Adhvita Gowravaram, a fourth grader at Encompass Heights Elementary School is one of five students vying for the top spot in the Sodexo Future Chef’s Competition. Using a homemade recipe with healthy alternatives, Adhvita is hopeful her Masala Waffle Bites earn enough votes to have her recipe shared across the country.
Adhvita’s recipe is derived from one of her family’s traditional dishes, masala bites, that she makes at home with her parents. The competition encourages students to create healthy recipes that are appealing to children.
Her new recipe no longer requires deep-frying the bites, and includes more vegetables, like onions, green peas, corn and carrots.
“This dish was big hit with the kids at home,” explained Sandhyusha Ravikumar, Adhvita’s mother. The two have been cooking together for years.
“She would borrow recipe books from the school library and try out a few dishes," Sandhyusha shared. “When she got the flyer for the competition, she had no hesitancy in participation, and we worked together to decide and fine tune the recipe.”
Traditionally, the masala bites are deep fried, so together, Adhvita and her mother tried new methods of cooking the dish. After experimenting with batter consistency, the recipe took on a new form, Masala Waffle Bites.
Sandhyusha said, “With waffle makers now coming in many different shapes, the scope of presentation also increases.”
The Sodexo Future Chefs National Challenge receives applications from hundreds of students all over the country. Students submit recipes, first at the school-district level, before moving on regionally and then nationally. The recipes are judged each year on taste, healthiness, kid friendliness, originality, ease of preparation, plate presentation and student chef presentations to the judges.
Regional finalists are judged through May before a national winner is chosen. The winning recipe, along with three other student-created recipes from this contest, are added to the school menus in our promotional series the following school year.
Masala Waffles Bites
Ingredients
1 cup oats
½ cup onion, finely chopped
¼ cup frozen green peas
¼ cup corn
2 tablespoons grated carrot
1 tablespoon coriander leaves
23 green chilies, finely chopped or 1/2 tsp pepper powder
1 teaspoon grated ginger
2 teaspoon cumin powder
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ to 1 cup water
Preparation method
Add 1 cup of oats to a blender and make powder. Transfer the ground oats to a large bowl and add ½ cup onion, ¼ cup each green peas and corn, 2 tablespoons grated carrot, 1 tablespoon coriander leaves, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, 2 teaspoon cumin powder, 2 to 3 finely chopped green chili, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 tablespoons yogurt, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ cup water. Mix it well and let the batter rest for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, mix the batter. If the batter looks too thick add 12 tablespoons of water.
Preheat the waffle maker for 30 seconds and spray some oil. Pour the batter in the middle and spread the batter to fill the cavities and drizzle some oil. Cook on medium setting in your waffle maker till done.
These waffles taste best when eaten right away after making them. Serve it with ketchup.
