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!
Parul Singhal says
Hello Archana. I have nominated you for3 days quote challenge.
https://gharkepakwan.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/three-day-quote-challenge-day-3/
Archana says
Thank you Parul for nominating me. Sorry I have been having very busy these days and could not participate. Would love to participate in the future.
lynne hoareau says
Hi Archana, lovely to meet you. Thank you so much for stopping by at my blog, Lynne's Recipe Trails and for the follow. I look forward to exploring yours 🙂 Take care and have a wonderful day.
Archana says
Thank you Lynne! I look forward to exploring your blog too.
ohiocook says
.....and for following my blog!
nancyruth says
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I look forward to seeing what you've been cooking!
mawarre says
Hi thre Archana. thanks for spending some time exploring my blog, Simple Food. I love INdian food and look forward to following yur blog. It's great to read other people's food stories. THanks for sharing yours. margaret
Archana says
Thank you!
Sudhir Suvarna says
Thank you for the follow, Archana. I look forward to your yummy posts.
I am sure what you share here is better than software. Best Regards, Sudhir
Archana says
Thank you for the kind words!
Monika says
Hey Archana.. Good to connect with you, Thanks so much for the follow. I finally managed to check out your blog after so long and must say you have shared some really good recipes.. And yeah, you are so pretty 🙂
Archana says
Thank you for your Kind words Monika!
lorigreer says
I am so excited to discover your blog. I love Indian food and would love to make it at home. Lori
Archana says
Thank you Lori! I try to put simple but delish recipes! Let me know how you like them or if you have any questions.
lorigreer says
I certainly will. Thank you!
Glenn says
I'm reading your blog and I wanted to tell you how much I like it. The instructions are quite clear, the layout is really attractive, the anecdotes are interesting and amusing (I liked the one about adding too much tamarind to the shrimp dish when you had a friend coming for dinner because you hadn't read the recipe carefully), and the photography looks professional. Do you take the photographs yourself?
Honestly, the whole thing is like something done by a professional, like Madhur Jaffrey or someone like that. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes!
Archana says
Thank you for your kind words Glenn!!
Archana says
And thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoy the recipes.
Osyth says
Archana, first of all I must thank you for flattering me by following my blog. I hope not to disappoint. Secondly, just the briefest glimpse of your blog tells me that I must follow you .... I am living in the US, was raised in the UK and my home is France. I have never been to India but like most good English girls I do love Indian food and was fortunate to have a great friend from India when my daughter's were young who taught me a little. For me the kitchen is the heart beat of the home and I never stop wanting to read and try new dishes and new skills. You will teach me much I know and I thank you in advance for what I know will be a great journey 🙂
Archana says
Thank you for your kind words! Like you said it is going to be a great journey following each other! I hope to learn from you too!
Utkarshini Khanna says
Hie! Thankyou for following my young blog Bake To The Top!! Looking forward to reading your interesting posts as well:)
Rashminotes says
Lovely blog Archana; look forward to reading many of your posts!
Thanks a ton for stopping by mine:)
Archana says
Thank you!
arv! says
Thank you for following my blog.
I think we Indians can't do without Indian food where ever we may be. In your case the taste of your mom drew ou to Indian food. It's great to know that your boys are now addicted to Indian food prepared by you. your writing style is simple but great! 🙂
Archana says
Thank you!
Loretta says
Thanks so much for following my blog Archana. I love your story and can echo those same sentiments in my own life. My mom was amazing in the culinary department, our love of different cuisines was encouraged by her. I was born in Mumbai (my parents of Goan heritage), but we moved to Africa when I was 3 years old and have taken with me a love of food in all the other countries I've lived in. It's great to be following you and your blogging journey too 🙂
Archana says
Thank you Loretta! I am so happy to hear your story and to follow your culinary journey!
Tasty Eats Ronit Penso says
Thank you for visiting and following my blog. I'm glad to have discovered yours as well. 🙂
Archana says
Thank you!
tingleurtastebuds says
Archana good to meet you here and happy to read about you. Actually here in Nairobi in a Indian shop I just saw a packet of Gulkhand and was wondering in what can this be used. Here today you post the Gulkhand kheer and am like wow. I haven't bought the packet of Gulkhand - as it was quiet a big one. But good I now know one recipe of using it. Interesting blog my dear. We both have same interests and let's be friends.
Meena.
Archana says
Thank you for your kind words Meena. Gulkand has a long shelf life and works well with many desserts! Next time you are in the shop you should buy it. It is very cooling in the summers and very tasty just by itself. Looking forward to many more interesting recipes from Nairobi my friend!
the other food interpreter says
Very nice looking blog! Thanks for the follow! ?
Archana says
Thank you!
chezlerevefrancais says
Thank you for stopping by Archana. Your blog looks great and I am always on the lookout for authentic Indian cuisine! Amanda 🙂
Archana says
Thank you Amanda!
Archana says
Thank you Amanda
ashu@ashstylegourmet says
Glad to connect with a marathi mulgi, Archana :)!
Archana says
Thank you! And so happy to have found your blog! Looking forward to some typical marathi recipes 🙂
ashu@ashstylegourmet says
Me too 🙂
Zeba@Food For The Soul says
Hi Archana...what a nice blog you have here including the very cool name :). I am hoping to keep coming back to it for recipe inspirations. Thanks for visiting mine...Zeba
Archana says
Thank you Zeba!! I was just reading your eggplant with lamb recipe. I make something very similar with chicken.