CELEBRITY MASTER CHEF DR. KAVIRAJ KHIALANI
Going Green – Winter Special Recipes
Winter is one of the most cherished seasons of the year — a refreshing pause from the summer’s heat and humidity. The cool, crisp air, the soft touch of early morning fog, and the aroma of freshly roasted delicacies make this season special in every way. It’s also that wonderful time when we take out our cozy sweaters, shawls, and jackets, welcoming the chill with warmth and joy.
Across India, the winter season arrives differently — from the biting cold of the North to the pleasant nip in the South — but one thing remains constant: our love for comforting, nutritious food. During this time, nature blesses us with an abundance of green leafy vegetables, fresh herbs, and hearty produce that not only delight the palate but also help maintain body temperature, strengthen immunity, and promote overall well-being.
- Celebrity Master Chef Dr. Kaviraj Khialani shares his winter-special creations that blend health, flavour, and comfort
- From leafy greens to seasonal veggies, discover recipes that warm the soul and boost immunity naturally
- Celebrate the season of comfort food with nourishing dishes designed to keep you fit, fresh, and glowing all winter long
As a chef and nutritionist, I always believe winter is the perfect time to go green — not just in our surroundings but on our plates too. Incorporating ingredients like spinach, methi (fenugreek), mustard greens, broccoli, peas, beans, carrots, and beetroot adds colour, texture, and vitality to our meals.
Here are a few of my all-time favourite winter-special recipes, crafted to bring warmth, health, and happiness to your table. Each dish celebrates seasonal freshness and the joy of mindful eating. So roll up your sleeves, enjoy the winter vibes, and let your kitchen be filled with the fragrance of wholesome goodness!
HARA BHARA PULAO
Ingredients
Basmati rice- 1 and a half cup, washed and soaked for 15 mins.
Oil-2 tsp
Ghee-1 tsp
Bayleaf- 2 no
Peppercorns- 4-5 no
Cinnamon stick- 1 piece
Ginger garlic paste-1 tsp
Onions -1 cup sliced
Tomatoes-1/2 cup chopped
Green chilies-2 tsp chopped
Salt to taste
Fresh spinach-2 cups, blanched and chopped
Fresh methi leaves- 1 cup, cut
Fresh coriander leaves- 2-3 tbsp. chopped
Green peas-1 cup boiled
Cashews-2-3 tbsp. fried
Raisins- 2-3 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Red chili powder1/2 tsp
Water- as needed
Green capsicum- ½ cup cut
Garam masala powder-1/4 tsp
To serve with:
Papad/pickle/raita/ chaas- as desired
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed.
- Clean, wash and soak the rice.
- Meantime start with the cutting chopping of veggies, greens and then start with the recipe.
- To start cooking, heat oil and ghee in a pan add in the whole spices and then the sliced onions, saute them will until lightly browned and add little water gradually as needed.
- Now add in the ginger-garlic, chilies and add in the rice and saute it for a minute, add in all the greens and salt, powdered spices and give it all a nice mix, add tomatoes, double the amount of water as compared to the rice.
- Bring to a boil, simmer and cook until the rice is done and liquid is well absorbed, rice is moist and well risen. Turn off the flame, add fried nuts on top and serve the pulao with curd, raita, chaas, papad etc.
HARIYALI EGG MASALA
Ingredients
oil-2 tsp
ghee-1 tsp
hing-1/4 tsp
cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
ginger-1 tsp chopped
garlic-1 tsp chopped
red chilies-1-2 slit
onion-1/2 cup chopped
tomato-1/2 cup chopped
fresh mint-1/2 cup
fresh coriander-1/2 cup
fresh methi-1/2 cup
fresh spinach-1 cup blanched and chopped
salt to taste
red chili powder-1/2 tsp
coriander powder-2 tsp
turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
water as needed
boiled eggs- 4-5 no cut 1 x 2
curd-2-3 tsp
fresh cream-2-3 tsp
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed.
- Boil the eggs, shell them, cut 1 x 2 and keep aside.
- To start cooking, heat oil and ghee in a pan, add in hing, cumin seeds, red chilies, ginger-garlic- chilies and saute for a few seconds, add in the onions, saute for a few seconds, add in tomato, salt and all powdered spices, little water and bhunao.
- Once the masala cooks, little oil leaves from the sides, add in the greens, curd, cream and mix well, simmer and cook for 3-4 mins add little water as needed and finally get the masala cooking in around 5-6 mins.
- Turn off the flame and add in the boiled cut egg pieces, dish it out and garnish as desired with ginger juliennes or so and serve hot, enjoy with phulkas, buttered pao etc.
MACHLI KHUSHNUMA
Ingredients
For the green masala
Fresh coriander- 3-4 cups cleaned
Garlic-4-5 cloves, cut
Tomatoes- 3-4 no cut
Water-1/2 cup
Ginger-1-inch piece cut
Green chilies- 2-3 tsp cut
To cook the masala
Oil-2 tsp
Ghee-1 tsp
Salt to taste
Water-1/2 cup
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Red chili powder – ½ tsp
Options for fish/ other varieties:
Boneless chunky fillets of fish can be used here as per choice.
Paneer cubes can be added too
Chicken cuts can also be used
To serve it with:
Hot phulkas /rotis/ parathas etc.
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the green masala made with coriander in this case for the fish recipe.
- Choose the fish and clean, wash, cut into thick chunky fillets or pieces so they don’t break a lot during cooking.
- To start the recipe, heat oil and ghee in a pan add in the green masala paste, all powdered spices, salt to taste and little water and bring to a little boil.
- Simmer and cook the masala for 2-3 mins, now add in the fish pieces into the masala and simmer, cover and cook the fish for 3-4 mins on each side and then check for done ness and garnish with fresh ginger juliennes etc
METHI AUR PALAK WALE ALOO
Ingredients
Oil- 2 tsp
Ghee-1 tsp
For the spice mix
Black cardamom-2 no
Peppercorns- 4-5 no
Cinnamon-1/2-inch piece
Green cardamom-2-3 no
Mace-1 small piece
Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
Red chilies- 2-3 no
Dry roast for 2-3 min, cool and grind to powder
To cook the masala
Fresh methi-1 cup roughly cut
Fresh coriander- 1 cup cut
Spinach- 1 cup blanched, chopped
Water-1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Hing-1/4 tsp
Dry red chilies-1-2
Tomatoes-1/2 cup chopped,
Ginger-garlic paste-1 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Red chilli powder-1/2 tsp
Cumin powder-1/2 tsp
For the choice of veggies
Peeled and Cubed Potatoes/ mushrooms/ Babycorn/ sweet potato/ carrots etc
To garnish
Fresh ginger juliennes
Fried red chili
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed
- All the choice of greens to be kept ready, cleaning and washing to be kept an eye on to ensure proper hygiene.
- Heat oil and ghee in a pan, add in the hing, red chilies, cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, chilies and saute all of it well.
- Add in the greens, tomato and salt to taste, powdered spices and bhunao for a couple of minutes, add a little water and add in potatoes, cover and simmer for 20 mins until done. Serve hot with rotis/ phulkas/ naans etc.
SAAGWALA SAUNFIYA MURGH
Ingredients
Chicken curry cuts- 750 gms
Oil- 2 tsp
Ghee- 2 tsp
Bay leaf- 2 no
Peppercorns- 5-6 no
Onions- 1 cup paste
Garlic -1 tsp chopped
Ginger- 1 tsp chopped
Green chilies- 1 tsp chopped
Salt to taste
Coriander powder-1 and a half tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Cumin powder-1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder-1/2 tsp
Tomato chopped-1/2 cup
Potatoes- ½ cup cubes
Fresh methi-1 cup
Fresh coriander leaves- 1 cup
Fresh spinach leaves- 1 cup
Water as needed
Ginger juliennes-2 tsp for garnish
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the chicken in green masala gravy.
- Clean and wash the chicken pieces, apply little oil, salt and turmeric powder and mix, keep in the fridge for 20 mins.
- To start with the cooking process, heat oil and ghee in a pan and add in the ginger- garlic- chilies, some whole spices as well like bay leaf and peppercorns.
- Add in the onion paste, saute it for a few minutes, add in salt and little water as needed, cook it until a light brown shade is achieved.
- Add in tomatoes, all powdered spices and bhunao the masala for a few minutes, add in the chicken pieces and saute for 2-3 mins. add in the potatoes, paste of all the three greens and little water and simmer, cook until chicken is well cooked.
- Serve the curry as desired with jeera rice or with rotis, garnish with fresh ginger juliennes and enjoy the chicken recipe.
CHHOLE KI CHAHAT
Ingredients
Oil-2 tsp
Ghee-2 tsp
Boiled kabuli chana- 1 and a half cup
Boiled potato cubes-1 cup
To grind all to a paste
Ginger-1 tbsp.
Garlic- 4-5 cloves
Bay leaves- 2 no
Pepper corns- 4-5 no
Cinnamon stick- 1 small piece
Green chilies- 2-3 no
Onions-1 cup sliced
Water-1/2 cup to grind all the above
For the cooking
Spinach-1 cup blanched, puree
Fresh mint-1/2 cup
Fresh coriander- 1 cup
Salt to taste
Chhole masala-1 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Cumin powder-1/2 tsp
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder-1/2 tsp
Curd- ½ cup thick, beaten up
Tomato puree-1/2 cup
Water-1/2 cup
Kasuri methi-1 tsp
Fried red chili- 2 no for garnish
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed above.
- Boil the chana and the potatoes, keep them all ready.
- Refer to the list of things to be combined into a mixer jar and ground to a paste using a little water.
- To start cooking, heat oil and ghee in a pan, add in the prepared paste of spices and onions, saute it to a nice light brown shade, add a little water gradually.
- Add in the tomato puree, salt and all the powdered spices, cook for a few minutes, add in little beaten up curds and then add the kasuri methi, the spinach puree, mint, coriander as well.
- Now add in the boiled chana and potatoes and mix well. add little water as per gravy requirements and simmer, cover and cook for 10-12 mins and serve hot garnished with fried red chili.
