From New Year’s Day To Old Memories : Starting the Year Right With A Reunion Through Food

Add as a preferred source on Google

It had been years since I last saw Naina. The kind of years where we both got swept up in the hustle of life, and school memories faded into the background. So when I got a message from her on New Year's Day, I was caught off guard but excited. A simple, "Happy New Year! It's been forever, let's reconnect," felt like the right thing at the right time.

We agreed to meet for lunch at her place. Walking into her apartment felt like stepping into a familiar scene I hadn't realized I missed. Those small details, like the vintage poster on the wall, felt like pieces of a forgotten puzzle falling back into place.

She greeted me with that infectious smile. "It's been too long!" she said, her eyes lighting up as if we had never been apart.

We dove right into conversation-catching up, laughing at old jokes, and reminiscing about everything we once knew. And then, she brought out the dish. A stuffed chicken roast, its golden skin perfectly crisp, filling the room with an aroma so inviting I was instantly transported to a simpler time. I took a bite and didn't just taste a delicious roast; I tasted years of learning, experimenting, and an unexpected feeling of being home.

Photo Credit:

Image is AI-generated

"This is amazing!" I said, savoring the flavors. "Where did you learn to make this?"

She chuckled. "A bit of trial and error over the years... but mostly just playing with flavors. You know, like we used to do back in school, when we tried making random things just for fun."

That moment, that simple dish, struck a chord with me. Not because of how delicious it was (though it was incredible), but because it captured something-how, over time, we evolve in the most unexpected ways. The chicken wasn't just food; it was an embodiment of how we grow, how the simple things we once casually explored become part of who we are.

Later, when I tried to recreate the recipe at home, it wasn't just about perfecting the cooking technique. It was about something else-about how we sometimes stumble upon the things that make us feel grounded. Each time I roast that chicken now, I think of that afternoon-how reconnecting with Naina wasn't just about rekindling a friendship, but about revisiting the joy of the small, simple things that make life richer.

Now, it's been ages since that fond memory and it's 2025 already! On that happy note, why not make this yummylicious chicken roast, desi style.

Desi Style Stuffed Chicken Roast

What You Need

800-1 kg skinless whole chicken

For The Marinade

• 1½ tablespoon Kashmiri red chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon ghee
• 1 tbsp soya sauce
• salt to taste

For The Gravy:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 medium onions finely sliced
• 1 to 2 sprig of curry leaves
• 3 to 4 green chillies chopped finely
• 2 teaspoons ginger garlic paste
• 1 large tomato chopped
• 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder
• 1½ teaspoon coriander powder
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon fennel powder
• ½ teaspoon garam masala
• Fresh coriander leaves
• Salt to taste

For The Stuffing

• 1 to 2 hard-boiled eggs peeled
• Cubed potatoes 1
• Cubed carrots 1
• Optional - some florets of cauliflower , capsicum
• ¼ cup oil or ghee to roast and cook the chicken

How To Get The Chicken Ready!

Marinate the chicken with everything under marination for about 4 hours minimum

In a pan, start with heating butter followed by sauteing the ingredients mentioned under 'for the gravy' that includes onions, ginger garlic, tomatoes and the spices. Add cream for more gravy, it also gives you an intense flavour. Then add some coconut milk and keep this gravy aside.

Next place the ingredients listed under stuffing inside the chicken. Close the legs and use twine to tie it up and close the cavity after tucking the wings. Make sure it's well marinated inside as well.

In a deep dish pan roast all sides of the chicken on a medium flame till it's browned in oil or butter. Do this step carefully so none of the stuffing falls out and it's well roasted and brown on all the sides.
Cover and let it cook for another 15 minutes . In the last 10 minutes add in the rest of the gravy and let it simmer for sometime. Garnish with lime and coriander to make it an interesting centerpiece .

If using the oven, bake it covered for an hour and pour the gravy and let it cook for another 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degrees.

It's the ideal New Year dish to share with family, friends, and all your loved ones. Serve, relish and enjoy with lots of love, laughter and happiness. Happy New Year!