Cuisines

This is an edited version of a piece I wrote over three years ago, when we, as an extended family, decided to remember my mother’s 100th birth anniversary by bringing out a book of her recipes. I volunteered to put it

In a garden, there is no pretence. You can see what is growing (or not). The seeds and plants don’t fight the natural rhythm of the seasons. Change is the only truth, the only constant. Here the cycle of life plays out

We married nearly 36 years ago, and at the time, we had no idea we were trendsetters of a sort. Our house has been a multi-cultural, blended home for decades. Our sons are beige-brown with Indian names. We celebrate Christmas along

Birthday cakes were not part of my childhood celebrations. But don’t feel too sorry for me. For birthdays and on other special occasions, my mother prepared a creamy cardamom-spiked pudding. This addictive dessert was the perfect ending to a spicy meal. There

  “We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise our spirits by deep breathing in the open air.” — Seneca. This pandemic has given us a perfect reason to change some of our old, perhaps unhealthy habits. Here’s

I still remember a few months ago when I unexpectedly blurted out on a video call to Shameela, the editor of FemAsia, that I’d write this article. This came out right after I told her about the wonderful Sprouted

  Is it cooked inside? What I detested, very much, and considered a waste of my time during my first sixty years, was cooking. But now, in the last ten years, I enjoy making food very much! I look forward to

For Kerala, a state in south India, New Year comes in mid-April, not in January. We welcome the New Year with a simple ritual that grounds us and brings balance to our lives. This holiday or Vishu as it

  It was an early autumn evening in early March, before COVID, when we were all allowed to be outside. And I was standing in line to the Sri Lankan food truck during the Adelaide Fringe, my cold body eagerly awaiting the

From FKF – A Halal Recipes Treasure Trove We are two close friends and business partners. Fauzia and Fozia. We share the same name, just spelt a little differently and live on opposite sides of the world. We come from relatively

Having grown up in the notorious seventies in Sri Lanka, a period called ‘Austerity’, when having wealth did not matter because everyone got the same rations of essential food items and underwent the same difficulties and shortages, I’ve learned to

Food which brings us consolation need not be full of sugar and carbohydrates. It can nurture us in a more subtle and long-term way. Apricot Chicken This is something rare in my experience: a recipe that cannot fail.

Soup is considered to be as age-old as the history of cooking. In instances of food scarcity, steaming random ingredients with pepper and salt can work magic. There are numerous tales and fables on when the soup was originated. But

Chutneys and pickles add piquancy to our meals. Small jars and bowls of fruit or vegetable-based condiments on the side of our plates add colour and texture to the savoury food we eat. Some are so delicious we often have

I’ve been baking ever since I was a little girl: every Sunday my nan’s kitchen turned into a baking marathon of fruit pies, steamed puddings, crumbles, cakes, biscuits. We always used fruits foraged from the wild apple orchards, cherry and

The daily Sri Lankan lifestyle is centred on food. From shopping around in the supermarkets to preparing and serving meals to guests, food is an essential aspect of our culture. Sri Lanka is an amazing destination to explore an array

For many centuries, and in diverse cultures, meat dishes were reserved for feasts and celebrations, only,  because meat was expensive. Vegetables and grains were much more affordable to grow, and prepare on a daily basis. Today, many people do not eat