Sita had always known her mother was a wonderful cook. Being from a traditional Mangalorean family, food had always been at the heart of their home and family. The kitchen was her mother’s research lab and Sita loved watching her cook delicious Mangalorean dishes like dosas, mango curry and the sweetest of delicacies.
One day, while cleaning out a drawer in the kitchen, Sita stumbled upon something she had never seen before: a small, worn-out notebook with yellowed pages. It was tucked away behind some old recipe cards, almost as if it were meant to stay hidden.
Curious, she flipped it open. The notebook was filled with handwritten recipes, but what caught her attention were the notes beside each one, small stories, memories and names of people she didn’t recognise. This was no ordinary recipe book. It was a secret.
“Mom, what’s this?” Sita asked, holding up the book.
Her mother, busy preparing dinner, paused for a moment. “Ah, that book,” she said. “That’s my secret recipe book. It holds recipes from my mother and grandmother. All kinds of traditional Mangalorean dishes. Some of them are family favorites, passed down through generations.”
Sita’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you ever tell me about this?”
The interesting book contained recipes for neer dosa with coconut chutney, pathrode made with colocasia leaves and the mouthwatering jackfruit sweets that her grandmother used to make every summer when she was little.
Her mother smiled. “I should have? Well, now that you’re interested, maybe it’s time you learned some of these.”
Sita nodded happily. She decided to cook one of the recipes; her grandmother’s famous Mangalore buns, a dish often served at family reunions and special occasions.
As she gathered the ingredients, Sita read the notes written on the margins by her grandmother. “This dish can bring anyone closer. It was given to me by my dear friend Janaki. It was made during happy times, but also in moments when we needed comfort. Always make it with love.”
“Mom, who is Janaki? And did you have any idea how important this recipe was?” Sita asked. “To me, it sounds like more than just food.”
Her mother smiled. “Food carries memories, Sita. Every dish tells a story. Your grandmother got this recipe from her childhood friend, Janaki. She had brought these as treats when your grandmother had just given birth to me. Later, your grandmother made them for me when you were born. We have also had them for many a family reunions. These buns are a part of our story.”
As Sita carefully followed the recipe, she thought about her grandmother, her childhood friend, the birth of children in their home. When the buns were ready, the sweet aroma filled the kitchen and for the first time, Sita felt connected to her family in a way she hadn’t before.
Later that evening, as they sat down to eat, Sita’s father took a bite and looked at her mother with a smile. “This tastes just like your mother’s recipe,” he said, feeling nostalgic.
Sita felt happy. She had made a dish that carried so much history. It wasn’t just about the ingredients, it was the love, care and memories that had been passed down. “Mom,” Sita said, her voice full of wonder, “this book, these recipes… they’re like pieces of a puzzle that make our past whole.”
Her mother nodded. “Yes, every time we cook these dishes, we bring our family’s uniqueness to life. Your grandmother, your great-grandmother, they’re all with us through these recipes.”
Sita realised something profound that day—that learning to cook these recipes was more than just a way to prepare food. It was a way to honour her heritage, to remember the love and laughter that had filled their home over the years. Each dish was a story, a connection to the past and a bridge between generations.
“Can I try another one tomorrow?” Sita asked.
“Of course,” her mother replied, her eyes twinkling. “We’ll start with the pathrode, it’s one of your grandfather’s favorites.”
Sita began her journey into the heart of her family’s past, one recipe at a time. Through each dish, she uncovered the love, pain and joy that shaped her family. When she opened her sweet little restaurant selling Mangalorean food a few years later, it became her legacy. It became her way of carrying the traditions of her Mangalorean heritage forward.
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