Renu Bhardwaj is a food content creator and recipe developer who shares tasty Indian recipes on her blog and Instagram at @hey_renu. She chats to us about how she got into blogging, her favourite foods and what ingredients she couldn’t live without.
If you love roast potatoes (who doesn’t?!) then you’ll love Renu’s take on them with her Masala Roast Potatoes.
Hello Renu! Can you introduce yourself and what you do?
Hi, I am Renu. I am a mum, food blogger and content creator. I use my Instagram to share easy, quick recipes. I love to create tasty video recipes that everyone can create and have access to in their pantry. One of my passions is to make reducing food waste recipes that we all waste. I share easy quick ideas and recipes so please do check this out.
How did you get into blogging and what do you enjoy about it?
I eventually started food blogging after my family and I were featured in an Aldi advert. This gave me the confidence to push myself and ignore the imposter syndrome and really make a go of my food page. It was during the first lockdown when I was made redundant that I gave it the full time and attention, and at this time everyone really wanted comfort, easy food recipes they could make at home.
What would be your perfect veggie or vegan recipe or dish, and why?
This is so hard! I love so many. Being Indian, I love the variety of spices and taste that comes from a bowl of soul food dhal, or a plate of samosa chaat. I also love Middle Eastern spices, so I would definitely say a combination of both.
Which ingredients or foods couldn’t you live without?
I actually did a quick Instagram reel on my five top go-to spices/ingredients that are my cupboard, pantry staple! Garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander and smoked paprika. I know there are so many others.
Which bloggers or social media influencers do you most enjoy following and why?
I love to follow and get inspired by many, from TV chefs who continue to inspire me like Nigella always have, but social influencers I would say Yotam Ottolenghi.
Renu’s Masala Roast Potatoes
Serves 3-4
Preparation: 10 mins
Cooking: 35-40 mins
Ingredients
• 1 packet of baby Ayrshire potatoes
• 3 tbsp of yogurt
• 1½ tbsp of gram flour
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• Thumb of ginger, minced
• 1 chilli, finely chopped
• ¾ tsp of: turmeric, chilli, garam masala, ground roasted cumin powder, coriander powder, chaat masala, black pepper
• 1 tsp of salt
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 2 tbsp of rapeseed oil (and some for the oven tray)
• Fresh coriander
Method
1. In a bowl, mix the gram flour with yogurt. Add the spices, salt and minced/blended garlic, ginger and chilli.
2. Add lemon, oil and mix well.
3. Add the potatoes and coat well, cover and leave to marinate as long as you can. Overnight is ideal!
4. When you’re ready to cook, preheat your oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 and add the potatoes to a heated tray in hot oil.
5. Mix well and roast for 40 minutes until golden brown. Keep turning and mixing.
6. Sprinkle with fresh coriander as a garnish.
Note: The ginger and garlic may cause sticking so line with paper to roast or add enough oil.