09 Dec Aruna Cookery Demonstration
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On the 6th of March 2013, Dundalk Grammar School welcomed the innovative business moguls that are Sarajit Chanda and Sarah Nic Lochlainn, the faces behind ‘Aruna Sauces’ and the renowned Fuchsia House in Ardee.
In 2009 Sarajit and Sarah (having heard a repeated complaint from their diners: “We cannot afford to eat out so often but we really miss Ma Aruna’s Chicken Curry.” ) created an authentic Indian curry sauce for home use, which they began to sell at Farmers Markets. This led to the decision to apply to be on the hit Irish television show ‘Dragons Den’ where they received €30,000 for 14% of their business from Dragon Gavin Duffy. This proved a huge success for both their reputation as entrepreneurs and for their business as they now had a well-known business figure supporting them.
Sarajit cooked a range of dishes, for the fourth and fifth year students that were taking home economics as a choice subject, including Ma Chanda’s chicken curry, Tarka Dahl, Indian salad and fried potatoes. The base of all of the dishes included ginger, garlic, turmeric, cumin and chili powder. Cinnamon sticks, fresh green chilli and bay leaves were also used. This gave each dish a fragrant aroma which added to the experience. Each of the flavour complimented each other perfectly with just a hint of spice lingering in your mouth. No ingredient over powered the dish.
From this cooking demonstration, I learned that Indian cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world when cooked correctly. The range of spices used each has a different health benefit and is packed full of antioxidants. Most Indian people are vegetarian and get all of their protein requirements from lentils and vegetables. More importantly I learned that Indian cuisine is very economical, simple to cook and adaptable to the Irish palate.
Overall it was a very enjoyable, educational experience. It was a pleasure to watch and eat Sarajit and Sarah’s dishes. I will definitely be using the recipes given to us during the demonstration and looking out for ‘Aruna Sauces’ throughout Irish supermarkets in the future.`
Report by Catherine Mc Ginn (5th year student)