New Delhi: As India celebrates its 74th Independence Day on Saturday, 15th of August, the celebrations this year are very unique and different from what we have seen so far. While the general public has not been invited for the celebrations at the Red Fort, celebrations at personal levels have also been altered to fit the guidelines of social distancing, and stay at home, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As people try to cope with the effects of the pandemic, organising a virtual potluck where people can show their creativity sounds like a perfect plan during these testing times. If you are organising one such potluck with your family, or office colleagues, or just feel celebratory and want to cook something that looks and tastes great, here are 2 recipes shared by Ms Babita Kejriwal, an expert at Momspresso, that can help. 

The Baked Trio 

Top Layer
Ingredients:

• 1½ cups boiled spaghetti
• 3 large tomatoes
• 1 onion 
• 3 cloves garlic 
• a pinch of ajwain or 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar 
• 1 tablespoon oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Method:

• Heat the oil and fry the onion for 2 minutes.
• Add the garlic and fry again for a few seconds.
• Add the tomatoes, ajwain, chilli powder, sugar and salt and cook until soft.
• Blend in a mixer, do not strain. Check the consistency, if it’s thick, add a little water.
• Heat 1 tsp olive oil and ½ tsp butter. Sauté the garlic for a few minutes. 
• Toss spaghetti into it. Add salt and pepper to taste, ¼ tsp each of oregano and chilli flakes.     
• Mix with spaghetti and keep aside.

Middle Layer
Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 3 cups of milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ tsp sugar
• 2 cups of boiled rice.

Method:
White sauce (3 cups)

• Heat butter in a pan, sauté flour for a few minutes till fragrant. Switch off the gas. 
• Slowly add milk stirring continuously, then switch on gas on a low flame. 
• Keep mixing till a thin consistency white sauce is ready. Add salt and pepper to taste, add sugar. 
• Switch off the gas and keep the sauce aside.
• Reserve ½ cup white sauce each for the spinach layer and the top tomato sauce layer. 

Mix all the ingredients and keep aside.

Bottom Layer

Ingredients:

• 2 bunches spinach blanched
• 1 chopped onion
• 3 cloves chopped garlic
• ½ inch piece of ginger
• 1 green chilli
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ tsp sugar
• ½ tsp oil

Method:

• Blend spinach, ginger and green chilli in a mixie to a fine paste. Keep aside.
• Heat oil. Sauté chopped onion and garlic till translucent. 
• Add the spinach paste.  Cook for a few minutes. 
• Mix ½ cup reserved white sauce. Add salt, pepper and sugar. Mix well and keep aside. 

Assembling:
Ingredients:

4 tbsp grated cheese

Method:

• In a transparent baking dish arrange the spinach layer. Spread it uniformly with a spatula. 
• Over this spread the rice and white sauce layer. 
• Mix the reserved White Sauce in the Spaghetti & red-sauce layer. 
• Arrange this layer over the Middle Layer.
• Lastly, top with grated cheese. Bake in a hot oven at 180 degrees C for 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Tri-colour Pizza

Ingredients
For the pizza sauce

• 2 finely chopped onions
• 6 finely chopped garlic
• ½ finely chopped capsicum
• 4 finely chopped ripe red tomatoes
• 2 tbsp spicy tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp tomato sauce
• ¼ tsp crushed ajwain
• ½ tsp sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chilli flakes as per taste
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp butter

For garnish

• 5 tbsp chopped green capsicum
• 5 tbsp chopped tomato
• 3 tsp chopped black olives
• 5 tbsp grated cheese

Others:

2 Pizza bases

Method

• Heat olive oil and butter together so that butter does not burn. 
• Firstly, sauté garlic for a few seconds, then add onion and capsicum. Sauté for a few minutes.  
• Lastly, add tomatoes and cook them for around five minutes till soft and mushy. 
• Add all the seasonings and sauces. We can also mash lightly with a masher
• Check for taste and seasoning, keep aside.
• Take prepared sauce and spread on both pizza bases. Cover with cheese. 
• On one-third top side, arrange chopped tomato. 
• Then arrange chopped capsicum on the one-third bottom side. 
• In the centre, put the chopped black olives making a small circle. 
• Bake lightly in a hot oven for 10 minutes at 180 degrees C. Serve hot.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.