Hi!!! Glad you came across my page 🙂

I created this blog to display my mama’s amazing home cooking. I’ve had the privilege of living at home for 4+ years and while it does come with a few drawbacks (typical Desi things), it’s nice to have connected with them in the working-adult stage of life–they’re almost more like friends than parents. It’s a wonder how all moms are cooking geniuses and whenever I move out, I want to keep make the dishes she makes, but without constantly calling and bothering her. So I thought why not make a little recipe journal out of the best dishes she makes and share it with people who can benefit from it?

As children growing up and going to school (~2000-2015), we were lightly made fun of for the “curry” smelling food or ashamed to bring paranthas and dahi (flatbread and yogurt) as a school lunch. As we grew into our own skin (~2015-2020), we wanted to embrace the characteristics that made us unique, and simultaneously people began valuing things like turmeric (golden latte!), butter chicken & garlic naan (the OG), and Indian weddings (#lit). Everyone suddenly wanted to learn all about our culture, food, and customs, when we had kept a lot of it hidden, in an effort to fit in. It was confusing yet refreshing.

When I was in college and had to often make food for myself, I wanted something healthy and convenient that also satisfied my taste buds. A lot of cuisines were easy to learn and make, but I missed the typical Desi cooking. I made a dry sabji and dal (cooked vegetables and lentil soup) a few times, but it just wasn’t the same! And so I decided I’d learn how to make EVERYTHING that my mom knew how to make… well, maybe not everything (they know a LOT) but enough to keep my Desi heritage going.

Why did I name it “Ek Cup Chai” (one cup of tea) specifically? Because whether in India or outside the motherland, chai unites people and symbolizes hospitality. It is made at any hour of the day and always welcome over a good laugh. I find it fascinating that chai is perfect for a rainy day, but is as appreciated in the sweltering heat of the summer. It’s a small window into the way that Indian ingredients make food creations uniquely flavorful.

For all the Desis reading this, you’ll have mostly all the spices and be able to follow along easily. For my non-Indians, well, you might have to do some Googling and shopping. Good luck and tell me how it goes!