Renu Sikka

Guest writer

Renu Sikka is an Auckland-based writer, educator and the founder of Our Stories On Plate, a non-profit community social enterprise for empowering refugee and migrant women through cooking and sharing their cultural food stories.

Women wearing traditional Punjabi dress perform the giddha folk dance around a bonfire during Lohri celebrations in Amritsar in 2015 (Photo: NARINDER NANU/AFP via Getty Images)

Fun, frolic, fire and food: Celebrating the Indian festival Makar Sankranti

Plus: a Punjabi recipe for spinach curry and exquisite chapati.

By Renu Sikka | 23rd January, 2020

Photo: Pashminu Mansukhani

Light of my life: A Diwali memoir of family, food and fireworks

Symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, Diwali – or Deepavali, as it's known in the south of India – will always hold a special place in Renu Sikka's heart.

By Renu Sikka | 12th October, 2019

After the long day’s fasting, it’s time for iftar, which brings amazingly delicious food (Photo: Getty Images)

The singular joy of the fast-breaking feast: a special recipe for Ramadan

Renu Sikka reminisces about discovering the delicious Ramadan foods of her Muslim friends while growing up in India, and shares a traditional recipe.

By Renu Sikka | 7th May, 2019