I mostly remember Bindya Solanki as the romantic attachment of Robbie in Eastenders a few years ago who like myself enjoys a nice glass of red, let’s see what she’s been up to in my latest one minute with…

Coffee or tea?

Tea in the UK but coffee in the States

 

Chips or roast potatoes?

Chips…in any country

 

Priyanka Chopra or Katrina Kaif?

Er…well I don’t watch many Bollywood films so have no preference on either. I used to watch one every weekend growing up, back then my heroine was Rekha.

 

Tell us a secret…

I absolutely love a glass of red wine with some dark chocolate.

 

You have a fab “veggie blog” which features delicious vegetarian recipes; what was your inspiration to start that?

 

As a Gujarati I grew up in a vegetarian home and my partner is also vegetarian. So I cook a lot of vegetarian food. . I began the blog to show that there are many different types of vegetarian dishes out there and it’s not all tofu and cheese. I also wanted to show that cooking a curry is one of the simplest and quickest dinners to make.

 

Share your favourite recipe with us:

 

mmm one of my favourite simplest comfort foods is vagharela bhat (spicy left over rice) I’m sure you are well acquainted with this recipe. Most days there is left over rice hanging around my home so what better way to finish it off then to give it some spice.

 

1 cup of leftover cooked rice.

1/2 tsp of chilli powder
1/2 tsp of turmeric
3/4 tsp of salt
3/4 tsp of mustard seeds
3/4 tsp of cumin seeds
Some vegetable oil.

Method

Put the rice on a plate and add the chilli powder, turmeric and salt. Heat some oil in a frying pan, add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once they start to pop and smell aromatic add the rice and mix well. Keep mixing until all the rice is covered with the spices and everything is cooked through.

Who’s food gives you the most pleasure?

Easy, my Mums. I love all Indian food, but I have not tasted anything that gives me as much pleasure as my Mums food.

 

My readers will remember you playing Nita from Eastenders, what’s your fondest memory from playing that role?

Believe it or not that was 10 years ago. It was a great time, and being part of a show that is so embedded in UK TV culture was a great opportunity. My fondest memory has to be the romance between Nita & Robbie. Believe it or not it was nice to be the girl who finally gave Robbie some love.

 

Your biggest inspiration in life?

 

My Mum. She’s strong, outspoken, and never lets me get away with it.

 

So what is next for Bindya…?

Well, I’m currently doing a course on food writing at Leiths Cookery School, so I’m hoping to expand my food writing and maybe one day turn my blog into something more….watch this space.

Follow Bindya on Twitter

Check out the fab Veggie O File

 

Thank you so much Bindya for taking part in my one minute with, I wish you the very best with the cookery school, do keep us updated! 🙂