Food of personal/cultural significance

Today, as I was teaching the authentic way of preparing Fish curry to my daughter, it made me nostalgic. I sunk into the memories of cooking fish curry along with my mom. Since both of my parents belong to Goa- a coastal state of India where the staple food is rice, coconut, and fish, major recipes are prepared using coconut and coconut oil. I have grown up eating a variety of fishes dry as well as fresh, and have learned the art of cleaning fish. This authentic fish curry holds a special place in my heart. I have inherited the authentic way of preparing Fish curry from my mom where she used to grate freshly picked coconut and grind them along with a few cloves of garlic, chili powder, onion, salt, gently adding pieces of fish to the boiling curry, the aroma of which lingers even today, bringing with it memories where Mom used to serve me first with freshly cooked rice and fish curry, the memory of which makes me drool. I see the same reflection in my younger daughter who is a die-hard fan of fish.

I am proud to preserve this heritage and pass it to the next generation as it would give them to share the same memories as I do. With every trip to India, I often bring with me the traditional spices to keep the tradition alive.