Home Shikha Bhakoo, Recipe Developer & Plant-Forward Cooking Educator

Shikha Bhakoo, Recipe Developer & Plant-Forward Cooking Educator

Hello, I’m Shikha

The recipe developer and writer behind Veggiecurean. As a lifelong vegetarian home cook with formal training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the International Culinary Center, and the Natural Gourmet Institute, I create plant-forward recipes inspired by global flavors, crafted with everyday ingredients, and written for real home kitchens, so you can cook nourishing meals with confidence.

A Little About Me

I was born and raised in Delhi, India, and moved to the United States at seventeen. Since then, I’ve called Delhi, Los Angeles, Oregon, and, since 2001, New York City home. Growing up amid the aromas of fresh herbs, warm spices, and family-style dinners, I learned flavor and technique by watching my mother and grandmother, not simply by following written recipes. That hands-on education still shapes every dish I develop today.

I adopted a vegetarian lifestyle in my late teens and have since explored vegan, gluten-free, and higher-protein vegetarian approaches. Now, my focus is on plant-forward cooking: many recipes are fully vegan, while others include dairy or eggs only when they truly elevate the dish. Every recipe you find here is conceived, cooked, and rigorously tested in my own kitchen, all with the goal of removing guesswork so you can cook with ease.

My formal background includes

  • Professional experience in consumer packaged goods, including roles at a Fortune 500 company
  • Institute for Integrative Nutrition (Graduate, 2012, nutrition and healthy-lifestyle coaching)
  • International Culinary Center (classical cooking and baking techniques)
  • Natural Gourmet Institute (health-supportive cooking)
  • Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry
  • MBA in Marketing

The Story Behind Veggiecurean

Veggiecurean began as a simple answer to friends’ and family’s requests for my recipes and as a place where my children could always find our favorite meals. What started as a personal collection has blossomed into a go-to resource for anyone seeking reliable, plant-forward recipes for everyday cooking.

Each recipe follows a consistent process: I test it multiple times, write clear step-by-step instructions, and design it for practical home kitchens using accessible ingredients. My aim is to keep techniques approachable, build flavor naturally, and use fresh, seasonal produce whenever possible. Cooking should be enjoyable and relaxing, never complicated.

Life Beyond the Kitchen

When I’m not in the kitchen, you’ll find me exploring New York City’s farmers’ markets and restaurants, planning my next food-centered trip, or unwinding with hiking, running, skiing, and cookbooks that spark new ideas. I love discovering seasonal produce, tasting new dishes, and learning how different cultures celebrate food through their everyday cooking traditions. These experiences often inspire new flavors, techniques, and combinations that eventually make their way into the recipes I share on Veggiecurean.

Let’s Cook Together

I hope these recipes inspire you to prepare wholesome, plant-forward meals in your own kitchen and to delight in every step of the process. Thank you for being here, and happy cooking!