Poet and politician Kumar Vishwas, known for his mastery of words, is also a connoisseur of aesthetics, flavors, and healthy living. In a recent video interview with Curly Tales, he gave a glimpse of his eclectic home in Noida, including a tour of his modern kitchen that adheres to ancient cooking and eating philosophies.
While discussing his food choices and explaining how Indian men learn cooking through the lens of middle-class society, he stressed the strict rules of his home kitchen. His kitchen features copper, bronze, brass, wood, and silver utensils and cookware, but two items are strictly prohibited. Scroll down to find out the details.
What Are the Two Things Missing from His Kitchen?
In the video, Vishwas mentions that aluminum and plastic are not allowed in his home kitchen. He says the West has heavily promoted these two items, which have caused more damage than good, so they are strictly prohibited. Even for chopping vegetables, he uses a wooden chopping board. Additionally, only mustard oil and ghee are used for cooking in his home kitchen.
Why Avoid Aluminum Cookware
According to experts, aluminum cookware may react with acidic foods like tomatoes, lemon, or tamarind, causing small amounts of aluminum to leach into meals. Excessive exposure to aluminum can lead to health concerns such as neurological issues and weakened bone health. Scratched aluminum utensils increase this risk further, which is why many people now prefer stainless steel, cast iron, or clay cookware for daily cooking.
A study titled "Effect of the duration of use of aluminum cookware on its metal leachability and cytogenotoxicity in Allium cepa assay" found that water boiled in aluminum pots contains substances with the potential to be cytotoxic and cause mutations in somatic cells of Allium cepa.
Why Avoid Plastic Cookware and Storage Boxes
Plastic items like tiffin boxes and serving bowls, when exposed to heat via microwave and oven, can release harmful chemicals like BPA and phthalates into food and drinks. Heated plastic containers, bottles, and spatulas may affect hormone balance and have been associated with health concerns, including fertility issues, metabolic disorders, and long-term toxicity risks. Furthermore, low-quality plastic may break down over time, mixing microplastics into food, making glass, steel, or wooden kitchenware safer alternatives for regular use.
Kumar Vishwas's Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabzi Recipe
In the video, Vishwas shares his Aloo Tamatar ki Sabzi recipe, which includes a secret ingredient to enhance the taste. While cooking for the host, he reveals that he adds red chili sauce for an extra kick, a trick he learned while working in Rajasthan. Apart from this, his recipe uses regular ingredients: mustard oil, green chili, cumin seeds, potatoes, tomatoes, onion, coriander powder, garam masala, turmeric, salt, and water.
