I love cooking festive meals which include both sweet and savoury dishes: Pranitha Subhash

Pranitha Subhash, an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi films is known for her impeccable screen presence, who did her debut as an actress in the 2010 Kannada film, Porki and also starred in the critically acclaimed film Bheema Theeradalli. The actress is a big-time foodie and often shares her love for different cuisines on her official Instagram account which has 5.8 million followers. She closely connects with traditional Indian food and says, “I believe that no festival is complete without traditional dishes, and for me, my favourite festival Ugadi has always meant - feasting on what seemed like an unlimited amount of Obbattu (also known as ‘puran poli’) ever since I was a child.” In a detailed conversation with Times food, Pranitha talks about her love for food, maa ke haath ka khaana, and the most memorable dining experience of her life.

How do you connect with food?
Food plays a vital role in everyone's lives as it serves not just as a source of nourishment but also as a means of social connection. People connect with food through shared cultural traditions, family recipes, and experiences with friends and loved ones. I believe that no festival is complete without traditional dishes, and for me, my favourite festival Ugadi has always meant - feasting on what seemed like an unlimited amount of Obbattu (also known as ‘puran poli’) ever since I was a child. When I was younger, I never gave a second thought to how much obbattu I used to eat! I try to make it healthy by adding some roasted and crushed almonds to the filling of the dish. Almonds are a great source of iron and play a significant role in building the immune system. As my daughter Arna grows up, I would love to teach her how to make Obbattu at home. I remember making it in different shapes at home when I was young, and it is a fond childhood memory.

What is ‘Maa keHaath ka Khaana’ for you? Tell us about that one dish your mother makes the best.
We all know ‘Maa ke hath Ka khaana’ is an emotion. For me, it is a lot more than just a meal. It is about how long I have to wait to dig into a dish cooked by my mother! The dish I love the most has to be Bisi Bele Bath and Pulao made by her. It is something I can eat throughout my life!

What is your daily food habit like?
I always try to follow a healthy and nutritious meal plan curated by my fitness instructor and nutritionist. I believe cheat meals are not necessarily bad and enjoying them in moderation can reduce overall cravings and help maintain a more balanced diet. I mostly wake up feeling hungry, so I snack on something easy to pack in the right nutrients. My go-to option is to eat a handful of almonds after I wake up every day as it’s a tradition passed down to me by my mother. Snacks which include almonds are good for increased satiety and aid in weight management. When I have dessert cravings, I go for dark chocolate-covered almonds or a strawberry milkshake with slivered almonds. However, I do fall for street delicacies sometimes when the shoot hours are long and tiring.

What is your favourite dessert?
My favourite dessert is almond-cherry kulfi and I can eat it any time of the day. It is a simple recipe that contains the goodness of almonds and cherries, making me less guilty of consuming dessert, especially during my shooting schedules.

What is your favourite cuisine? Tell us about one dish you like the most.
I am a big-time foodie and grew up eating ‘ghar ka khaana.’ I love all the South Indian dishes cooked by my mother, especially Hyderabadi biryani. I love street food and have a sweet tooth, so I binge on anything sweet when I have the option. Almond barfi is one of my favourite sweet dishes as almonds add a nutty and healthy ingredient to the sweetness. Besides this, my favourite cuisine is pan-Asian food, which includes classic Chinese rice/noodles and spicy Thai curries.

Do you like cooking? What do you love to cook the most?
I usually don’t cook regularly but ensure that I partake in the entire cooking process during festivals as festive food has a special place in my life. I believe it is something that is special to each household, and I love cooking festive meals which include both sweet and savoury dishes.

Tell us about one memorable dining experience till date.
My best dining experience was during my trip to Oman, in the mountains. We had an opportunity to devour delicious food, with a surreal view!
What is your favourite drink/beverage?
Coffee! My morning starts with a cup of americano and in the evening, I prefer steaming hot filter coffee.

What are the five things that are always there in your pantry?
One of the five things that you will always find in my pantry is of course almonds, owing to their numerous health benefits and being a natural source of 15 nutrients such as proteins, vitamin E, magnesium, protein, zinc etc. Besides this, my pantry also includes - jaggery, honey, makhana chia seeds, and lentils.

How do you take care of your skin?
With changing temperature throughout the year, our body is exposed to various kinds of weather conditions. We usually focus on the face and forget the 93% of the skin below our neck. To keep my skin protected and nourished, I start my day by eating a handful of almonds daily as they have numerous benefits for a healthy skin. Since childhood, my mother has been teaching me the benefits of consuming almonds everyday as they contain healthy fats, rich antioxidants, and vitamin E which are essential for the skin. Besides this, I stay clear of products that contain alcohol and fragrance. I instead prefer creams and oils with almond extract, especially for my night-time skincare regimen. Being in the entertainment industry for so long has taught me how to take care of my skin and to be conscious of the foods I eat and the products I use on my body for healthy skin.


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