Daily Dietary Habits
Divya Dutta kicks off her day with a refreshing blend of hot water infused with fennel, cumin, and ajwain, a practice that sets a healthy tone. Her breakfast
philosophy emphasizes a substantial start, typically featuring options like poha, oats, or eggs, aligning with her belief in hearty morning meals. Lunches are kept balanced, often consisting of rice-based roti with a side of vegetables and lentils, as she avoids wheat and dairy due to lactose intolerance, focusing more on vegetable intake than carbohydrates. As the afternoon winds down, a cup of black coffee paired with a piece of fruit around 4 PM serves as her preferred evening snack, adhering to her principle of not consuming fruits post 6 PM. This structured approach to daily nutrition highlights her mindful eating habits and consideration for her body's needs throughout the day.
A Colorful Palate
Divya Dutta's dinner is a testament to her belief that a colorful plate signifies a healthy meal. She consciously incorporates a variety of vibrant vegetables into her evening repasts, often adding them to soups or pairing them with grains like millet rice. This visual appeal extends to her meals when she's feeling particularly hungry, where beetroot and greens are artistically combined with lentils and soup, creating a visually rich and nutritious spread. This practice stems from her understanding that a diverse array of colors in food often correlates with a broad spectrum of nutrients, making her meals both aesthetically pleasing and health-promoting. She actively seeks out this vibrant culinary experience to ensure a well-rounded intake of vitamins and minerals.
Sweet Indulgences
When it comes to desserts, Divya Dutta has a distinct fondness for Bengali sweet treats. She particularly enjoys mishti doi, a fermented sweet yogurt, and kheer kadam, a delicacy that combines kheer with a sweet filling. Gur ka rasgullas, soft cheese balls soaked in jaggery syrup, are also among her favorites, showcasing a refined appreciation for traditional Bengali confectionery. Beyond these specific delights, she expresses a general love for delicious food, often patronizing restaurants that specialize in Pan-Asian cuisine and seafood. Establishments like Chin Chin Choo, Fable, Conservatory, and Mainland China are noted for their exceptional offerings, reflecting her diverse culinary tastes and appreciation for well-prepared dishes from various international and local cuisines.
Home Cooking & Family Recipes
Divya Dutta is adept at preparing a variety of dishes herself, including chana, Punjabi kadi, various snack items, and parathas. Her culinary inspiration often traces back to her family, with her maternal grandmother being a particularly influential figure. Her nani's gobi parathas are remembered as exceptionally divine. Although her mother began cooking later in life, she possessed a remarkable natural talent. For many years, the family has had a long-standing house help named Kapuu, who has mastered her mother's recipes and now prepares them with great skill, keeping the family's culinary heritage alive and well within the household. This demonstrates a strong connection between food, family, and cherished memories.
A Romantic Meal
Divya Dutta envisions a romantic meal as a quintessential candlelight dinner. The scene is set with the simple yet profound act of holding hands, accompanied by sipping wine, and enjoying light refreshments such as cheese and grapes. This intimate setting prioritizes connection and shared experience over elaborate culinary presentations. While she is open to experimentation in food and has encountered many flavors throughout her travels and career, she doesn't recall a single 'weirdest' food experience. Her preferred beverage for everyday enjoyment is her homemade nimbu paani, a spiced lemonade that is so popular it's a known favorite within the film industry, often enhanced with a secret blend of spices.
Favorite Flavors & Guilty Pleasures
Divya Dutta's culinary heart beats for Hyderabadi cuisine, primarily due to its complex and rich spice profiles. She vividly recalls an instance while filming with Anil Kapoor when their Director of Photography shared homemade food from his mother in Hyderabad. This meal, comprising rasam, sambhar, and an array of five distinct vegetable preparations, was the spiciest she had ever encountered but was deemed absolutely divine. The memory of this incredibly flavorful and intensely spiced Hyderabadi feast still evokes a sense of delicious anticipation. On the flip side, her guilty pleasure arrives in the form of midnight snacks. Having her last meal by 7 PM, the late hours often bring about a desire to eat, and succumbing to this urge leads to feelings of guilt.
Wooden Log Recipe
For a delightful and easy-to-make dessert, Divya Dutta shares the recipe for a 'Wooden Log.' This treat requires one packet of Marie biscuits, which are transformed into a rich chocolate confection. The base mixture is crafted by combining 3 teaspoons of cocoa powder, 5 teaspoons of chocolate powder, 6 teaspoons of powdered sugar, and 2 teaspoons of corn flour. To this dry blend, 4 teaspoons of Nutella and about 1/4 cup of milk or fresh cream are added to create a smooth chocolate-Nutella paste. This paste is then generously spread between two Marie biscuits, which are arranged side-by-side to form a log shape. The remaining chocolate mixture is poured over the top, and the dessert is garnished with approximately 1/2 cup of chopped assorted nuts, including almonds, cashews, and walnuts. After refrigerating for a couple of hours, the log is cut at an angle to enhance its visual resemblance to a wooden log, making for a charming presentation.
