Cooking
Passing on the cultural culinary traditions…
The emotional experience of passing on the traditions and heritage of food, gives me an opportunity to honor the people who came before us, our family of today, and my mother, Sharada Mani Chalan. While remembering, collecting, and recording a tradition of cooking, I have also been inspired to create my own versions of dishes, and to add a certain flavour and style. I have taken what my grandmother, mother, daughter, extended family, and neighbours have given to me and infused it with my own meaning. My family and I have often cooked together and it has been so special to get cooking tips regarding texture, taste, flavor, and presentation. During such times, experiences long forgotten have come alive, allowing me to relive feelings of comfort, satisfaction or excitement that I once experienced. I am happy to stay actively engaged in sharing my experiences with you by fostering a tradition of cooking.
Cooking with unconditional love and patience can bring family and friends together.
– Malathi Iyengar
Having cooked for so many years, and learning at the side of my mother and extended family, I’ve developed a style of cooking which is very organic and intuitive. Like many chefs, I usually eyeball measurements! You will notice that the recipes below reflect this with only general descriptions of each ingredient’s amount, for example. Even so, I believe that someone who has not made these dishes before should still have good results. As the cooking portion of this website evolves, we will continue to clarify and to be more specific. Look for upcoming videos and classes that will also help you to enjoy these and many other recipes!
Almond Milk
Kannamd
Chutney
Turmeric Juice
Cooking Classes for Small Groups:
Please write to malathisiyengar@gmail.com for more information
Cooking Resources
One of the challenges of exploring Indian cooking and foods is knowing where to go to buy your supplies! Los Angeles is a huge city and it can sometimes feel like you’re looking for a “needle in a haystack,” or in this case some decent cardamom or asafoetida!
Below you’ll find some of my favorite places to shop for ingredients and kitchen supplies. Of course, this list reflects my current personal experiences and preferences. I am still discovering and exploring new resources all the time. If there are places that you’ve discovered that are your own favorites, please comment and share them!
Star Restaurant Equipment
6178 Sepulveda Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91411
(818) 782-4460
chefstoys.com
India Sweets & Spices
22011 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, CA 91303
Phone: (818) 887-1417
indiasweetsandspices.us
Sur la Table has locations all over Los Angeles, and has an exhaustive inventory of kitchen equipment, from pans and spatulas to quality ice cube trays.
surlatable.com
Bombay Spiceland
8650 Reseda Blvd
Northridge, CA 91324
Phone: (818) 701-9383
Yelp Review
Melinda Lee is not only a radio program all about food, but also this website as well.
melindalee.com
The neighborhood of “Little India”
Pioneer Blvd (approximately 183rd to 188th streets)
Artesia, CA 90701
losangeles.cbslocal.com