Food is one of the most important essence of Hygge. They are more than right when they say, you are what you eat. It simply means if you eat food that is either healthy or yummy to another level, food that brings back memories, or food that can give you instant joy are Hyggelig foods! It’s not only about the taste, texture, or what goes into making it, it also is associated with memories.

Here are some ingredients that would make you look at food in a different way!

Nostalgia / family recipes

It’s a well-known fact that certain types of food bring back fond memories. We crave an old recipe or homemade food because it’s associated with the time when we were truly happy, satisfied.

So, people, video call your home chefs and get the recipes you would like to make. The recipes that you always felt too scared to try because you don’t want to disturb the perfect taste that you associate with them. Try making them and even if they come close to how to remember them, you will feel immense joy, trust us! You can always reinvent those recipes with some innovation and share them back with your family. We are sure, families will appreciate your efforts.

Traditional recipes / festive food

One of the best ways to experience Hygge is to bring a little festivity at home. And what better way than bringing elaborate traditional recipes that are a specialty of your culture?

I remember when we tried Modaks (a traditional Maharashtrian recipe that we prepare during Ganeshotsav) for the first time. Skeptical, doubtful, and damn scared, we still tried it and they turned out amazingly well! That first bite of self-made Modak made me feel so proud and joyful!

Cooking together as an activity

If you like cooking and experimenting with recipes, an extra set of enthusiastic hands is always a blessing! If you find friends who like cooking as much as you do, imagine the possibilities.

During the lockdown, one of our dear friends was getting married in Pune and we couldn’t travel from Bangalore to Pune. The wedding was going to be live-streamed, so we decided to create our own feast while we watch our friend getting hitched! We dressed up, prepared a beautiful looking and tasting brunch, brought some drinks, danced, and cheered as our friend got married to her beau. That event was so special and created so many memories for us. Preparing a feast by mixing and experimenting with different recipes was one of them!

Trying cuisines from different cultures

“A good restaurant is like a vacation; it transports you, and it becomes a lot more than just about the food.” – Phil Rosenthal

That’s so true, isn’t it? before lockdown times, I know people who will try a new cuisine each week just so that they get a taste of that region and culture. Every culture has a specialty, proud jewels when it comes to food. Be it fancy experimentation food from big restaurants or local, family specialty recipes. The lockdown gave us a chance to start making that food in our homes. We all must have tried one new recipe that we never tried before. and how did it make us feel? Like a proud home chef?

Invent a new recipe

It’s definitely not rocket science. If you’re familiar with the basics of cooking and baking, toying around a new recipe is challenging our inner creativity! Mix and match, play with ingredients, and see what it turns into! You never know your OG invention can actually become a topic of conversation and dish that people crave for! Now that’s an amazing way of feeling Hygge not only for yourself but for your loved ones also!

Appreciating other’s food heritage

Have you ever organized a potluck? (Nope, I am not talking about those out of compulsion workplace potlucks where we end up bringing last minute soggy sandwiches) I really like the concept of pot luck just because it gives us a chance to peek into more kitchens and see what they bring in.

Planning a potluck with friends or family is such a fun activity! everyone brings an ounce of their culture when they cook something special. Or how about a themed potluck where everyone brings one ingredient and together we create a huge meal from it? Those are so fun!

Keep It Hygge is a platform for spreading happiness with the help of Hygge. We borrow the principles of A Danish lifestyle – Hygge is the Danish way of enjoying life’s simple pleasures and leading a contented life.  It helps us be happy on an everyday basis. Being happy is about finding joy in smaller things in life and being grateful for things we have. You will be surprised to know how little it takes for us to be happy. Hygge helps us find and preserve this feeling of happiness. It tells us how we can find happiness by keeping our senses happy. And we’re here to take you on that journey.