Minnesota Sisters Spice Up the Nation with Mom’s Secret Sauce
Get ready to be inspired by the heartwarming journey of Minnesota sisters turning a cherished family recipe into a nationwide sensation!
St. Louis Park, Minnesota – Meet Yasameen and Sheilla Sajady, two talented sisters from Minnesota who are stirring up something special in the kitchen. Their secret ingredient? A treasured family chutney recipe that’s turning heads all across the country.
Yasameen and Sheilla enjoy spending time in their Twin Cities kitchen and have always shared a strong connection with food since their early days. They fondly recall family gatherings where discussions revolved around who made the best rice, what sides to include, and the star of every meal – their mom’s chutney.
This green sauce was a hit at gatherings, serving as a way to bond and celebrate their culture. Growing up as first-generation Afghan-Americans, it was a way for them to connect with their heritage and learn about their roots.
Their parents emigrated from Afghanistan to Minnesota in the 1970s, working tirelessly to establish themselves in a new country. While adapting to their new life, the sisters sometimes felt like outsiders among their peers, wishing for lunches that looked more like their friends’ meals.
In 2014, during a family lunch, inspiration struck as they added fresh ginger to their mom’s chutney recipe. They decided to share their culture through food, and that’s how Maazah, which means “flavor” in Farsi, was born.
Initially, Maazah was a side project alongside their full-time jobs. They would make chutney in small batches and introduce it to people in their community. Over time, their sauces gained popularity, and they transitioned to working on Maazah full-time.
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Through Maazah, they honor their mom’s legacy and continue to pass down their culture to not only their own family but also to other families who enjoy their products. Maazah sauces are now available in over 250 Target locations in the Midwest, as well as in California. The exciting news is that their products will soon be available at Whole Foods and Costco later this year.
