🚨IN COLLAB WITH @CONZTANOMS🚨

why do dads f*cking love yogurt?

a review of Indian-Ish by Priya Krishna

Perhaps we fall on two sides of a divide: eat-to-live and live-to-eat. I can count on my fingers the times I’ve thought: “I forgot to eat lunch.” And because I love lunch so much--stick with me here--I see how food is marbled with our values, our struggles, and our vision for the future.

Indian (-ish) by Priya Krishna is a practical yet uncompromising take on food. Her writing is so beautiful, and her mother’s recipes are so creative, because of their specificity. Not in that annoying cookbook-y way that’s like, please source Icelandic skyr from Ingibjörg in Klofalækjarkjaftur ONLY. If I wanted to spend that much time overthinking yogurt I never would have left the Pinkberry on Wells Street in 2011. 

I used to hate Indian food when I was a kid because I only liked eating what I had tried 1000 times before. Once a year, for my dad’s birthday we’d go to an Indian restaurant called Bombay Bicycle Club and I secretly really liked the food but did not want to admit it because… stubborn-as-a-mule (SAM) vibes. Anyway, it was my loss and I’m thankful now that I’ve seen the light and it looks like Saag Paneer. This cookbook helped me expand my understanding of “Indian food” (a grossly reductive term, for a massive country with so many different regional cuisines). Saying “I want some Indian food” is like saying “I want to read a book.” A good place to start but huh? We’re here on earth eating food and reading books for no reason, so we might as well order a side of critical thinking to share. 

Cooking and food-styling c/o @Conztanoms. Caramelized Onion Dal recipe c/o Priya Krishna.

Even Saag Paneer pales to the real star of this book: Ritu Krishna. Priya loves her mom sooooo much and her mom loves her. While reading I felt like a welcome but slightly awkward friend at a Krishna family dinner. Awkward because it would be weird if I effused over Ritu Krishna as much as Priya does, but I think it’s warranted. Ritu does it all, then adds lime and salt to taste, then finds an exquisite wine pairing. 

I like how Indian (-ish) calls out racist stereotypes around Indian cooking (also recommend Ugly Delicious “Don’t Call it Curry” episode). It’s helpful to check my own views and expand my mind past “garam masala.” Also honorable mention to Priya’s dad’s yogurt, one case in a growing study I’m planning called “why do dads f*cking love yogurt?” coming to a JSTOR database near you.