Hello and welcome to Cooking With Kiran!
My name is Kiran Sao, and I’m so glad you found your way here.
I am a homemaker from India who loves cooking. I have loved cooking ever since I can remember.
It truly is my happy place to be in the kitchen preparing food—grinding spices, stirring dishes, and serving food and seeing smiles on the faces of people I love.
I see that many food blogs today present shortcuts to cooking and pre-packaged ingredients to practice cooking with.
I wanted to showcase something a little different, which is the joy of cooking slowly with nature’s gifts of food—fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices.
A Glimpse Into My Kitchen
My kitchen isn’t full of shiny fancy gadgets. It’s full of traditional Indian utensils, those made by generations. I use well seasoned iron kadais, earthen pots, stone grinders, utensils made of wood and metal.
These things have stories, and I feel connected to the women in my family with each dish I prepare with similar methods in place.
I rarely use ovens, microwaves, instant mixes, or otherwise. In my opinion, food tastes best (but that’s subjective) made slowly, by hand, and with love!
The sound of spices roasting slowly, the rolling of rotis, the bubbling of curry in an earthen pot, and so on, these are what makes my kitchen, a kitchen.
Life in My Village
I live in a picturesque Indian village where life is simple and full of taste. We awake each morning to the sounds of the birds, the local neighbors talking outside, and the aroma of fresh herbs growing close by.
We are fortunate to have seasonal fruits and vegetables right from our fields. We enjoy crispy green okra, sun ripened mangoes, pumpkins just harvested following the rains, tender spinach leaves freshly picked – all of our meals are berry or mostly about whatever the land gives us.
Cooking with fresh produce is not just good for you, its also a pleasure. Each mouthful reminds me of the relationship between the earth, the farmer, and the land we share – this organic relationship with the land and its produce is the charming part of village cooking to me – and here’s what I want to share with you here.
Why I Started Cooking With Kiran
Growing up, I have always felt that Indian cuisine does not have to be complicated. At its core, Indian food is wholesome, straightforward and flavorful.
Unfortunately, many people in the world (including quite a few in India) seem to think that it needs exotic ingredients or hours of hassle. That is simply not true.
I hope to illustrate how accessible cooking Indian food can be—both if you are far away from home and a beginner, or working in a small kitchen and limited stock of ingredients. My recipes will aim for simplicity, tradition, and authenticity.
I am not going to use bottled sauces or frozen convenience food that in any way shortcuts the experience and I am hopeful you’ll follow along, both with the cooking processes (which may or may not be new to you) and excitement about food.
I will be introducing the basics—how to toast spices like cumin seeds and get an aroma, how to knead dough for soft rotis, how to properly spice lentils, vegetables, etc.
Cooking for Love
As a housewife, cooking is not just a chore for me – it is an act of love. In our culture feeding others is one of the most revered expressions of love.
When I prepare food for my family, I am not just providing them with something to eat – I am providing comfort, health, and happiness.
Now through Cooking With Kiran, I would like to share that love with you. Whether you are a student anywhere in the world craving home-cooked flavors, a busy professional searching for easy Indian recipes, or someone just curious about our food, I welcome you into my kitchen.
What You’ll Find Here
On this blog you’ll find:
- Simple Indian recipes described step by step in plain English.
- Food made with fresh ingredients and traditional methods.
- Tales from my village life—because food is not only about flavour but also about culture and nostalgia.
- Advice on using common Indian spices and utensils even if you are cooking outside of India.
- A gentle reminder that you don’t need perfection – just passion.
From My Kitchen to Yours
In starting Cooking With Kiran I hope to provide a glimpse, albeit a small one, from my Indian village to the world.
It is my desire that every recipe that you use here brings you excitement and confidence in your own home kitchen.
Be it the first time you roll a chapati, or the first time you bring a pot of dal to a simmer on your stovetop, keep in mind: Cooking is not about how fast you can get things done or whether or not you can beat somebody, it is about love, patience, and sharing joyfully.
So travel with me on this journey. Let’s cook together, laugh together and appreciate all of the wonderful flavors of India and the World. From my home to yours, I welcome you with open arms and a plate of food.
Thank you for visiting and I look forward to sharing my recipes and my stories with you.
With love,
Kiran Sao