Namaste, I’m Padma Kumar, the founder, writer, photographer, and videographer of MyGoodFoodWorld. I’m so glad you’re here!
I wear many hats: I’m an early childhood entrepreneur, a recipe developer, and a blogger. I’m also a wife and a mum to two lovely daughters. I divide my time between England and India, with my home located in Chennai (Madras) while in India and Manchester while in England 🏡.
Cooking has always been my passion, and this love for cooking intensified when I had my daughters. I have taught them to appreciate healthy food (although they do have a soft spot for instant noodles!) As a mum, I’m proud that they enjoy a variety of good food 🙂.
As parents, I think we have a responsibility to give our children the gift of good taste and nutrition, guiding them in making smart food choices and have a positive relationship with food.
Before the pandemic hit us, I operated an early learning center, where for over and decade, I have helped many children and parents with varied dietary requirements, food preferences, allergies, and intolerances. I also helped them in overcoming mealtime struggles (and other parenting challenges!). My recipes, such as this beetroot poriyal, have successfully transformed many fussy and picky eaters.
My cooking philosophy is all about simplicity, ease, and flavors (cue: mung bean curry!), achieved by utilizing spices, herbs, and other pantry staples that are, actually, superfoods in disguise!
If you’re curious to know more about me, my cooking style, and what I love to eat, you’ve come to the right place. Brace yourself, as it’s a long read. Feel free to use the links below to navigate to the sections that pique your interest.
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What you will find here
In this blog, you will find E-A-S-Y, vegetarian and vegan recipes with a good mix of grain-free, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly food from India and around the world.
All the recipes here are egg-free and with clear labels of the most common allergens that they are free of. This will straightaway help you know if this recipe suits your dietary requirements. Wherever possible, I also mention easy swaps and variations for you to customize the recipe to your liking.
My recipes prioritize wholesome, nutritious ingredients, yet rest assured, healthy doesn’t equate to dull here. Even something as seemingly simple as my raw carrot salad is bursting with flavor!
I firmly believe that everyday cooking should be effortless, nourishing, and, above all, delicious. These principles resonate throughout all my recipes. Dishes like vegetable pulao and this mild bottle gourd recipe, exemplify my idea of straightforward, delectable food.
While I have a passion for cooking and prepare fresh meals nearly every day, I prefer to minimize time spent in the kitchen—no more than 45 minutes, ideally! Consequently, I've honed various time-saving hacks and clever shortcuts over the years, streamlining processes without sacrificing flavor, texture, or taste. Take, for instance, my palak paneer recipe. Through my blog you will find such tips and hacks, enabling you to whip up exceptional dishes in less time!
My instructions are simple and detailed enough even for a beginner cook.
What do I cook and eat?
If you had asked me this twenty years ago, I would have unequivocally declared, "Indian and only Indian!" However, times have evolved. In essence, I'd describe my culinary approach as 80:10:10 - comprising 80% Indian cuisine, 10% international fare, and 10% fusion cooking.
As a vegetarian by choice, a significant portion of my diet consists of plant-based foods. Occasionally, I like to have gluten-free or grain-free meals. Firmly rooted in the belief that "you are what you eat," my cooking is also all about good food made with a good heart!
What is Indian Food?
I often wonder what people mean when they say “I love Indian” because there is so much more to it than that! It is not a single cuisine, but a collection of many regional and sub-regional cuisines.
Indian food is a broad term that reflects the diversity and variety of the 1.4 billion people and covers a vast range of cuisines and dishes!
India has 28 states and 8 union territories, each with its own food culture and traditions. It is like having 28 different countries within one! And even within each state, there are variations in cooking styles, ingredients, and flavors.
India is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, influenced by its history, geography, religion, and climate.
More about my 80:10:10 cooking
My family comes from Andhra Pradesh, a state in Southern India where rice and spice are the staples.
I grew up in Jamshedpur, an industrial city in Eastern India where people from all over India came to work and live. There, I learned to appreciate food from different regions of India.
My cooking reflects the diverse food and flavors that I have experienced since my childhood - green beans and potatoes, from Bengal; this bhindi masala recipe with its bold flavors, and classic smoked eggplant curry from Punjab; cabbage poriyal, zucchini kootu and sauteed chickpeas from Tamil Nadu, and this incredibly delicious and unique bitter melon recipe and mint coconut chutney from my home state, Andhra Pradesh are family favorites and make their appearance at our dinner table regularly 😊.
World food
As a family of foodies, we love food from other parts of the world as well - this Moroccan-inspired spiced vegan cous cous salad is one that I make quite often.
Italian food is something we all love the most (next to Indian food, of course!).
This super easy and hearty marinara sauce and this versatile vegan pesto are saviors on those days when I already have a lot on my plate and cooking is the last thing on my mind. This macaroni and tomatoes is our absolute favorite!
This Asian noodle soup is a Sunday favorite and these vegetarian zucchini boats with crumbled paneer and spices are our go-to on movie nights.
All of these dishes have found a place in our hearts and plates!
Fusion cooking
As a recipe developer, I love to experiment with flavors and spices and create new recipes. I rarely follow a recipe without adding my own twist to it 😆.
This vegan potato soup, vegan pumpkin banana bread, and this one-pot spicy pasta recipe are some recipes that are much loved by us. I have a box of these gluten-free, eggless veggie muffins on my kitchen counter, and are the perfect on-the-go snack!
That is the story of my 80:10:10 cooking 😎
The food scene at home when I was growing up
I grew up in a big family, with 13 people, including family members and staff. We also had at least 2 uninvited guests every day!
My grandfather - a devout, pious man - believed that the Lord visits us in the form of unexpected guests to test our sense of charity and compassion. So we never let any guests leave without offering them something to eat.
As you can imagine, there was always plenty of food and variety around us! Yum!!
The staff at home were mostly from Northern India. They cooked dishes like this nourishing chana dal fry with the goodness of chickpea lentils and spices, and this simple and supremely delicious aloo palak.
The elders of the family enjoyed their traditional Andhra food such as this dosakaya pachadi, and this vegan stew with steaming hot rice, pickles, and homemade curd.
And then there was the ‘fancy food’ (as my dad called it!) for us kids, which was anything but traditional Andhra food such as this street-style corn and peas salad, bullet naan, and vegan tortillas with herbs and spices.
That was the normal food scene in our household. And you can guess how it was during festivals and celebrations! 10x 😆.
The head chef - mum
I have to thank my mother for inspiring me. She is a wonderful lady with amazing culinary skills. She can make any dish delicious with simple ingredients 😍.
Like most ladies of her generation, she has spent most of her life in the kitchen, catering to all our food needs and demands (tantrums!) with tireless dedication, creativity, and joy.
She always had something new and exciting for us to try!
Growing up, every meal was a treat, thanks to her passion and enthusiasm! ❤️
Although she had some help in the kitchen for the pre and post-cooking chores, she was the master of cooking and she liked it that way.
What I admire most is that after years and years of cooking for so many people, every day, she loves cooking and creating new dishes, even to this day!
When my daughters were born, this is what she told me - “no matter how busy you are, make sure you cook fresh, even if simple, food for your kids”.
I have followed her advice and I cook simple, fresh food for my family, almost every day (although I have picked up some handy batch cooking and ingredients prepping tricks along the way 😃)
P.S.: I have a confession to make - I love cooking, but I hate chopping veggies! 🤷 Remember this sauteed okra recipe?
My entry into the world of cooking
Cooking has been my passion since I was a kid.
I remember making my first dish by myself when I was 14 years old. I wanted to impress my family, so I chose a complex recipe that involved stuffing and deep frying tomatoes (not very healthy, I know!).
During my school and college years, my love for cooking grew stronger. I used to cook for my family, my friends, my teachers, and anyone else who would try my food!
The internet was not around then, and recipes were not as easy to find as they are now. I used to look for recipes and ideas in cookbooks, magazines, and newspapers. My mum was (and still is) my reliable guide and mentor.
I remember the first recipe that I created - it was an Indo-Chinese dish: vegetable dumplings in a yummy sweet and sour sauce. I served it with buttered rice. That day is still clear in my mind. I had some friends over for a meal and I wanted to make something special for them. They loved it and I was so proud of myself!
Note to self: Find that recipe and make it again.
Even today, every new recipe that I create gives me the same excitement as that first one! I enjoy the whole process - from the idea to the final dish and the many trials and tweaks in between. In a way, every recipe that I create is my baby!
If you’re wondering what to make for dinner tonight, follow this link to explore all the delicious recipes on the site.