ELLICOTT CITY, MD — A Howard County couple introduced their line of freeze-dried Indian food this summer, and it has quickly become a hit with area residents.
Ashish and Beena Bakshi set up outside Caplan's Market on Main Street almost every Saturday this summer, offering samples of their Indian food line, Spicey Saffron, which they launched in May.
In their first month of selling their freeze-dried line in Ellicott City this summer, they sold more than 400 Spicey Saffron meal packets, the couple shared on social media.
"We're grateful for every customer who gave us a try, shared a recommendation or came back for more. Thank you for being part of our journey so far! We're excited for what's ahead," the couple stated.
The Bakshis came up with the business idea on a family trip to Yellowstone last year when a relative who follows a vegetarian diet busted out freeze-dried food, according to their website.
"They were lightweight, easy to pack and could be ready in minutes with little more than hot water. By the second day, the rest of us had grown tired of the usual park food. Before long, we were asking if we could 'borrow' one of her meals," the couple shared on their website.
"After a full day of hiking and exploring, sitting down to something warm, flavorful and familiar felt completely different from another grab-and-go meal. It was convenient, but it still felt like real food. For us, that was part of what made the moment stick: these were the kinds of Indian dishes we already knew and loved, only in a form that could go practically anywhere. That experience stayed with us."
The couple, who work in IT, toiled for months to choose the right chef and right seasonings. So far, they've sold more than 800 freeze-dried meal packets, including palak paneer, dal makhani, paneer butter masala, pav bhaji, rajma chawal and vegetable biryani. The packages only need hot water or a microwave to prepare them, and they're ready in minutes.
"Our meals are made from Indian recipes, carefully prepared and shelf-stabilized so they're pantry-ready whenever you need them," the couple shared.
To learn more about Spicy Saffron, visit their Instagram page or shop online.
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