Millennials prefer quick-to-make and cost-effective food: Chef Vikas Khanna

An exciting new web-series with Michelin Starred Chef Vikas Khanna started on Wednesday. The new show, sponsored by Quaker India, titled ‘Kitchen, Khanna & Konversations’, will have Chef Vikas Khanna cooking up a storm with rising Bollywood star Nushrat Bharucha, leading Tamil actor Vishnuu Vishal, and popular social media personalities Kusha Kapila and Dolly Singh.

Speaking on the video series Chef Vikas Khanna said, “Breakfast is an important part of the day for me. It decides how my day will shape-up. Shooting with Nushrat, Vishnuu, Kusha and Dolly was truly fun. It was interesting to know that the young generation is conscious of their health, but they are uncertain of ways to adopt nutrition in their rushed lives."

He also added, "I am happy that through the web-series with Quaker we will not only showcase the versatility of oats, but also show the youth how easy it can be to make their breakfast healthy, yet tasty. I am a big fan of oats and given that they are a rich source of protein, fibre and energy, a fistful of oats added to any dish can make it a perfect way to start the day.”

In conversation with this correspondent, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna shares insights into what ticks for millennial when it comes to food, benefits of a healthy diet and changing trends in eating habits.

What kind of food would you say millennials prefer?

According to me millennials with their given lifestyles, would prefer food which is quick-to-make, convenient and at the same time does not put pressure on their wallets (is cost effective).

Has the art of cooking changed over the years in terms of what is cooked and consumed?

Yes, the cooking as a practice is evolving every single day. The method in which a dish was cooked decades ago has surely changed over the course of years. We see a lot of influence in the art of cooking and it has truly reformed.

Are we losing authentic old recipes because of a sea-change in what is being consumed nowadays?

The authentic recipes will never lose their charm. While there are variety of dishes and recipes that are coming in or being generated by modifying recipes, the original ones still hold their importance. Eg: There are a lot of singers now but there will always be Lata ji, who will hold her place in the hearts of many.”

Why do you think is oats good?

Oats is a great source of protein and fiber. Quaker oats are my go-to choice. It is a super grain, also and often considered the powerhouse of nutrition which helps build the overall immunity of the body.

A lot of time youngsters do not want to eat oats, what can be an easy way to make them eat it? Have you come across such a youngster, what did you do?

Often people have the misconception that oats cannot be eaten as is, however, that is not the case. Oats can be added to anything from chicken curry to lamb curry to biryani to even pancakes. They can modify any batter to make the final dish a lot more nutritious. There are infinite forms in which oats can be consumed.

Five tips to make oats less boring

• Add it to a sauce – Not only does it provide great texture but also good consistency
• Add it to a soup – Quaker Oats powder can be added to soups to make it thicker
• Add it to a batter – Divide the batter; regular flour and oats. This depends on the proportion of gluten required to make the dish
• Roasted Oats – Roast the oats with nuts and drizzle with honey.