Guide by Seema Goswami: Follow these initial steps
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In a bid to promote culinary education among schoolchildren, the "10 Cooking Skills for Life" initiative, spearheaded by Jamie Oliver, offers a fun and engaging approach to teaching Indian cooking to children aged 10-12. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to introduce Indian cooking to children in a way that's both enjoyable and educational.
Start with Familiar Flavours
Begin with simple dishes featuring ingredients that kids commonly enjoy, such as potatoes. Teach them how to peel and cut potatoes to make easy dishes like aloo bhaja (fried potato strips), aloo dum (spiced potatoes), or chokha (mashed potato with spices). These practical, tactile steps keep kids engaged.
Introduce Basic Recipes
Introduce basic and quick-to-learn recipes like spiced scrambled eggs (akuri) or yellow dal with tempering (tarka). These are simple enough for kids to follow but provide authentic Indian flavors and cooking techniques such as tempering spices in ghee.
Incorporate Hands-on Tasks
To keep children involved, incorporate hands-on tasks like peeling easy seafood (prawns) or chopping soft vegetables. Gradually increase complexity as they gain confidence.
Use Child-friendly Kitchen Tools
Use approachable kitchen tools suitable for children, like pressure cookers for boiling lentils or steamers for dishes like uttapam. These tools can hold their interest and teach them how to make staple meals independently.
Combine Learning with Fun
To keep it engaging, combine learning with fun by letting them personalize their dishes (e.g., adding favorite spices or ingredients), and share simple histories or cultural stories behind the dishes.
For a Sweet Ending
Include easy-to-make Indian desserts like coconut laddoos or mango panna cotta which children can participate in preparing with supervision, involving less stove-time and more mixing and assembling.
This stepwise approach—starting with familiar flavors, providing hands-on opportunities, and gradually introducing Indian cooking principles—makes the experience enjoyable and educational for children aged 10-12.
Summary of Practical Starter Ideas:
| Dish Type | Example Recipes | Engagement Aspect | |----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| | Potato-based dishes | Aloo bhaja, aloo dum, chokha | Peeling, cutting, mashing | | Eggs | Spiced scrambled eggs (akuri) | Simple cooking, learning spices | | Lentils (dal) | Yellow dal with simple tempering | Pressure cooking, tempering techniques | | Seafood/Meat basics | Prawns stir fry, keema with beans | Peeling, chopping, mixing | | South Indian breakfast| Instant rava uttapam | Steaming, flipping pancakes | | Desserts | Mango panna cotta, coconut laddoos | Mixing, layering (no intense stove skills) |
This structure helps instill confidence and enjoyment while introducing foundational Indian cooking skills and flavors.
[1] Source: @htbrunch [2] Bon Appetit: A common phrase used to wish someone a pleasant meal. [3] The article was published in HT Brunch on July 26, 2025. [4] The author is a fan of Jamie Oliver's cooking shows and initiatives.
- The "10 Cooking Skills for Life" initiative, led by Jamie Oliver, aims to educate students about Indian cooking, incorporating health-and-wellness into family-health and parenting.
- Additionally, this program offers global-cuisines, focusing on sustaining children's interest through various food-and-drink choices, which prioritizes entertainment and lifestyle beyond just food preparation.
- Moreover, home-and-garden enthusiasts can benefit from learning about Indian dishes, as many traditional cooking techniques can be applied to broader culinary experiences.
- As Jamie Oliver's initiative emphasizes, engaging children with cricket, the national sport of India, could be a fun way to introduce the cultural context of Indian dishes and promote overall health.
- Furthermore, science enthusiasts may find interest in understanding the chemistry behind various Indian spices and their health benefits within the health-and-wellness community.
- The step-by-step guide covers recipes like aloo bhaja, akuri, and mango panna cotta, which cater to a variety of tastes and range from easy-to-complex, following the principles of scientific cooking.
- With this approach, individuals can participate in cooking Indian food while simultaneously enjoying the entertainment value, learning valuable kitchen skills, and appreciating the cultural significance of Indian dishes.
