Krish Ashok; Namrata Agarwal

What's 'amaklamatic', we ask? "It's derived from amakalam in Tamil, which means fantastic," he chuckles. Namrata Agarwal, a Santacruz-based copywriter trying to make most of the lockdown in the kitchen, gives the generator a shot to find out if it really works.

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Tomato-garlic chutney

(From left) The onion-ginger chutney and tomato-garlic chutney that Agarwal made using the generator

"The system sounded fascinating and didn't disappoint when I tried it as it's based on the age-old principle of balancing flavours. The best part is leftovers in the fridge are sufficient to begin with," says Agarwal who picked tomato, garlic, ginger, peanuts, coriander, salt, lime juice and sugar. "The recipe required that I flame-grill the tomatoes. I love the aroma and complexity of flame-grilled tomatoes in sauces but had never tried it for a chutney. I could sauté the tomatoes, too, I suppose, but flame-grilling made the difference. Along with the sautéed garlic and raw ginger, it made for a delicious combination. Though the recipe says add 'some' peanuts, I'd say you can add one or two," she claims, adding that it goes well with snacks like samosas.

Onion-ginger chutney

For the second chutney, Agarwal decided to use up some onions, the only other ingredient in abundance in her pantry right now. "The caramelised onions paired with ginger and peanuts was a new combination for me. I roasted the peanuts just till they had some crunch. The recipe required me to add some lemon juice to cut through the sweetness. The ginger complemented the caramelised onions," she shares, but adds that it would probably work better as a spread.

The generator provides specific instructions for every ingredient

What worked: The specific instructions for ingredients, for instance, flame-grilling the tomatoes, is of great help, says Agarwal. "It simplifies the process. The extensive list of options for vegetables can lead you to try something new and it's easy to use."

What didn't work: For the end result to be a hit, you must know what flavours you like and what ingredients work together, she says. "Although an unlimited number of chutneys can be created, only some will taste delicious," she adds.

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