Campus
Cuisine: Moving from Pizza to Pulao
The smoke detector going off is a common occurrence
in my apartment. My roommates and I even have a standard protocol:
One runs to throw open the windows to hastily get the smoke out, another
runs to open the front door and start fanning out the smoke, while
the third frantically yanks the cushions off the couch, positions
herself near the counter and fans the smoke away from the detector.
And then the phone call comes. The front desk wants to know if everything
is okay. Yes, I answer, I was just cooking.
Food is at the center of culture. Its familiar smells
can transport us back to happy moments and distant homelands. For
ABCDs, food is a way to stay connected to both the home we left to
come to college, as well as our South Asian homeland. Languages may
merge with the sea of English in America, but food is what continues
to remind everyone of home.
A home-cooked meal satisfies any college student’s
soul. But what if the home cooking you are accustomed to is nothing
close to what they serve in the dining halls?
Two years have passed since I’ve moved into
my college apartment. Now that I, instead of the dining hall, am in
charge of my meals, I’ve had to try my hand at cooking.
Preparing meals can be a challenge for any college
student, but for those of South Asian descent, dinnertime can mean
a whole new host of dilemmas and compromises.
Recently, the options for South Asians away from
home have increased. For example, Indian food is now available in
pre-packaged bags at mainstream grocery stores. It’s a great
way to satisfy cravings from home, while also introducing traditional
South Asian food to America’s mainstream culture. It seems like
the melting pot of America is finally getting its dash of curry!
As many of us move back for the spring semester,
we want to connect with our cultural identity in the kitchen. After
a few experiments, or what some may call disasters, I’ve found
a good mix of food that is easy to prepare and satisfying to the stomach.
My mother and I came up with a few short recipes to satisfy the Desi
food craving when it hits hard. The following recipes will transport
you back to the family dinner table when you’re sick of greasy
pizza and microwavable macaroni-and-cheese.
Most of the ingredients you will have at home. Others,
like the spices, might require a quick trip to the Indian grocery
store. Or, you could just raid your mom’s stash before you head
back to school, like I did. The recipes are simple and a great way
to easily introduce non-South Asian friends to our culture’s
culinary variety. So, put away the Easy-Mac for a night and try this!
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