Hello & Welcome to Ministry of Curry
My name is Archana and I am the photographer and writer behind this blog.
I was born and raised in a small town near Mumbai in a Maharashtrian family eating my mom’s scrumptious food. My mom is a talented chef and a food enthusiast. Her food not only tastes amazing and draws flavors and spices from all over India, but is also a feast for the eyes.
My Cooking Journey
In 1997, I moved to the United States, over 8000 miles away from my mother’s gourmet cooking. The flavors and aromas of her food were so vivid in my memory that with her guidance and precise techniques I was able to adjust the flavors in my dishes to be just like hers. Before I knew it, I was spending more and more time in the kitchen, experimenting with different ingredients, cuisines, presentations, and sharing my simplified recipes with family and friends.
Ministry of Curry
In 2016, I launched Ministry of Curry with the vision of preserving my family’s stories and recipes while making cooking simple and fun for novice and expert cooks alike. And since then, I have been on a mission to develop easy recipes, combining modern techniques and authentic flavors.
My Cookbook
In October 2018, I published my first book, The Essential Indian Instant Pot Cookbook, authorized by the Instant Pot, with Ten Speed Press an imprint of Penguin Random House. I’ve been featured in Oprah, brit + co, Dr. Oz Show, The Washington Post, Food52, Epicurious, Taste Cooking, Austin360, Journal now The Telegraph, The Week, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel and People Magazine.
Since the book, there has been no stopping or looking back. I have never worked harder, and I am loving every minute of it. And what keeps me going on my hardest days is the connection I have with my followers - their success stories with my dishes fuel my passion for developing more recipes.
My other source of daily inspiration is my family. I love watching my children growing up eating and appreciating the same food I did at their age. It makes me so proud to see my boys learning to cook and inventing their own recipes. We all look forward to a home-cooked feast; It’s what brings us together so many times in a day. Every day, my home echoes with the same words I still say to my mom every time we speak ……….“Mom, What’s for dinner?”
Welcome to Ministry of Curry. So happy you stopped by!
leggypeggy says
I'm going to enjoy exploring your blog. Love the name.
Archana says
Thank you!
Mary Dillard says
I would love to have the essential Indian spices for recipes. I love spicy lentils and rice and I can't get the spices right. Please help.
Archana Mundhe says
Here is an article on essential Indian spices - https://ministryofcurry.com/essential-indian-spices/ - I hope you find it helpful.
annascuisine says
Hello, Archana. Thank you for following my humble blog. I appreciate it. Looking forward to seeing your future post. Have a lovely weekend. 🙂
Bandhna says
How nice! Hope to try out some of your recipes 🙂
Archana says
Thank you Bandhna!
Utkarshini Khanna says
Hie Archana! I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award! Check it out in my new post on Binding Curry?
Archana says
Thank you Utkarshini!
Utkarshini Khanna says
You're welcome?
Smiling Notes says
Happy to come across a fellow Marathi mulgi 😉 Love your blog!
Archana says
Yay! I am so happy to know that you are a Marathi multi too!
Smiling Notes says
Yayy 🙂
Tali says
Thank you for following my blog. I hope you enjoy it. You have a lovely blog and some great recipes. Looking forward for more...
Archana says
Thank you Tali!
ywwp says
good to know you archana - all the best to you..
Glad you follow my blog – http://YourWellWisherProgram.wordpress.com
Your Well Wisher Program is No NGO setup, No big costs, No team formed, No copyright protected, No solution patented, individual effort in an – Attempt to solve commonly known problems.
Archana says
Thank you!
Karina Pinella says
Wonderful recipes! Thanks for visiting and liking Honoring Our Veterans.
Archana says
Thank you Karina!
annika says
Hello Archana! Nice to get to know the person behind this lovely blog. Yes, we do have a few things in common! Glad to be on this journey with you.
Archana says
Thank you Annika!
Life In Pieces! says
Hi Archana! Nice to know you and finding interesting mouth watering recipes on your blog. Thanks for visiting and liking recipes on Arena of dreams.
Saffron and Vanilla Blog says
Hi Archana,
Thank you for visting my blog. and liking my recipes. Your photos and recipes are great!!
Archana says
Thank you!
Chez @ Chez Moi says
Hi Archana, thanks to Dude and the Food I have just discovered your lovely blog! I have never done much Indian cooking, apart from simple curries like Chicken Korma, so your blog is inspiring. I'm especially interested in trying your recipes for homemade paneer and ghee. Best wishes, Chez
Archana says
Thank you Chez! I appreciate your kind words. I hope you find some delicious recipes. Making homemade paneer and ghee is very easy and I hope you will try them.
Kate says
Just dropping to by to say THANK YOU for your delicious recipes! Everything you make is delicious. And you make me look very talented amongst my friends. 😉
Archana says
Hi Kate! Thank you for your lovely feedback. Comments like these make my day!
Riz says
Hey Archana! Followed your trail back here, and I'm glad I did! You have such a lovely blog! I've only just started reading it, and I'll be going through your posts tomorrow (because it's bedtime for me here in Toronto right now). And I can't wait to try out some of your recipes!
Riz
Archana says
Thank you Riz! I hope you enjoy the recipes
Thaddeus Winters says
Every time I read one of your posts, I come away with something new and interesting to think about. Thanks for consistently putting out such great content!
Giovanna Emmalynn Elsie Webb says
This blog post has left us feeling grateful and inspired
Kribashinee Perumal says
Your recipes looks divine and amazing would love to try them thank you
Archana Mundhe says
Thank you!
Devi says
I’m so happy to find your authentic marathi recipes. The moment I saw “kakdi chi koshimbir in my google search for cucumber salad, I knew I had found the right place!
Archana Mundhe says
yes! Welcome to ministry of curry, I hope you enjoy the marathi recipe here
Columbia md mulligatawny soup eater says
For mulligatawny soup can people do slow cooker after sautéing? Slow cooker on low or hi and how many hours for cooking?
Archana Mundhe says
Yes you can use a slow cooker. I would do Hi setting for 4 hours.
Rosetta says
My dear you are amazing to start this blog to help fellow Indians to maintain their culture no matter to which part of the world they go.Our culture is so rich in every aspect.I would have loved to have done something like this,sadly I am going on eighty two and am slowly losing the will to go on.May God continue to bless you with wisdom to share this knowledge with all and sundry.Thank you.