Why I Teach

People often ask me how I ended up teaching Indian cooking in Andover, Massachusetts. To be honest, it wasn’t a plan. It was a series of small, loving decisions that led me to a passion I never expected. 

I’m Shilpi Ranjan — wife, mother, traveler, lifelong educator, and a cook who has been teaching Indian cooking classes in Boston for over twelve years. But before any of that, I was a middle school teacher. I adored the classroom. I loved watching a kid’s eyes light up when something finally clicked. Teaching was more than a job for me, it was who I was. 

Eventually, I quit. My son has cerebral palsy, and as he grew up it became too difficult to manage his care while working full time. I was happy to spend more time with my family, but there was a part of me that still craved the excitement of teaching. 

How I Discovered My Dream of Hosting the Best Indian Cooking Classes in Boston 

For as long as I can remember, my family and friends have complimented my

cooking. “Shilpi, you have to teach this.” “Shilpi, this is restaurant-quality.” “Shilpi, you should bottle this.” “Shilpi, you could start an Indian cooking school in Boston” For a long time, I brushed off the compliments. People were just being nice, I said to myself.

But one day, I couldn’t ignore what was right in front of me. I had a teaching fire I couldn’t put out. I had a kitchen full of spices, recipes carried across continents, and a lifetime of memories made over shared meals. And I had a need for flexible work that let me be a mother first. So I taught one class, then  another. Then I started offering a series through the Andover department of community services. My family and I built a website offering classes. Then people started asking if I could host their birthday parties, their date nights, their team-building events, and any kind of adult cooking class for Boston-area food lovers. Twelve years later, here I am. 

Why “EZ Compliments”

The name comes from those compliments my family used to give me. But it’s also a promise to my students: you’re going to leave my kitchen able to cook food thatearns you compliments. That’s the whole point – to make your friends and families so full and happy that they can’t help but compliment you. 

I am not interested in teaching you to be a chef. I am interested in teaching you to make food that makes someone you love say, “Wait, you made this?” That’s why my classes are a good fit for anyone looking for beginner cooking classes near Boston, especially if Indian spices or recipes have always felt a little intimidating.

What Every Indian Cooking Class is Really About

Yes, you’ll learn to cook. You’ll leave with recipes, with the confidence to use spices you might have been intimidated by, and with a full belly because every class ends with us sitting down and eating what we made together.

But the deeper thing I want to share is harder to describe. I grew up in India, where the language, the culture, and the cuisine change every few hundred kilometers. I’ve traveled across continents, and the meals I remember most aren’t from fancy restaurants. They’re from kitchens where someone welcomed me in, fed me, and told me their stories.

That’s what I’m trying to recreate. My kitchen is small. The group is small. We chop, we taste, we laugh, we eat. By the end of the evening you’ve usually made a friend or two. This sense of community is the whole point of the class. 

Some people come because they’re looking for one of the best cooking classes in Boston. Others come because they saw upcoming cooking classes near Boston and wanted to try something new. But once they’re here, the class becomes less about checking an activity off a list and more about slowing down and discovering how joyful Indian cooking can be.

Join an Indian Cooking Class for Adults Near Boston

If you’ve ever stood in the spice aisle wondering what to do with cardamom, if you’ve ever wanted to cook the food you love at your favorite Indian restaurant at home, or if you’re just looking for a fun night out with people you love — I would be honored to have you in my kitchen.

Bring your appetite and curiosity. Leave the intimidation at the door. I’ll handle the rest. When you’re ready, you can explore upcoming cooking classes in the Boston area, check Boston cooking class dates, and find a class that fits your schedule.

Happy Cooking !