PALM OIL: GOURMET DELIGHTS
Oil has always been a pivotal ingredient in world cuisines. Oil can change the flavor, colour, taste, shelf life and nutrition value of a dish. While people like to use a variety of oils for various reasons, a recent introduction to Malaysian Palm Oil by MPOC at Smoky Pitara Hyderabad was a day of learning, fun and camaraderie. As a food blogger, one gets to attend myriad range of events. Often they turn out monotonous and repetitive. However this event by Malaysian Palm Oil Council was unique, vibrant, well planned and well executed. They literally had us eating out of their palms! There was an engagement with the audience at multiple levels and it was almost like business mixed with pleasure.
The day started with a very informative and exhaustive presentation by Ms. Bhavna Shah, who is the Country Head for MPOC, India and Sri Lanka.The presentation exploded many myths about palm oil. Palm oil is derived from the flesh of the fruit of the oil palm species E. Guineensis. In its virgin form, the oil is bright orange-red due to the high content of carotene. Palmoil is Nature’s Gift to Malaysia, and Malaysia’s to the World.
Palm oil is semi-solid at room temperature; a characteristic brought about by its approx. 50 percent saturation level. Palm oil (and its products) has good resistance to oxidation and heat at prolonged elevated temperatures; hence, making palm oil an ideal ingredient in frying oil blends. Manufacturers and end-users around the world incorporate high percentages of palm oil in their frying oil blends for both performance and economic reasons.The palm oil is rich in natural chemical compounds important for health and nutrition. Among others, it is a natural source of Carotenoids & Vitamin E as well as supplying fatty acids and other important fat-soluble micronutrients. Ms. Shah replied to all our queries patiently.
Armed with all that information, we were all ready for some fun activities. We were divided into teams of 3. Swati, Sadaf and I were a team and taking it easy pitted against a younger energetic bunch (although Sadaf helped us lower average team age quite a bit!).Then ensued an adventure where we went for a treasure hunt of our own, across 5 restaurants in Road No 36, Jubilee Hills whipping up a storm along the way. The first activity was in 10 Asia restaurant where our team had to make a delicious ice-cream Sunday with provided ingredients, that included crunchy chocolate treats in which palm oil is used. Adding these to a plain vanilla ice-cream too, made it taste exotic. We had to then gobble it down in seconds.
Next in Urban Asia restaurant we had to rustle up a salad using palm oil in the dressing. We managed to get a quick and healthy salad ready in minutes with broccoli, carrots, lettuce, olives, onions and a delicious dressing with a base of palm oil. The good part is palm oil does not have a strong taste of its own, so it blends very well with other flavours and ingredients.
Next we went to Tiki Shack Restaurant where we had to fill up an interesting quiz sheet on palm oil. Now the learning from previous presentation came in handy. We may not have been the swiftest team, but we were pretty en point when it came to IQ!
Last stop was Eat India Company where we predictably had to eat! However this was blindfolded eating and guessing the ingredients that went into the dish. The mild and Indian curry was made in palm oil and one could feel the creaminess. Needless to say palm oil is a good medium for cooking Indian food.
Thus after so many exciting activities such as making salads, eating desserts with palm oil as one of the ingredients in the various garnishes, blindfolded tasting and quizzes. That our team won is a different story. It was good to feel like children engaged in an exhilarating activity with some physical movement rather than just attending a sedentary and static session.
Once we were back at the base, there was an entertaining Bollywood dialogue enactment activity with interesting props. Bollywood is something that connects masses in India, Tollywood being a local extension. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the session, followed by a sumptuous buffet lunch. Everyone greeted fond goodbyes, having made new friends and exchanged numbers, insta handles and pictures. Palm oil was on our mind as we left. Think palm oil for all the right reasons! Thanks MPOC for a fantastic initiation into this wonder oil!
