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4.5
This book has wonderful spice mixtures, like masalas, at the beginning. If you cook Indian food, it is these spice mixtures that make it or break it. The ones in this book are really, really good, although you will need access to either a good Indian grocer or online ordering. I have found almost every recipe I have cooked to be very good, so this has become a favorite book for over 20 years. I am now buying it again for my daughter-in-law, as well as another friend, as it really is a treasure for me.This book is so valuable as a reference that I have copies everywhere I spend time and I have bought copies for my daughter and other dear friends.There is plenty of really useful information about combinations of pulses and vegetables, apart from unusual suggestions for spice blends. Easy to follow recipes encourage experimentaion and the author is a great believer in low-fat cooking, a relatively new trend in Indian cooking. A joy to use.Accurate description!This is one of the foremost go-to Indian cookbooks that I follow for North Indian recipes. Neelam Batra is a genius in cooking! She's also documented tasty recipes using vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts etc which are not commonly used veggies in the Traditional Indian kitchen. Additionally she has given a healthy angle to the recipes by using less oil. By cleverly using herbs like mint, cilantro (recipes are packed with cilantro) and basil, the flavours pop in these dishes and the grease is not missed at all.My favourite recipes from this book are all the parathas, the dals, authentic Punjabi pakora kadhi, mint recipes and the sweets. Yummm!I love this book! I just bought a third copy to give away. Recipes are simple; ingredients easy to find; much healthier than most Indian cookbooks I have seen.This is one of my favorite Indian cookbooks for homestyle Indian cooking. None of the recipes will let you down. There are so many and the layout and reference sections will make you feel like a curry expert. There are recipes with/for legumes, Indian flat breads, chutney, paneer, and vegetables galore.This book is one of my favorites in my cookbook collection, though it might be a little intimidating for beginners. From a beginners prespective, I would say that the book could use some changes. For example, people who are just starting out would be expected to cook everything in smaller quantities till they perfect a particular dish. With this in mind, the author could have given measurements in all recipes to serve 2-4 people instead of 8; as a beginner, I found it easier to multiply quantities rather than halving or quartering them. As I got used to cooking however, I found this book invaluable. The time-tested recipes are excellent and every one of them has been a success with me. The use of vegetables like avacados, generally not found in Indian cuisine, is a welcome change, from using the same vegetables everyday. Also, the mentioning of non-vegetarian equivalents, has been an advantage for me since I am a vegetarian and this gives me a chance to cook delicious vegetarian dishes, without the meat. Overall, a good book especially for people who entertain frequently.As a former chef and Indian food enthusiast I was blown away but this author and amin process of collecting all her books....a fantastic book for beginners or the advanced
