Mechanical Chef is building machine can prepare around 30 different vegetarian dishes with minimal human intervention. This includes rice, dal (lentils), and a sabzi (any vegetable-based side-dish) that can be cooked simultaneously in about 40 minutes. The machine is about the size of a large gas hob with a rotating drum filled with spice canisters, three induction plates, and little robotic protrusions that wield spatulas and volumetric cups.
It comes with an app through which users will select the dish of their choice. The machine then indicates the canisters that need to be loaded with fresh ingredients, chopped vegetables or rice for example. Spices, seasonings, oil, and water are also loaded in advance. On command, the machine begins the process of cooking, pouring out the ingredients needed into a pan placed on one of its induction plates, and stirring until the dish is done.