Valentine’s Day is a special occasion to show love and appreciation to those closest to us. For many people, this love extends to their family, especially grandparents. Most of us share an extraordinary bond with our grandparents and would love to go that extra mile to bring a smile to their faces. So here are a few ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day with your grandparents:



  • Plan a special meal: Cook a delicious meal together with your grandparents or take them out to their favourite restaurant.



  • Make homemade gifts: Make homemade gifts such as cards or crafts to give to your grandparents as a token of your love and appreciation.



  • Share memories: Spend some time reminiscing about old memories and talk about the special moments you have shared.



  • Do something fun: Go on a walk, play a game, watch a movie or do any other activity that you both enjoy.



  • Show your love: At the end of the day, the most important thing is to show your grandparents how much you love and appreciate them. Write them a heartfelt note or give them a big hug to let them know how much they mean to you.



There is no denying that our grandparents love us selflessly, sometimes even more than our parents. And what better way to show them your love? You can just drop by and surprise them by hosting a V-day special dinner for them. Just like they introduced you to their favourite cuisines, how about you cooking them your favourites instead? It all starts with the perfect appetizer — something that is delicious and comforting coupled with some of their favourite recipes. So, just to make this surprise special and make cooking their favourite dishes easier, here are healthy and quick meal ideas for a V-day dinner at home brought to you by Voltas Beko. 


Recipe 1 – Watermelon Lassi


Ingredients:



  1. 4 cups diced seedless watermelon

  2. 1 cup plain yoghurt

  3. 2 tablespoons honey or to taste

  4. 1 teaspoon rose water (optional)


Instructions:



  1. In a blender, add the diced watermelon, yoghurt, honey, and rose water (if using). Blend until smooth and combined.

  2. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed.

  3. Pour the lassi into glasses, and keep it in your Voltas Beko refrigerator with NeoFrost™ Dual Cooling technology that keeps the natural goodness intact, for 1 hour.

  4. Take it out and garnish it with mint leaves or watermelon slices if desired.

  5. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious Watermelon Lassi.


Recipe 2 – Eggplant Fritters


Ingredients:



  • 1 small eggplant



  • 1/4 cup flour



  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese



  • 1 egg



  • Salt and pepper

  • Oil


Instructions:



  • Cut the eggplant into thin slices.



  • In a shallow dish, mix the flour, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, and pepper.



  • Dip each eggplant slice in the mixture, making sure both sides are coated.



  • Place the eggplant slices on a microwave-safe plate that has been coated with oil.



  • Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes, or until the eggplant is cooked through and the coating is crispy. 

  • Serve warm as a side dish or appetizer.


Recipe 3 – Vegetable Pulao


Ingredients:



  • 1 cup of basmati rice



  • 1 and ½ cups of vegetable stock



  • 1 onion, finely chopped



  • 1 tomato, finely chopped



  • ½ cup of mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, beans, etc.)



  • 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds



  • 1 bay leaf



  • 1 cinnamon stick



  • 2 cloves



  • 2 green cardamoms



  • 2 tablespoons of ghee or oil

  • Salt, to taste


Instructions:



  • Rinse the rice well and soak it in water for 30 minutes. Drain the water and set the rice aside.



  • In a microwave-safe dish, heat the ghee or oil in your Voltas Beko microwave. Add the cumin seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, and green cardamoms. Cook for a minute or until fragrant. The large turntable in the microwave allows you to maximise cooking space for when you have all your cousins together.



  • Add the chopped onion and cook until it turns golden brown.



  • Add the chopped tomato and mixed vegetables, and cook for 2-3 minutes.



  • Add the drained rice and stir to combine.



  • Add the stock and salt, and give everything a good stir.



  • Cover the dish with a tight-fitting lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap.



  • Microwave on high for 10-12 minutes or until the rice is cooked and the water is absorbed.



  • Let the pulao sit for a few minutes before fluffing it with a fork.

  • Serve hot with raita or any curry of your choice.


Recipe 4 - Sheer Kurma


Ingredients:



  • 1 cup of vermicelli



  • 4 cups of whole milk



  • ½ cup of sugar



  • 2 tablespoons of ghee or oil



  • 1 teaspoon of cardamom powder



  • ¼ cup of mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, raisins, etc.), chopped



  • 1 tablespoon of chironji or charoli (optional)

  • a pinch of saffron (optional)


Instructions:



  • In a microwave-safe dish, heat the ghee or oil. Add the vermicelli and roast it for 2-3 minutes or until it turns golden brown.



  • Add the milk, sugar, cardamom powder, mixed nuts, chironji or charoli (if using), and saffron (if using) to the dish. Stir everything together.



  • Microwave on high for 8-10 minutes or until the milk boils. Stir the mixture every 2-3 minutes to prevent burning.



  • Once the milk comes to a boil, reduce the power to 50%. The Digital Display in the Voltas Beko microwave helps you keep an eye on the food.



  • Microwave for another 10-12 minutes or until the vermicelli is cooked and the mixture thickens.



  • Let the Sheer Kurma sit for a few minutes before serving it hot.

  • You can garnish with some chopped nuts and saffron on top before serving.