Chetna Makan, a familiar face from "The Great British Bake Off" and a prolific cookbook author, has opened up about her favorite culinary finds and kitchen essentials. Makan, 48, shared insights into her preferred olive oil, bread, and cheese, highlighting specific brands and local establishments.
Makan expressed her enjoyment of Good Phats olive oil, describing it as an extra virgin oil that is not heavy, suitable for both frying eggs and use in salads. For bread, she favors sourdough from Staple, a local bakery in Broadstairs, praising its consistent quality, lightness, and airy texture.
Her preferred cheese is paneer, particularly the All The Aunties brand, which she finds soft and crumbly, unlike some supermarket varieties. She also noted the availability of flavored paneer from this brand. For a sophisticated drink with a view, Makan recommends Little Swift in Margate for its margaritas and sunset views.
Makan also shared her secret to a flavorful condiment: a homemade chili garlic chutney, detailed in her book "Easy Indian Vegetarian." The chutney features dried red chilies, garlic, jaggery or brown sugar, and tamarind paste. When discussing fish and chips, she pointed to Peter’s Fish Factory in Margate as a top choice, known for its crispy batter and fresh fish.
She revealed a unique tip for enhancing chicken tikka marinade: adding cheddar cheese alongside yogurt and spices. Makan also admitted to having saffron from Diaspora Spice Co. in her pantry, a costly ingredient she reserves for special dishes. For Sunday roasts, she mentioned The Pickled Herring in Broadstairs for its quality potatoes and Yorkshire puddings.
Makan's favorite restaurant for dosa outside of India is Anandha Bhavan in Wembley, where she has dined twice for its authentic South Indian cuisine. For her morning coffee, she opts for oat cappuccinos at Forts Cafe in Broadstairs or uses Rave coffee blends at home.
Her kitchen staples include butter, paneer, and yogurt, which she uses to prepare a variety of sweet and savory dishes. When it comes to potatoes, her preference is for those cooked with cumin, salt, chili, and turmeric, versatile enough to accompany rice, dhal, roti, or naan, and suitable as a sandwich filling. For affordable and generous portions, Palms Pizzeria in Margate offers New York-style pizza.
Makan identified Rajasthan, India, as a holiday destination she would revisit solely for its food, praising its hearty, flavorful cuisine, particularly a dish called gatte ki sabji. Her latest cookbook, "5 Ingredient Indian," is published by Hamlyn.