#Special Rice Recipe

[hyderabadiruchuluvideos]

Boda Kakarakaya Dum Biryani | Spiny Gourd Biryani

New Post has been published on https://www.hyderabadiruchulu.com/boda-kakarakaya-dum-biryani/

Boda Kakarakaya Dum Biryani | Spiny Gourd Biryani

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Boda Kakarakaya Dum Biryani

Prep Time

45 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

  Let's explore the creation of a special dum biryani crafted with spiny gourd. We all recognize the incredible health benefits of spiny gourd, making it a must-eat when in season. Try preparing this vegetarian Boda Kakarakaya Dum Biryani for your family, and they are sure to request it every week!

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Aa Kakarakaya Dum Biryani, Boda Kakarakaya Dum Biryani

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

1/4 kg Spiny Gourd

2 cups Basmathi Rice

1 cup Brown Onions (fried)

1 cup Coriander Leaves

1 cup Mint Leaves

1/4 cup Curd

1 tbsp Coriander Seeds

6-7 Dried Chilies

1/4 tsp Pepper

2 tbsp Dried Coconut

1 tbsp Dried Fenugreek Leaves

2 tbsp Tamarind Pulp

1 tsp Chili Powder

1/2 tsp Garam Masala Powder

1 1/2 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste

1/2 tsp Turmerc Powder

1/2 cup Milk

1/8 tsp Saffron

Salt

3 tbsp Clarified Butter or Ghee

2 tbsp Oil

Garam Masala

2-3 Bay Leaves

1 tsp Shahjeera

2-3 Cinnamon Stick Pieces

5-6 Cloves

4 Cardamom

1 Star Anise

1 Black Stone Flower

Instructions

Begin by washing and soaking 2 cups of basmati rice for 30 minutes.

In this recipe, I've used 1/4 kg of spiny gourd. Make slits, and if the spiny gourd is too ripe, remove the seeds.

Now, let's prepare the masala for the biryani. Heat a pan and add 1 tbsp coriander seeds.

Add 1 tsp cumin seeds, 4-5 dried chilies, and fry until they change color.

Next, add 1/4 tsp peppercorns, 2 tbsp dried coconut pieces, and turn off the stove.

Now, add 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves and mix. Powder these ingredients in a mixer jar.

Next on the agenda is frying the spiny gourd. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan.

Add the slit spiny gourd.Fry for 4-5 minutes on low flame. If the spiny gourds are large, they need to be steamed or boiled before frying.

Cut off the stove after the color changes.

To a mixing bowl, add 1/4 cup curd.

Add 2 tbsp tamarind pulp, salt to taste, 1 tsp chili powder, prepared masala powder, 1/2 tsp garam masala powder, 1 1/2 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 2 dried chilies, and mix.

Next, add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder and mix.

Now, add the fried spiny gourd and mix.

Then, add brown onions, coriander leaves, and mint leaves. Let it sit for a while. In the meantime, let's cook the rice.

Fill more than half of the pan with water and heat it.

Add 1 tsp salt, 2-3 bay leaves, 1 tsp shahjeera, 2-3 cinnamon stick pieces, 5-6 cloves, 4 cardamom, 1 small star anise piece, 1 black stone flower, and let the water simmer.

As the water starts to simmer, add the soaked rice.

Let the rice simmer until it is about 70% cooked. The rest will be cooked in the dum. Strain off the water.

Now, let's prepare the dum layers.

Take a pan with a thick base and spread 2 tbsp clarified butter or ghee on the base.

Add the marinated spiny gourd mixture to the bottom.

Next, add a little water and then add the rice.

Sprinkle brown onions on top along with coriander leaves and mint leaves.

Also, add some clarified butter or ghee on top.

To 1/2 cup warm milk, add a pinch of saffron and mix. This step is optional.

Pour this milk on the rice.

Place a heavy lid on to ensure no vapor comes out of the pan.

Seal off the edges with dough.

Now, we have to cook the dum biryani for 5 minutes on high flame, then, 5 minutes on low flame. Afterward, place a thick flat pan between the flame and biryani pot and cook for an additional 8 minutes on high flame.

Cut off the stove and open the lid after 5 minutes. You'll notice that the leaves have also changed color.

Boda kakarakaya dum biryani or spiny gourd biryani is now ready to serve!

Enjoy it hot with gravy or raita!

[pupkou]

can we come together as a community and be honest with ourselves .. because i’m tired of seeing everything turned into an egg roll. not everything needs to be an egg roll

[rajanjolly]

समा के चावल की खीर | Vrat Ki Kheer | Sama Rice Kheer Recipe | Navratri S...

[mariahturner]

Special Fried Rice This special fried rice recipe delivers on flavor! It's easy to add Chinese sausage, cooked chicken, or shrimp if you happen to have any leftovers.

[alexandrium]

rice and beans fucking carry humanity through the worst of times and it irks me so bad when ppl act like they own the concept of Eating Rice

[parveens-kitchen]

Rasam Rice with Tasty Side

A Flavorful Sunday Lunch: Rasam Rice with Tasty Sides. Imagine a lazy Sunday afternoon filled with the promise of good food and relaxation. On this special day, my lunch plate is a delightful mix of comforting rasam rice, crispy onion pakodas, a peppery egg omelette, and crunchy papad. **Rasam Rice: Warm and Tangy Hug**The star of the plate is the rasam rice, a warm and tangy dish that combines…

[eflornithinevaniqa]

Recipe for Special Fried Rice This special fried rice recipe delivers on flavor! It's easy to add Chinese sausage, cooked chicken, or shrimp if you happen to have any leftovers. 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or to taste, 1/2 onion diced, 1 cucumber, 1/2 teaspoon water, 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce or to taste, 2 teaspoons canola oil or more as needed, 2 teaspoons light soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste, 2 eggs, 2 cups cold cooked jasmine rice, 1/2 teaspoon white sugar, 1/4 cup frozen peas and carrots thawed and patted dry with paper towel, 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper or to taste, 1/2 teaspoon monosodium glutamate, 1 clove garlic minced, 1/4 cup chopped green onion or to taste divided, 2 teaspoons sesame oil divided, 1 teaspoon fish sauce

[effyeahtombraidergirls]

Special Fried Rice This unique fried rice recipe is flavorful. If you happen to have any leftover Chinese sausage, cooked chicken, or shrimp, you can easily add them.

[specialdesirecipes]

#mutton #muttonkeemafriedrice #friedrice #shortsvideo #shortvideo #sho...

[suchananewsblog]

South Indian Curd Rice Gets A Makeover With This Unique Recipe

Ask any south Indian fan and they’ll gush about curd rice. It comes as no surprise that curd rice finds so much love despite the popularity of dosa, idli and sambhar. Simple and delicious, curd rice spells comfort in every bite. While a typical plate of curd and rice seasoned with spices like mustard seeds and curry leaves is lip-smacking in itself, we thought of perking it up. And we found just…

[seiwas]

₊˚⊹｡ see me through the morning glow | gojo satoru

wc: 1.0k summary: you and gojo have a slow morning.  contains: f!reader in mind, suggestive if you squint, food descriptions. a/n: unedited, i honestly dk what this is i just really needed to get this out of my system! this is how i cope with 236.

re-uploaded because i accidentally deleted!

You slip out of bed faced with the promise of sunlight. 

The curtains in your bedroom radiate a glow that bounces off the man lying next to you; it’s soft, near-white, almost ethereal, the color of his skin, hair, and bones. His back is exposed, arm reaching out over the (now) empty space beside him—the crinkles and folds where you once were. 

You’ve always thought your bedroom had good lighting, and now you can confirm why: in the shadows, deepening the line that runs down his spine; in the highlights, guiding your eyes to the pockets of muscle behind his shoulders. 

You look away, trying your best not to stare; the only reason he’s undressed is because of a cold sweat, from the nightmares—and the very need for skin-to-skin, to ground him in your touch. 

On mornings like this, you let Gojo sleep in. 

(Because you’re lucky if he can fall back asleep again). 

It’s slow today—no work, no missions that need you or him. It’s your favorite kind of day, and Gojo’s too (once he wakes up and smells the waffles you’ve prepared, double topped with whipped cream and maple syrup—his special, of course). 

A steady stream of warmth flows through the window to your kitchen countertop, the marble glimmering as light hits. The material was his choice; you don’t care much for glamor but Gojo likes pretty things—you especially, he likes to say. 

The batter is quick to prepare, a recipe you’ve done many times before, so you ladle it into the waffle maker before letting it set on its own. Then, you grab a pan to heat up, spooning in last night’s leftover rice, some soy sauce, and mirin, adding salt to taste, as needed. A standard fried rice breakfast, with a yolk to mix in later. 

The sound of his footsteps are concealed by the sizzles of the pan in front of you, but you’re caught off guard by arms wrapped around your waist, and his chin nestling itself into your shoulder as he nuzzles you. 

He’s still shirtless, you notice, so you inch backwards in case of any oil spatter. 

“Good sleep?” you mumble, certain that he heard you. 

He hums, before whispering, lips tickling the edges of your ear on purpose, pouting, “Not anymore when you left.” 

This man—a giant baby, puffed cheeks with long limbs hunched over you. 

Your big baby. 

Despite his whines, he’s telling the truth, you know, and you feel warm because of it, affection seeping in the cracks between his arms and the kitchen stove. 

You blow on a spoonful of rice before lifting it up to his lips. Gojo’s breakfasts are always sweet, but every time you cook, he looks forward to this: waiting right behind you to be fed over your shoulder.

His review will always be the same, of course, everything you touch turns out good. 

He reaches for the waffle maker with one hand while the other keeps you close, and you plate his little breakfast for him, whipped cream with little hearts drawn in maple syrup. 

You grab a bowl for your rice and sit by the counter, Gojo sitting thigh-to-thigh beside you despite the abundance of space around you. 

You realize then, that Gojo tends to hover. 

Not necessarily in a bad way, just that, he does it all the time—always wanting to be near.  

And for someone so perceiving, practically all-seeing, he doesn’t really have to for him to know what you’re up to, but with every opportunity he has, he never misses a moment to be close to you.

When you wash the dishes by the sink, he stays beside you, shoulder-to-shoulder, even when the sink is wide enough to accommodate him a few inches farther. 

Even the walk to the bathroom has him tailing you, following your footsteps as he traces the footprints of slow mornings with you. 

Your bathroom counter has two sinks, but of course, today, he chooses to stay by yours. 

“Skincare?” you raise a tub of face mask. 

He doesn’t need it, but you love pampering him, so he nods, whatever you want. 

You struggle for a bit (he’s just too tall), so he picks you up by the waist and rests you on the bathroom counter, against the mirror.

He stays in the space between your legs, hands flat against your thighs. His thumb kneads your skin gently, and any other time, this position would end very differently, but there’s a look he’s giving you—all words without speaking. 

And—

“Quit staring,” you mumble, turning shy. You’re about to rub the product onto his cheeks, under his eyes. 

“What, I can’t look at you?” he moves closer, keeping his eyes locked on you as he rubs circles on your thighs. 

“No, you can, but,” you swallow, “you’re looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” his brows furrow. 

“Like that.” you sigh, gesturing to his face. 

“Like I love you?” 

And it is like that. Like he loves you. That’s why he says it so casually. 

Because he does. 

You stay quiet, stunned, before you clear your throat and finish up the final area on his face. 

“Yeah.” you mumble, reaching over to wash your hands on the sink. 

Gojo waits for you to finish before he takes a small towel to dry your hands with it. 

“As if you don’t know.” he scoffs, pulling you closer to the edge of the counter. 

He’s right—it’s been said before, but there’s something else in his eyes right now, shiny and devoted, as if this is all he could ever want. As if you, on this slow morning, in this too-big bathroom is all he could ever need. 

But he doesn’t say anything. At least, not what he really means. 

“Not my fault you’re so pretty today,” he adds on, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

It should be funny, that he’s telling you all this with a mask slathered all over his face, but his compliments always speak to the depths of you, even when you don’t expect them to. 

His fingers mold against your cheek, to your ears, down to the back of your head, bringing you closer until he kisses you softly, a gentle peck. 

Bits of the face mask transfer to your nose and you giggle, wiping it off. 

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say.” you joke.

Gojo smiles, that look on his face, “Good for you then, you’re the only one I see.”

re-uploaded because i accidentally deleted!

comments, tags, and reblogs are greatly appreciated ♡

[katyaapekina]

Meat and Poultry - Miso Honey Chicken

[misspygmypie]

Spring Rolls For Lando

Pairing: Lando Norris x reader, Max Fewtrell x reader (besties) Words: 1620 Summary: Y/N’s attempts to make spring rolls for Lando to make him feel better and Max saves the day. Masterlist

Please do not repost, thank you, and leave some feedback :)

Y/N stood in the kitchen, feeling increasingly overwhelmed as the ingredients piled up around her. She had watched countless YouTube videos and read recipe after recipe but nothing had prepared her for the chaos unfolding before her eyes. The rice paper wrappers kept tearing, the vegetables were unevenly chopped and the dipping sauce didn’t taste anything like it was supposed to.

Max Fewtrell was leaning against the counter, watching his and Lando's best friend, trying his best to hide his amusement. "You sure you don’t want to just order these? I can make the call in two seconds."

"No, Max," Y/N replied, her voice wavering as she struggled to keep her composure. "Lando loves these and after the weekend he had I really want to do something special for him. He’s always so supportive of me and I want to be there for him too."

Max noticed the slight tremor in her voice and softened his tone. "I get it, Y/N. But… you look like you’re about to have a meltdown. Are you sure this is worth it?"

Y/N swallowed hard, feeling the pressure building in her chest. "I just… I just want it to be perfect. He deserves something nice after this race I thought this would be easy, but…" Her voice cracked and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay.

Max’s grin faded as he realized how upset she was. He moved closer, gently taking the knife out of her hand before she could accidentally cut herself. “It’s okay. It doesn’t have to be perfect."

Y/N shook her head, her frustration spilling over as tears welled up in her eyes. "But everything is going wrong, Max! The wrappers keep tearing, the sauce tastes awful and I’ve made such a mess. I just wanted to do something nice for him and I’m screwing it all up!"

Max quickly wrapped her in a hug, rubbing her back soothingly. "Shh, it’s okay. You’re doing great, Y/N. You’re trying and that’s what counts. Lando is going to appreciate this no matter what."

Y/N buried her face in his shoulder, trying to calm down. "But what if he hates it? What if it just makes him feel worse?"

"There’s no way he’s going to hate it. He cares about you and he’s going to see how much effort you put into this. Trust me, it’s going to cheer him up."

She sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I just don’t want to let him down."

"You won’t," Max assured her. "Besides, if the spring rolls don’t turn out, we’ll just distract him with something else. Like ordering pizza. That always works."

Y/N managed a small laugh, feeling a bit of the tension release. "Thanks, Max. I’m just… I’m so bad at this and I wanted it to be perfect."

Max smiled and gently wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "Perfection is overrated. And honestly, it’s pretty amazing that you’re doing this at all, considering how much you hate cooking."

Y/N sniffled again, finally allowing herself to smile. "Yeah, I guess I don’t have the best track record in the kitchen, do I?"

"Not exactly," Max teased, "but that’s what makes this so special. You’re doing something outside your comfort zone because you care. And that’s what’s going to mean the most to Lando."

After calming Y/N down Max glanced at the mess on the counter and rolled up his sleeves. "Alright, let’s do this together. We’ll make these spring rolls the best they can be."

"You’re going to help? I thought you were just here to laugh at my misery,” Y/N looked at him, surprised.

"Laughing was fun but seeing you this upset isn’t. Let’s turn this around."

With Max’s help, the kitchen felt a lot less chaotic. He took over the trickier parts, like handling the delicate rice paper wrappers, while Y/N focused on chopping the vegetables, much more evenly this time under Max’s watchful eye. They worked together, laughing as they went and slowly but surely, the spring rolls began to take shape.

"This isn’t so bad when you’ve got someone to help," Y/N admitted as she watched Max expertly roll up another spring roll. "I might actually survive this."

Max grinned. "Teamwork makes the dream work, right? Plus, I’ve made these a few times before, so I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve."

"Of course you have," Y/N said with a smile, shaking her head in mock exasperation. "Is there anything you haven’t done?"

"Cooking is all about confidence," Max replied, handing her a finished spring roll to place on the plate. "And a little bit of improvisation."

Soon, they had a plate full of neatly rolled and fried spring rolls that looked almost professional. Y/N couldn’t believe it. "We actually did it," she said, a mix of relief and disbelief in her voice. "These look so much better than the ones I tried to make on my own."

Max gave her a playful nudge. "See? Told you it would be fine. And look, no tears and no fires. I’d say that’s a win."

"Thanks, Max. I couldn’t have done this without you."

"Anytime," Max said with a grin. "Now, let’s get this place cleaned up before Lando gets home and thinks we fought a war in here."

They quickly tidied up the kitchen, hiding the evidence of Y/N’s earlier disasters. Just as they finished they heard the front door open. Lando was home.

Y/N exchanged a quick, nervous glance with Max who gave her a reassuring nod. She took a deep breath as Lando walked into the kitchen, looking tired but happy to be home.

The moment Lando saw the plate of spring rolls on the table, his eyes widened in surprise. "You made spring rolls?" he asked, almost shocked. "They look… amazing!"

Y/N blushed, feeling a mix of pride and relief. "Yeah… well, Max helped a lot."

Lando turned to Max, raising an eyebrow. "You helped?"

Max grinned and shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? I’m a man of many talents."

Lando shook his head in disbelief, a smile spreading across his face. "I honestly didn’t think you’d be able to pull this off. Not after last time…"

Y/N laughed, feeling the tension finally lift. "Yeah, it was touch-and-go for a while there but Max saved the day."

Lando walked over to the table, picking up one of the spring rolls and examining it with curiosity. "These look perfect. I can’t believe you guys actually did it."

Max leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms with a satisfied smile. "I told you, teamwork makes the dream work."

Lando took a bite of the spring roll, his eyes widening in surprise and delight. "These are really good!" He turned to Y/N, his expression softening. "Thank you, Y/N. This really means a lot."

Y/N smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "You’ve had a rough race and I know how much you love these."

Lando reached out and pulled her into a hug. "You’re the best, you know that? And Max," he added, glancing over her shoulder at their friend, "you’re alright too."

Max chuckled, waving off the compliment. "I try."

As they sat down at the table Lando couldn’t stop smiling. The spring rolls were more than just food, they were a reminder of how much Y/N cared about him. He picked up another one, savoring the taste, and looked over at her with a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there earlier.

"You know," Lando said, his voice thick with emotion. "I’ve been feeling pretty low after this weekend and this… this is exactly what I needed."

Y/N smiled, her heart swelling with warmth. "I'm just glad you like them, I was worried they'd turn out horrible."

"They’re perfect," Lando reassured her grabbing her hand, his gaze never leaving hers.

Max, who had been watching the exchange with a smirk, finally chimed in. "You know, Lando, this whole thing was Y/N’s idea from the start. She was determined to make these for you, no matter what. I was just here to stop the kitchen from burning down. She even got a bit emotional when things weren’t going right."

Y/N shot Max a playful glare but Lando’s expression softened even more. "You really did all this… for me?"

Y/N nodded, feeling a bit shy under his intense gaze. "Of course, I did. You mean a lot to me, Lando. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing after the weekend you had."

Lando let go of her hand, but only so he could pull her into a tight hug. "Thank you, Y/N. For everything. You always know how to make me feel better, even when I don’t deserve it."

Y/N hugged him back, resting her head on his shoulder. "You always deserve it, Lando."

Max watched them with a grin, leaning back in his chair. "Well, I’d say my work here is done. You two are disgustingly cute, you know that?"

Lando laughed, finally releasing Y/N but keeping one arm around her shoulders. "You’re just jealous, Max."

Max pretended to think about it for a moment before shaking his head. "Nah, I’m just happy I got a free meal out of it."

Y/N rolled her eyes but she couldn’t help laughing along with them. Lando kept sneaking glances at Y/N, his heart full of appreciation for her. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have someone who cared about him so deeply, someone who would go through so much effort just to see him smile.

________

AN: Something not Noah/Lando related for once lol I just had to write a little comfort piece, he looked so sad in the cool down room 😥

Taglist: @barcelonaloverf1life

[glitterinmycrimson]

more johnnie x reader headcanons

(image from pinterest)

₊ ⊹ pre-save his new song ya bozo ⊹ ₊

ִ ࣪𖤐⋆˖⁺‧₊ ☽◯☾ ₊‧⁺˖⋆ִ ࣪𖤐

johnnie loves applying your makeup, even though it's mainly just an excuse to get close to you, there's something about doing your eyeshadow for you that's so special to him. without you he'd clean his brushes way less and probably give himself an eye infection. it takes a while for him to do your full face because he's so distracted by you. he loves it even more when you do his.

i don't think he'd really get jealous easily. if you're casually talking to other guys and he gets a little insecure i feel like he'd try to deal with it on his own before he'd take it up with you. but if someone comes up to you and starts flirting and won't stop even after you tell them you're taken, he'll pull a stunt to shut them up and to show you off. as shy as he can be he'd make out with you in front of the whole world just to show that you're his and he's yours.

he's not good at cooking but he enjoys the process of making food. if you're not around he'll buy box mix baked goods or pre-marinated meat with microwave rice but if you're there and willing he'll attempt a recipe with you. even if you're terrible in the kitchen, he loves getting domestic with you.

i feel like he'd pick up a habit of stealing your clothes. something that reminds him of you, even if it's practically skin tight or if he's swimming in it. and vice versa, he loves seeing you in his clothes. sometimes he'll buy things he knows are your style just so they end up on you. when he hugs you and he can smell his cologne on you, he's so happy.

ִ ࣪𖤐⋆˖⁺‧₊ ☽◯☾ ₊‧⁺˖⋆ִ ࣪𖤐

[tvhsleb3ww]

NEW IDEAS - MIYA OSAMU

short bf samu drabble 🍚

"whaddya think?"

he asks and wipes his hands with a small handkerchief as he leans on the spot on the counter next to you. his eyes gazing at you as he awaits your response.

"is it too salty? does it taste weird?"

he bombards you with questions and you muffled out something.

"mmfh, iwts- dhwood hmmf"

he chuckles as he puts a hand on the small of your back, leaning down to your height.

"sorry, love. finish it first then answer ma questions, kay?"

you nodded and continued to bite down the new onigiri recipe he had created. he smiles as he sees you enjoying his new onigiri recipe that he has been experimenting for the past couple of days.

you swallowed the last part of the onigiri.

"tastes amazing, samu!"

you exclaimed excitedly as he just grinned. his arms crossed as he looks at your messy lips.

"ya say that to everythin' i make. how am i supposed to know if i should sell it or na?"

he chuckles and wipes the rice stuck on your lips with his thumb, making you snicker at the sudden touch.

"can't help it, everything you make is good"

you grinned up at him and he just cups your cheeks with his hands.

"a might actually just make a new menu specially for ya"

he grins and presses his lips against your forehead to which you just smiled and enjoyed his lips on your skin.

"but i'm bein' serious ere'. a need some new stuff for ma shop. can't let it go bankrupt, yeah? or else ain't no one gonna spoil ya rotten"

he brings his calloused hand to your cheek and pinched it, making you yelp. you laughed and smacked his chest playfully before rolling your eyes.

"maybe you should sell all of those onigiris you did. i think your customers will love it"

"ya think so? bet they won't love it as much you love it"

"i know so"

you said proudly and crossed your arms with a small huff escaping your lips. he chuckled and wraps his strong arms sround your waist, pulling you close.

"am gonna put yer name on the menu. so the customers can thank ya for the new stuffs"

"what an honour"

he laughs at your words. he loves this atmosphere. the one filled with love. he loves seeing you enjoy his food and spend time with him like this. there's nothing else in this world he can ask for.

"should i make dinner for tonight?"

he scoffs at that, playfully rolling his eyes at you.

"an' let ma precious kitchen burn down? ain't no way that's gonna happen"

he presses a kiss on your pouty lips before turning away to grab some ingredients from the fridge.

"i only burnt it one time!"

he snickers and places the ingredients on the counter.

"yeah but you burnt water, honey. i didn't even think that was possible until you showed me"

you groaned at his tease and watch him roll up his sleeves to get ready to cook.

"don't forget to kiss the chef for a good meal"

his words were teasing as he looks at you with a toothy grin. you rolled your eyes and pressed a kiss on his cheek. he then started cooking as you played some music using your phone. he glances at you from time to time with a lovesick smile on his face.

and that was all he ever wanted in his life.

[nanowrimo]

How to Use Meal Scenes to Develop Characters, Relationships, and Your World

Worldbuilding can sound complicated, but why not make it a little more simple by focusing on food? It may be the domestic touch you need! NaNo Participant Lacey Pfalz talks about using meal scenes to develop your world and your characters.

There’s one thing that remains a universal human truth: we love food! While our perspectives on food might differ, people all across the globe gather together during mealtimes — and thus, mealtimes are made memorable.

Meal scenes can also help your story in a few key ways, especially if it’s fantasy, science fiction or historical fiction.

Meal Scenes for Worldbuilding

If we’re using food for worldbuilding purposes, does that mean we can say we’re worldcooking?

Just kidding! Worldbuilding, especially in historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, is an integral part of what you must do as a writer (In truth, it’s also important for writers from other genres, but we’re specializing in these three today).

Meal scenes can be an important part of the worldbuilding process. Food is intrinsically tied to a culture or a country, or even a small region. That’s why it’s important, when building your own world, to take time to figure out the bare minimum of what your characters will be eating.

Let’s do an example. Your world is fantasy, your kingdom set beside a wide river. Perhaps your capital city, where much of the action is located, is surrounded by wetland.

If this is the case, what types of food would likely grow there? Seafood, fished from the large river, might be your characters’ staple proteins, while rice might grow better than another grain because of your kingdom’s wetlands. Fruit, perhaps even coconuts, might be the sweet stuff your main character loves to devour.

Remember that your world directly affects what types of food your characters will be having: is there coffee in space? What about in Byzantine Turkey or your new riverside kingdom?

Shannon Chakraborty does a phenomenal job with this in her fantasy series The Daevabad Trilogy, which is set in the eighteenth century across the Middle East. Her first book, The City of Brass, is especially good at showcasing the often-fragrant dishes of the various cultures across this region of the world (some copies of the book even have a short list of recipes from the book that foodies can try whipping up for themselves).

While her book is set within the fantastical world of the Djinn, her food is based upon recipes that have been preserved for centuries.

There’s one small reminder with all of this: it’s important not to get too caught up in describing each dish so much that you end up taking the focus away from the characters in a meal scene. Meal scenes can be breaks from fast action, but they should also continue the plot.

Meal Scenes for Developing Characters & Relationships

Character development can be hard, especially if you have a handful of characters that you love! But in order to make your readers love them too, you have to show them interacting with the world around them.

That guy we love to hate? Maybe he’s a loner who has grown up eating by himself. Having him forced to sit and eat with a group of people who have known each other for years might be an awkward moment for him, but it helps readers to learn more about his own worldview — and it might just help get him out of his shell, or at least off the love-to-hate list.

Besides helping you develop a single character, writing meal scenes with some of your characters can also help readers learn more about the relationship between your characters.

Let’s say you have your main character, MC. MC leans over and steals a French fry from her best friend. There’s no issue, right? That’s because they like each other, and the best friend has likely eaten with MC before, and knows she enjoys stealing food from other people’s plates.

But when MC tries it again, this time with the guy sitting next to her, he whacks her hand to stop her from stealing. This sparks an argument that seems, at least to everyone else watching it, pointless, but readers will know from the rest of the story that they’re the enemies-to-lovers trope. This argument is just one of many before they finally acknowledge their feelings towards one another.

See how that worked? A meal scene wasn’t useless; it pulled the story along by giving readers another taste of the enemies-to-lovers trope that so many enjoy reading.

If you need a more visible example of how this can play out, try watching a movie like Pride & Prejudice, (the book is amazing, but I’m suggesting the movie as a visual aid). The movie does a great job showcasing just how different the members of the Bennet family are individually, how they act around each other, and how they act around company.

There’s often little action in meal scenes, so they’re not meant to be overused. The plot should also still be there — take the cringey proposal scene between Mr. Collins and Elizabeth in Pride & Prejudice, for example, which follows directly after a meal when the rest of her family abandons her. In this case, the plot (and Mr. Collins’ advances) ruin her meal.

Perhaps your meal scene is the much-needed respite in between battling fierce aliens for planet Earth, or the first time your main character’s enemy-to-lover has entered her home. Either way, meal scenes are an important way to immerse your readers in what kind of world they’re imagining as well as showcasing how your characters act and — more importantly — how they act around each other.

Lacey Pfalz is a travel journalist by day, hopeful author by night. She belongs to the class of graduates she dubs the Class of COVID-19, having graduated with a double major in history and writing at Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2020. Her writing passions include fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction (with a little bit of romance, of course!). As someone with a physical disability, it’s her dream to write a fantasy series featuring a main character like her. Header Image by Jack Sparrow