Instant India
Irene Sax reports.
| More 'Front Burner' articles in this issue |
| Voluntourists say hi, hi birdie |
| Food, Eatalian-style |
| Yellowfin seviche on rye |
| Rhône rising |
| Virtual dining |
| A chef weighs Elements |
| Sad good-bye |
New York City—It's not easy to create a dish that puts a burst of pleasure in the mouth but not an ounce on the hips. If anyone knows how, it's Stephen Betti, chef at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts, the luxurious spa where menus display not prices, but calories, with every dish.
Among Betti's resources are a line of organic Indian spice blends made by Arora Creations. "They're a lot of fun and add flavor without fat or calories," he says. "They opened doors for us, helping us do some really robust and authentic vegetable items."
Arora Creations is the first USDA—certified Organic Indian Grocery line in the United States, according to its 32 year old founder, Dhiraj Arora. Not only are his spice blends organic, but they contain no gluten, MSG, or sugar, and are vegetarian.
What they do contain are classic Indian spice mixtures packaged in envelopes that are printed with recipes for dishes like chicken tandoori, chicken tikka masala, curried cauliflower and greens, Goan fish, and Punjabi chickpeas. With only the basic ingredient like chicken or fish, a few staples such as olive oil and onions, and the seasoning mix, a cook can produce authentic Indian dishes without having to gather the often-daunting list of ingredients asked for in most Indian recipes.
"Who wants to take 15 minutes assembling 20 spices?" asked Arora, describing how the idea came to him when he was an undergraduate at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. An American born teen of North Indian ancestry, he and his roommates got tired of college meals and decided to cook for themselves. But when they tried, the results were bland and uninteresting.
Enter Mom. Arora called his mother in New Jersey and asked her to send him some of her recipes and the spices that went into them. Presto! The roommates found that, when they used Mom's "secret dust," they could cook food that was both healthy and delicious.
It took time for him to locate organic sources and facilities and to get the USDA certification. But he knew he had a winner at his very first trade show when the product attracted attention from people interested in healthy eating. The Arora packets are now sold in stores from Alabama to Wisconsin and can be bought in bulk through the Web site www.aroracreations.com.
