What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?

When it comes to food, our family’s list of top 3 favorite meals requires a bit of context. You see, in our household, culinary decisions follow a “federal system” of governanceeach of us has distinct preferences, and let’s just say they don’t always align.

For instance, I gravitate toward milder flavors, the kind that some might call “bland.” My son, on the other hand, craves spice levels that could set off smoke alarms. My wife, ever the diplomat, takes the middle path.

But it doesn’t stop there. Our dietary choices make meal planning even more interesting. My son is a proud non-vegetarian, I’m a lacto-ovo vegetarian (a fancy term I recently learned that means I eat eggs, dairy, and vegetables), and my wife is a pure vegetarian.

Here’s how meal prep usually unfolds:

1. My wife starts by preparing the base of the dish and sets aside my portion before adding any spices.
2. She then adds moderate spices and saves a portion for herself.
3. Finally, she goes full throttle with fiery seasonings for our son, who inevitably still complains it’s too bland.

Lately, I’ve been living in Kerala, a region in India known for its own spicy culinary traditions. However, since I do all my own cooking here, my meals have become a haven of mild flavorswith the added bonus of no heartburn!

Our Top 3 Family Favorites

Despite our wildly different preferences, there are a few dishes that unite us all:

1. Rice and Lentils (Dal) or Khichdi: A simple, comforting staple in South Asian cuisine.
2. Curd Rice: Rice with lots of curd. easy on the stomach and good for the mind.
3. Aloo Paratha: Soft chapatis stuffed with spiced mashed potatoesindulgent, satisfying, and perfect for occasional calorie splurges.

While food might be a tug-of-war in our family, it’s also a reflection of how we balance and celebrate our differencesone dish at a time.