RELAXED ENTERTAINING
INDIAN INSPIRATION
Chetna Makan shares her family’s favourite Sunday spread, with street food and recipes from Indian festivals
photographs LOUISE HAGGER
Sunday meals are precious to me, as it’s the only day in the week we all get to sit together at the table and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch. I always try to make it special by cooking something that we’ll all love and enjoy. This alu puri meal is just one example – simple yet so special. Growing up, alu puri meant it was a special day, whether it be a festival, after pooja (prayers) or a special meal with my cousins.
Everyone would sit around the table and my mum would churn out the piping hot puris for everyone, sitting down to eat only after she had fed everyone else. I never understood why she insisted on making hot puris for us and not preparing them beforehand, but now I do. I make sure everyone gets a hot puri before I sit down at the table. The pure joy it gives me seeing my family break into that hot ball of dough, dip it into the alu and enjoy it, is more satisfying than words can explain.
Boondi raita, p94
Chetna Makan is a food writer and cookbook author who has just released her sixth book, Chetna’s Easy Baking: with a twist of spice (£20, Hamlyn). She was born and raised in Jabalpur, India and specialises in simple home cooking. @chetnamakan