What kind of recipes do you love most? At The Locavore, we savour recipes that celebrate the heritage and culture of different regions and communities across the Indian subcontinent, and ones that use local and seasonal ingredients imaginatively. Oh, and recipes that are paired with delicious stories” those are our favourite kinds!
Seasoned by the Sea is a coastal community cookbook published by Uyir Pathipagam (2025). "Burma Nagar" settlements in Tamil Nadu are home to the Tamil communities repatriated from colonial Burma, who brought with them Burmese culinary influences. This recipe for "sambal," similar to balachaung, showcases the cultural exchange between these communities.
Seasoned by the Sea is a coastal community cookbook published by Uyir Pathipagam (2025). Bommi’s family is widely known as crab-sellers in the Thazhankuppam region of Tamil Nadu. Her crab dish, involving simple ingredients and techniques, highlights the flavours of fresh crab.
A sweet innate to Chhattisgarh, Dehrauri is made by fermenting rice. Glass jars filled to the brim with these treats can be found in Chhattisgarhi homes during most festivals.
This prawn-based dish native to the tribal regions of Odisha employs the traditional technique of leaf-wrapped cooking, which not only imparts a rich, smoky flavour but is also an example of utilising a part of the plane that would otherwise be discarded.
Every year, the arrival of the harvest festival brings the sweet aroma of Patishapta, a traditional Bengali dessert, to Ishani Banerjee's home.The recipe for this simple delicacy, passed down over generations, represents rich, nuanced familial ties and maternal love.
A healthy snack that can even double as a meal, the Jolada Kadabu is cherished in several Kannadiga households. It brings together the goodness of jowar with the unique flavours of wild greens.
This Tila Bajra Hummus with Chilli Ghee is a delightful appetiser that is packed with nutrients, making it an excellent addition to any healthy kitchen.