Charming Amanzimtoti-based chef Rani Judnarain, also known as Inspired by Rani, made a delectable tomato-based pasta dish as the SUN fired off questions about her childhood, where her culinary passion came from and what inspires her bold, flavourful style of cooking.

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How to make creamy tomato and garlic pasta:

Ingredients:

• 70ml olive oil
• Fresh rosemary
• 1tsp chopped garlic
• 1tsp masala
• 1 can crushed Italian tomatoes
• Salt for taste
• Pinch sugar
• 1tsp Parmesan cheese
• 250ml cream
• 250g cooked penne pasta

Recipe:

1. Heat oil, add rosemary & garlic….Cook for a few seconds, avoid garlic burning.
2. Add masala cook for few seconds, add tomatoes allow to cook.
3. Add salt to taste, sugar, Parmesan cheese, cream and cooked pasta.

More about Rani

Judnarain grew up on a farm in Umkomaas, where she started playing around with roti dough at the tender age of four. There, she developed her love for fresh produce and from a young age she learnt to cook alongside her mother.

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“Both my parents loved to cook and used to do catering, not as a business, but for larger family and friends’ functions. Before long, I began experimenting with flavours on my own and during adulthood, did some culinary training as well as food and nutrition courses. I developed my own recipes, many inspired by ones my parents taught me with a modern twist or a tweak here and there, and also did some culinary training. I’m a foodie at heart and have been cooking professionally for the last 17 years,” said Judnarain.

She explained that she has a deep appreciation for artisanal food products and avoids preservatives wherever possible.. She believes that everyone cooks differently and shares all her recipes with her audience on social media.

Her love of spice

She loves spices, especially those originating from India, but much of her inspiration in the kitchen is derived from her travels.

“I often integrate masala in my dishes because regardless how much is used, it makes a big difference in flavour and adds a certain boldness to it. I love using herbs, for example, rosemary releases natural oils and can create another dimension in a simple dish. It’s so important to cook masala properly and make sure spices are blended seamlessly,” she said.

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Judnarain finds that many people, young and old, single or newly-married, get overwhelmed in the kitchen and her hope is that she is able to teach people to get over their fears to add a new skill to their repertoire.

She explained that a home-cooked meal is something special. She encouraged parents to “switch-off” alongside their children and try to cook something together in the kitchen, explaining that cooking is not only a stimulating practice, but also a key ingredient of independence.

In addition, cooking as a family can create beautiful core memories. She explained how grateful she is for her childhood experiences in the kitchen and hopes that parents will create similar memories cooking with their children.

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