Nivaala was born from a deeply personal realization after I lost my mother a few years ago. I hadn’t written down or learned any of our family recipes. All that remained were faint memories of her cooking, which left me experimenting to recreate the flavors she used to whip up. This realization struck even harder when my nephew was born—it became clear that her cherished family recipes, each with its own unique story, were fading away.

I felt an urgent need to document them and sought out my mother’s extended family, who shared her cooking style. It was a way to preserve her culinary legacy and introduce the next generation to the warmth and love she poured into her food.

That’s how Nivaala was born—a platform dedicated to encouraging people to treat their family recipes as tangible heirlooms, just like the saris, watches, and jewelry we inherit as part of our family’s cultural heritage.

Nivaala is my heartfelt ode to my mother, Neena, and her mother, Subhash—two incredible women who loved us through their cooking.

With love,
Shruti