All about aloo

Avika Gor, the ebullient child bride of Balika Vadhu, is crazy about potatoes. Unlike her character Anandi though, she's never entered a kitchen to cook

Avika's thought for food
I am an: Early riser. Actually, it depends. If I have shooting or school, I get up early. After I freshen up, I perform my pooja and sit down for breakfast thereafter.

For breakfast I have: Biscuits. Sometimes my mother makes puri bhaji, upma or poha. Later I head for Sharon English High School, Mulund.

In my school tiffin: My mom packs things like pav bhaji. I share my tiffin with everyone.

When I go for my shooting: I take my food. My mom says its better to take your own food so I take my roti and bhaji with me. I like potatoes. Along with lunch, I have cucumber salad. If I am still hungry, I drink juice. I sometimes have buttermilk. On the sets, I eat only if there is something nice. At times I eat Maggi noodles.

In the evening I have: Juice. I love chaats, especially from Chowpatty.

My dinner: If I come home from shooting early then my mom makes a potato dish from dinner. If I am late then I eat out.

On Sundays: There is no special meal. I am very fond of potatoes so my mom makes pav bhaji for me.

My favourite fruits: Are oranges, watermelons and apples.

I don't like: Ice creams and colas.

When I am shooting, I carry: My toys with me: I lug my Barbie around. I also take my books to study.

In my fridge you will always find: Juices and vegetables.

The best cooks in my family are: My grandmother and my mother. My granny cooks potatoes really well and my mom makes onions and potato bhaji.

I have never cooked: But onscreen, my character Anandi has cooked stuff like halwa, kachori and tea.

My comfort food is: Dal bhaat. When I have a cold, I like Manchow soup.

I feel guilty about eating: Potato bhaji. I can eat an entire plate by myself.

My favourite dishes are: Potato bhaji, pav bhaji. I don't like pizza and stuff.

In Chinese food I like: Hakka noodles, Manchurian and Manchow soup. I like paneer.

My favourite restaurants are: The eateries at the malls in Mulund, Inorbit and Infinity. We keep trying new restaurants; I don't remember their names.

In chocolates my favourites are: Cadbury and Kit Kat. I also like black forest cakes.

My favourite vegetables, besides potato are: Tendli and fansi. I don't like tomatoes and onion.

On the sets: If I am sharing a scene with my co-stars, we eat lunch together.

I have never been to my hometown in: : Kutch but I like pakwan which is a dish from our hometown.

I resemble a: Mango, because it is sweet.

Avika's favourite recipe: Sukhi aloo ki sabzi
ingredients
1/4 kg potatoes
2 to 3 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp red chilly powder (as per taste)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
Salt to taste
Juice of half a lemon
Coriander leaves (to garnish)

method
Boil the potatoes and chop them into cubes.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard and cumin seeds. When the seeds splutter add the potatoes, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. Mix well. Simmer for five minutes.
Garnish with coriander leaves and lemon juice. Serve hot with purees or hot phulkas.