Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Eddna incorporates the flavors of her childhood into her current New York City kitchen. Eddna learned to appreciate home cooked meals by watching her aunt and grandmother make every element of their dishes from scratch. “I would watch them get roots from the market and take a mortar and pestle to grind our spices.” She explained. “We didn’t have a refrigerator, or mixers, or anything like that. It wasn’t easy, but these women did it and everything was always so tasty.”  

Eddna brings the thoughtful cooking of her family into each element of her dishes. When reflecting on her meals growing up, she shared how, “the Indian was common, but the Jewish was unique.” Her family kept kosher, so while yogurt and shellfish may have been used in other Indian homes it was not used in hers. Shabbat dinners would regularly consist of dishes like aloo gobi or egg curry, two dishes Eddna has continued to make a part of her Shabbat table in New York. You can see Eddna’s egg curry and more on her Instagram.

Eddna’s Instagram @SplendourofIndiaInNewYork is a visual showcase of her love for the farmers’ market and the Indian Jewish dishes she creates with her finds. You can enjoy her recipe for Vegan Drumsticks at the end of this piece! 

The local farmers’ markets have become a source of inspiration for Eddna’s cooking. Drawn to the colors, quality, and ability to feel like she’s getting her food right from a farm, Eddna finds fresh produce and incorporates them into her Shabbat dishes each week. Eddna reflected on the level of access she has to food as an adult, compared to during her childhood. “Growing up was very difficult,” she explained. “During wartime, cooking and eating was not a priority.” Now, as an adult, cooking is able to be a source of passion for Eddna.

Eddna never lost her appreciation for homemade meals, and she has become her own source for Jewish and Indian culinary experiences. Eddna enthusiastically shared that, “Even though I can go to restaurants now, there’s no one who cooks the food I want, so I have no choice but to cook it for myself!” 

Eddna continues to forge her own path when it comes to Indian spices as well. Check back and find out how Eddna is working to bring Kosher Indian spices into your homes in another upcoming article! 

Eddna’s Vegan Drumsticks – A perfect dish for your Shabbat!

Ingredients

• Bundle of 4 to 6 malanga roots-your drumsticks! (also known as taro root)
• 2 large potatoes peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• Salt, to taste
• 1 teaspoon Tamarind paste
• 1 tablespoon Jaggery grated
• Chopped cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add cumin seeds, let them sizzle.
• Add onion, garlic
• Fry until light brown
• Add red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric and salt. 
• Mix well
• Add drumsticks
• Cook covered for 15-20 minutes or until tender
• Once cooked, add tamarind and jaggery 
• Garnish with cilantro