When Indian food is on the menu at Catherine Smart’s house, it usually means ordering dosa, saag paneer, and cauliflower Manchurian from a favorite local spot. But why do so many of us love eating Indian food while feeling intimidated to cook it at home?This week on Not From Concentrate, Catherine is joined by Auyon and Jyoti Mukharji, the son-mother duo behind Heartland Masala, for a warm, funny, and practical conversation about bringing Indian cooking into your own kitchen.They talk about building confidence with spices, techniques, and pantry staples; the role of family recipes, tradition, and adaptation across generations; and what American home cooks often misunderstand about Indian food. Auyon and Jyoti also share how Heartland Masala is making this rich culinary tradition feel more accessible, especially for people who want to cook with more flavor but do not know where to start.For listeners interested in ADHD cooking, this episode offers a generous reminder that unfamiliar cuisines do not have to feel overwhelming. With a few foundational ingredients, a little guidance, and permission to begin imperfectly, cooking can become more intuitive, creative, and joyful.This food podcast conversation is also about ADHD creativity: learning through doing, finding your own way into a tradition, and letting curiosity lead you toward deeper flavor.In this episode:*Why Indian home cooking does not have to feel overwhelming*How to build confidence with spices, techniques, and pantry staples*Family recipes, tradition, and adaptation across generations*What American home cooks often misunderstand about Indian food*How Heartland Masala makes Indian cooking more accessible*ADHD cooking, creativity, and finding more ease in the kitchenWhether you have always wanted to dust off your spice grinder or you are simply curious to learn more about the depth and diversity of Indian cuisine, this episode is a delicious place to start.Not From Concentrate is a food podcast for busy brains from host Catherine Smart — a cook, writer, mom, and creative entrepreneur with ADHD.Tune in for conversations with chefs, authors, creators, and food lovers about sparking creativity, calming chaos, and finding joy in (and out) of the kitchen + subscribe to the Not From Concentrate newsletter on Substack