India, June 10 -- While watching my current go-to series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, I found myself chuckling at Sophie Lennon's signature line: "Put that on your plate!" Now, she meant it as a punchline. But honestly? It got me thinking. Because when life throws one of those days at you-where everything feels like too much and your to-do list is a personal attack, sometimes, all you really want is to put something warm, familiar, and forgiving on your plate. From a tangy bowl of rasam and rice, or your mum's fish curry, to a peppery chicken soup that knows when to stay quiet-these dishes show up when words fall short.

Comfort food has that magical quality, isn't it? It doesn't demand much-but gives you everything. It's not trying to im...