Why Cook (Archana Pidathala)

Why Cook brings together inspiring women — artists, creators, entrepreneurs, musicians, writers and farmers — and explores why they cook and how cooking and food anchor them in their life journeys. There are stories of hope and generosity, of courage and resilience, interwoven with lessons for cooking and eating, and deeply personal recipes. In the kitchens of Why Cook, you will explore questions of identity and the self, meet custodians of seed, soil and water, get a taste of the forest and the sea, find ways to navigate loneliness and grief, revel in the scent of fresh earth and woodsmoke, and above all cherish everyday moments and meals.

The cookbook features 90 heirloom recipes, from the southern Indian region of Rayalaseema to the western coastal plains to the snow-capped Himalayas. These recipes celebrate the genius of home cooks and are shaped by tradition — by combining flavours in ways that have been done repeatedly for generations. Over half of the recipes are vegan, and more than eighty percent are vegetarian, and all the dishes are guaranteed to bring cheer and warmth to your table.

The women featured in Why Cook

• Aashna Behl
• Aditi Upadhya
• Anita Tikoo
• Arundathi Nag
• Azra Javed
• Bindhumalini Narayanaswamy
• Chinmayie Bhat
• Kalpana Pidathala
• Manisha Kairaly
• Neha Sumitran
• Rekha Datla & Shivangini Parihar
• Sana Javeri Kadri
• Shalini Philip
• Shree Mirji
• Swati Seth
• Vishalakshi Padmanabhan