Cooking Like Mummyji [Paperback]

Vicky Bhogal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2003

If you think you know Indian cooking, think again. This book from a fresh, young talent reveals a little-known cuisine with roots both in the Indian sub-continent and in Britain. 'I have often thought it such a shame that the Western world is not let in on the secret of real Indian home cooking, as though it is a sort of long-standing trick, our last remaining jewel,' says Vicky Bhogal in the introduction to Cooking like Mummyji. 'Our home food is much simpler than what you find in Indian restaurants. We use very little spices. The same ingredients are generally used for everything, but, like musical notes, can be combined in many different ways to create beautiful melodies.' Vicky Bhogal is passionate about British Asian food. In over 100 recipes she reveals its secrets. Many of the names of her dishes will be familiar to afficionados of high-street Indian restaurants, but they will find Vicky's versions surprisingly fresher, healthier and more delicious, with simpler, more vivid flavours. Her cooking is also a good deal friendlier and less complicated than the recipes of most Indian cookbooks. Along the way Vicky makes some sharp, fun observations on British Asian culture and we encounter some of her family members and learn their favourite recipe. And since Vicky's family and friends have lived in the UK for two generations now, Indian cooking techniques have been applied to their favourite British ingredients with some surprising results, for example an Indian version of Fried Eggy Bread, Baked Beans with Spring Onion Sabji, Pasta with Yoghurt and Chilli Drizzle.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vicky Bhogal is a bright new star in the cookery world. She was born in the Midlands in 1978 to Sikh parents. Her family ensured that she grew up in Western society with strong Indian family values - namely, respect for elders, getting excellent grades at school and learning how to cook just like my mother. Like many other British Asian girls she grew up listening to New Kids on the Block one minute and learning how to cook dhal the next.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st edition, edition (October 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743239822
• ISBN-13: 978-0743239820
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without a doubt, the best Indian cookbook I have ever bought, May 4, 2005

By 

Neena Bains "Indian Cookbook Fanatic" (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking Like Mummyji (Paperback)

I've bought a lot of Indian cookbooks, since I was born and raised in the west and never really learned how to cook Indian food (more like I learned how to make tacos and lasagna!!). My cousin in England also owns this and recommended I buy a copy. I cannot tell you how glad I am that I did!!!!

I am Punjabi so my mom makes a lot of these dishes at home, but its hard to learn from her because she never has exact measurements. This book spells out the measurements needed. It also gives the real names to ingredients, making it easy to follow! Don't worry if you're not Indian, it tells you what everything is. There is even a section (Godsend) that tells you how to store and freeze certain herbs that are used often in loads of different Indian dishes.

So far I have made the pakorey, methi paronthey, and jacket potatoes and all came out fantastic with rave reviews from the husband and even my parents! And I found out as I was making it that the recipe is extremely close to what my mom does at home anyway, which is great, this is really authentic! :)

Even though it has a few British slang words, I still was able to follow everything as an American.

I am a vegetarian and this book had loads of options for me.

I love how every recipe comes with a little story to it! :) Visually, I also love the colours and layout of the book. It's actually a great read, my mom and I both read the whole book cover to cover for fun! :)

I cannot wait for the followup book to this, I heard a rumor the author is starting a cooking show with the BBC and I hope thats true and I hope I get it on BBC America!!!!

The only sad part was they didn't have recipes for stuff like aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower) so I guess I will have to resort to another book for that (sadly). Or hopefully await the next edition!

I cannot say enough, I love this book!!!!!!