Gaurav Anand, Executive Chef and Owner, Awadh
A Dish That’s Won Over My Sweetheart:
Kofta Dilnaaz. My wife’s tastes aren’t simple so this was the one dish I could whip up that I knew would please her. It’s complicated yet homey. The name is Kofta Dilnaaz (cheese dumplings in a really rich gravy) and “dil” in Hindi means “heart.” So this was food from my heart and it won her over—on the night I proposed to her! Koftas in one hand, her dog, and ring in the other. It was a winning combination!
A Must-Have Ingredient for a Home-Cooked Valentine’s Day Dinner:
Anything that is luxurious and romantic. And for me, especially when it comes to cooking Indian food, that ingredient is rosewater. It’s very flavorful and of course, who doesn’t want to smell roses on Valentine’s Day! Rosewater’s subtle flavor and aroma lightens up any dish. My favorite dish in which to incorporate rosewater is Biryani, as well as Gulab Jamun for dessert [dumplings made with thickened milk soaked in rosewater syrup].
Recommended Valentine’s Day Dish at Awadh:
I would recommend all the slow cooked dishes (prepared with the Awadhi region of India’s “dum pukht” technique) especially the Lagan Ki Raan (tender leg of lamb), Nali Ki Nihari (lamb shanks simmered in an aromatic stock), and Khaas Korma (chicken tikka with cashews and saffron gravy). They are a labor of love, as it takes a really long time to prepare these dishes. They actually remind me of relationships—you need to nurture them. They are also luxurious, smooth, and were the meals of the nawabs (kings), which is how you should make your significant other feel on Valentine’s Day—like royalty!
