Kaleidoscope: Indian American Youth Perspectives & Reflections

A recipe for connection: Rediscovering my heritage through cooking

Wednesday, 08 Jan, 2025
(Photo courtesy: www.pexels.com)

By Krishiv Shah

The kitchen was always a place I drifted in and out of, usually in search of snacks rather than participation. My role during holiday meals was often as a taster, an observer, or a reluctant helper chopping vegetables. I admired the orchestrated chaos of my parents cooking—ingredients flying from shelves to counters, masalas blooming in hot oil, recipes that seemed to live in their muscle memory. I’d never learned how to cook properly, the most I was able to do was “2 minute maggi noodles” or quick scrambled eggs. 

Yet, as a high school senior who will be heading to college next fall, I realize that learning to cook healthy, delicious meals is an invaluable skill that I must learn. Over this winter break with lots of time on my hands, I decided to dedicate time towards learning how to cook. My clumsiness was on full display—overcooked rice, burnt onions, and a disastrous attempt at rolling round rotis. The kitchen had always been a mystery, and now I was the protagonist of an unfolding comedy of errors.

As I struggled to recreate my family’s dishes, I found myself reaching beyond recipes. My parents helped me, laughing and patiently walking me through their secrets to delicious Gujarati meals like Dhokla, Muthiya, and Thepla. Slowly, I pieced together the meals of my childhood—not just for sustenance, but to connect with the stories, traditions, and love embedded in every dish. 

I began to understand that cooking wasn’t just about feeding oneself. It was about honoring the hands that had cooked for me, preserving flavors that defined my culture, and crafting a taste of home I could carry with me to college and beyond. 

As I prepare to leave for this next chapter, I no longer see cooking as a chore or a convenience. Instead, it’s a lifeline—a way to root myself in my heritage while navigating unfamiliar spaces. Because in every perfectly spiced curry or golden-brown paratha, I’ll find not only nourishment but the essence of who I am. 

A Message to Indian-American Youth: 

Don’t wait for necessity to pull you into the kitchen. Our culinary traditions are rich, complex, and deeply tied to our identity. Learning to cook isn’t just about making food; it’s about preserving the tastes and stories of where we come from. It’s a way to stay connected to our families and our culture, even when we’re miles away. So the next time your parents invite you to help—or even if they don’t—step in. Make mistakes. In the process, you’ll discover something far more meaningful than a perfect meal. You’ll find a piece of yourself.
------------------------------


(Krishiv Shah, the founder and submission coordinator of Kaleidoscope, is an Indian-American senior at Syosset High School with aspirations to pursue a degree in South Asian Studies and Business.)