It wasn't that food from delivery apps lacked flavour. It simply wasn't maa ke haath ka khaana. That is what pushed Vivan Sharma (name changed), a 33-year-old HR professional from Pune, to try making his mother's special chicken biryani at home for the first time.
"After about 15 failed attempts, I can finally make a decent version of it," he says.
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"Living alone is difficult, especially when you are doing it for the first time in your 30s. I never imagined a simple dal chawal could feel so comforting on a stressful day, but it does because it makes me feel close to home."
Like Mehra, many young Indians are stepping away from packaged meals and returning to their kitchens, experimenting with family recipes not just for a hearty meal but also to feel connected to the people they love.
"I genuinely feel that ghar ka khaana is having a moment again, not just as comfort food, but as a way for younger Indians to stay emotionally connected to their roots," chef Neha Deepak Shah tells India Today.
She feels that cooking family recipes brings a sense of belonging, especially for those living away from home. It's like carrying a piece of your identity with you through food.
Shah further shares, "In my work, I've noticed
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