Sachin Khatwani: From Masterchef India to Promoting Lucknowi Cuisine Worldwide

Sachin Khatwani, who resides in Lucknow, is recognized as one of the top 16 homecooks of Masterchef India Season 7. His cooking journey began at the age of 10, when he started assisting his mother in the kitchen. This sparked his passion for cooking, which he further developed by reading books and watching food shows and videos. To pursue his passion, he established a cloud kitchen, which has proven to be lucrative for him. Sachin grew up in Lucknow, where he also received his education, and he continues to reside there presently.

In an exclusive interview with Indian Food Times, He said that "Participating in Masterchef India Season 7 brought about a significant change in Sachin's life. Prior to his appearance on the show, he was not widely recognized, but now he has gained considerable fame. As a result, various opportunities have come his way. He has been approached by numerous food brands to collaborate with them, and he has also been given the chance to showcase his culinary expertise in various food industries. Moreover, Sachin has received offers from several HORECA (Hotel Restaurant Cafe) and social media brands."

During his time in Masterchef India Season 7, Sachin encountered numerous challenges, including the daunting black apron challenges. However, he considered these challenges to be valuable learning experiences, particularly in terms of time management. Sachin emphasized the importance of remaining focused on the task at hand to avoid complications. Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude towards the show's judges, Garima Arora, Ranveer Brar, and Vikas Khanna, for their guidance and support throughout the competition. Sachin believes that he learned a great deal from them.

Sachin's future plans include establishing his own QSR (Quick Service Restaurant). He has a profound love for Lucknowi cuisine, which happens to be his regional food. His ultimate desire is to promote the authenticity of Lucknow's food by making it available worldwide. He said a very beautiful and heart-touching line about food that is "IT'S NOT JUST FOOD, BUT IT'S CULTURE, FESTIVAL, CELEBRATION AND AN EMOTIONAL CONTACT".

When it comes to food, Sachin shares some of his renowned signature dishes. According to him, his cooking style is fairly simple. To sum up his food philosophy in one sentence, He said "SMALL PLATE WITH BIG INDIAN FLAVOURS". Sachin explains that he relies on his instincts and fundamental cooking techniques instead of recipes.

Some of the famous signature dishes, he made in masterchef india season 7

CRAB XEC XEC

One of Sachin's standout dishes is the classic Goan xec xec, which features crab cooked in a flavorful xec xec sauce, paired with tamarind caviar, glazed onions, and pickled cucumber. However, Sachin added his own twist to the dish by replacing the traditional Goan bread, poi, with a bhatura. The star of the dish is the crab meat, which is served in its shell, immersed in the delectable xec xec sauce.

CHAI IN A SPOON

Tea is an extremely popular beverage in India, and Sachin has created a dessert that captures the essence of drinking tea. The dish is called "Chai in a Spoon" and features a tea panna cotta topped with cookie crumble. Sachin considers this to be a conceptual dish, inspired by the Italian tradition of making desserts using coffee. He believes that if Italians can make desserts from coffee, then Indians can certainly create desserts using tea. The dish is designed to provide a unique tea-drinking experience, as it incorporates the flavors of tea and the texture of cookies, which are often enjoyed together in India.

POMP SOUFFLE PANI PURI

Sachin created a unique and innovative dish using a popular Indian street food called pani puri, which is known by various names across the country, such as golgappa, puchka, and pakodi. Instead of using the traditional puri, Sachin made pani puri using potatoes and added his own twist by incorporating the flavors of pani puri. The dish features a pomme souffle in place of the puri and is one of Sachin's personal favorites.

Sachin advises young aspiring chefs to love and take pleasure in their work, as there is always something new to learn. He suggests making cooking a part of their lifestyle and finding joy in the process.

Also Read : Nayanjyoti Saikia declared as winner of MasterChef India season 7