sesame seeds add a nice delicate crunch along with the subtle sweetness of honey brushed onto the fresh warm breads, right before serving.Try chutney with fried chicken, dumplings, noodles or even pizza
Chef Vikas Khanna explains how chutneys are made and used in India.Cilantro Chutney
Ingredients