New Delhi: Food remains an essential part of everyday comfort for celebrities who spend long hours on sets and travel frequently. Many actors still prefer familiar home-style dishes even when global cuisines are accessible to them. Priyanka Chopra often talks about her fondness for stuffed parathas, choosing either a paneer version or a potato-filled one. Deepika Padukone has expressed her liking for Bhutan’s popular Ema Datshi, a simple stew known for its heat and creamy texture. Alia Bhatt continues to prefer dal chawal, a staple combination that has remained one of her top comfort meals.
These dishes share a sense of warmth, simplicity and ease of preparation, making them accessible to home cooks. The following recipes include the ingredients and steps the celebrities themselves enjoy, allowing readers to recreate each dish at home with accuracy. Read here.
1. Priyanka Chopra’s favourite stuffed paratha recipe
Ingredients for stuffed paratha
For the dough
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- Water as needed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp oil or ghee
- Aloo filling
- 2-3 boiled potatoes (mashed)
- ½ cup chopped onions (optional)
- 1-2 chopped green chillies
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- Salt
- Chopped coriander
For paneer filling
- 1.5 cups crumbled paneer
- ¼ cup chopped onions (optional)
- 1-2 chopped green chillies
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- salt
- Chopped coriander
- Ghee or oil for cooking
How to prepare stuffed paratha
1. Prepare the dough by mixing flour, salt and oil, adding water gradually to form a firm dough. Rest 20 minutes.
2. Mix chosen filling ingredients in a bowl and divide evenly.
3. Make equal dough balls, roll one slightly, place filling in the centre and seal by gathering edges.
4. Roll gently into a paratha.
5. Cook on a heated tawa on both sides until brown spots form.
6. Add ghee and cook until crisp. Serve with curd, butter or pickle.
2. Deepika Padukone’s favourite Ema Datshi
Ingredients for Ema Datshi
- 4-5 large slit green chillies
- 1 cup mild cheese (feta, Swiss or processed slices)
- 1 medium sliced onion
- 3-4 chopped garlic cloves
- 1 tomato (optional)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 cup water
- Salt and pepper
How to prepare Ema Datshi
1. Heat butter in a pan and sauté onions, garlic and chillies for 2-3 minutes.
2. Add tomato if using. Pour in water, then cover and simmer 10-15 minutes until chillies soften. Season lightly.
3. Add cheese pieces and let them melt into a thick, creamy stew. Mix gently and serve hot with rice or flatbread.
3. Alia Bhatt’s favourite dal chawal
Ingredients for dal chawal
- 1 cup rice, 2 cups water
- 1 cup toor dal, 4 cups water
- 1 chopped tomato, turmeric, salt
Ingredients for tadka
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- ¼ tbsp asafoetida
- ½ tbsp red chilli powder
- ½ tbsp coriander powder
- ¼ tbsp turmeric
- ¼ tbsp garam masala
- 1 dry red chilli
- 5 chopped garlic cloves
- 1 chopped onion
- 1-inch chopped ginger
- 1 slit green chilli
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves
How to prepare dal chawal
1. Wash rice and cook with water until soft.
2. Wash dal and pressure-cook with tomato, turmeric and salt.
3. Prepare tadka by heating ghee, adding asafoetida, cumin, mustard, dry chilli and green chilli.
4. Add onions, sauté until brown, then add ginger and garlic. Stir in powdered spices and cook briefly.
5. Add this tadka to the dal and simmer for a few minutes. Serve with rice and garnish with coriander.
These dishes remain favourites because they combine home-style comfort with dependable flavours, allowing each actor to reconnect with familiar food even during a demanding schedule.