Customer Reviews

Curries Without Worries

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One thing is certain, Curries Without Worries is not a pretentious cookbook. The recipes are simple and straightforward, and the commentary dwells a lot on which family member loves which dish.

Koul does a good job of demystifying the spices, ingredients and cooking styles that might otherwise trip up Western cooks. And -- of course -- the food is wonderful.

I found the recipes to be the perfect blend of ease without sacrificing the authenciticy of the flavors. I also enjoy the variety in the book because it contains recipes from the diferent regions of India. Using the many ingredients easily available at the supermarket, adds to the ease of using this book. I use the book frequently and know that if followed correctly, the recipes turn out delicious.

I borrowed (stole?) this book from a friend, and am slowly working my way through it. Everything so far has been delicious, and I am slowly gaining enough confidence to try substitutions when my spice cupboard is not up to the demands of the recipe (what are curry leaves, anyway?) The recipes are conveniently separated into chapters for dishes with and without meat, plus some side dishes and pickles. For those interested in getting a basic education in Indian cuisine, this is a good place to start. I hope Sudha Koul is planning another, more advanced, cookbook, which, if it has pictures, and recipes of the same reliability, I would give 5 stars...

I purchased the same book a few years back and made the mistake of bringing it into work so that we could review the recipes. Alas, it was scarpered. I hope that whoever took it NEVER gets to make any of the recipes or does something wrong that makes them sick!

I finally broke down and bought it again. I have made two of the recipes and would make both of them again. Delicious! This book is NOT going to be shared.

The seller was prompt, delivery was timely and the book was in the condition that was advertised. It has well met my expectations.

I've had several dishes from this book and they have been easy to cook and delicious. Delicious not only to me, but also to 3 friends from India, who know how it could and should taste.

Buy the newer 1996 edition, it's said to be better than the first edition around 1989.

If a revised edition comes out, count me in to buy it. I also cook from similarly well known books by Madhur Jaffrey, Julie Sahni, and several others, and I rank it among the best.

I think this book is a very simple down to earth text on Indian cuisine. Thanks to "curries without worries" I was able to produce my first well made chicken curry. ( being an Indian )

I want to preface this review by saying I am not a cook. Eating at home means reheating already prepared meals or ordering in. I adore Indian food because (1) it tastes amazing and (2) it all seemed like magic to me...the complex, yet delicate flavors. I attempted the chicken curry a few weeks ago, and it turned out so well, I was grinning with pride and telling everyone I know what I had just accomplished for weeks! One word of note - you'll likely need to go to the grocery store and store up on spices that are not already in your pantry. The payoff is being able to use it all in ways that will make you proud. I'm grateful that I have this cookbook in my library!

I purchased this unassuming book at a garage sale a few years ago and paid no mind to it for a while. I had a lot of fancy hard-cover books of Indian cuisine with lofty names, host of painstakingly detailed recipes and photos to tempt any palate. One day, while I was looking for a recipe for a curry, I decided to finally open it. That was 6 years ago - since then, every recipe I have made from that book has wowed my friends and family. It's simple, easy to follow and everything is tasty and excellent. I looked around to see if Sudha Koul had written other cookbooks but it doesn't look like it. So I'm hanging to my little book for dear life. I highly recommend this book - the explanations are easy to follow and the variety of recipes is also very interesting. A little gem of a book!

I am giving this a five star since it is one of the few cookbooks we refer to on a regular basis.

I use the vegetable Pullao (rice) recipe regularly which gets me bonus points with my wife.

We use the recipe for Whispering Windows Butter Chicken regularly.

On occasion I have made the Tandori Chicken.

There are several others that are good.

I couldn't tell you how authentic it is but we really like the finished results.

Like all recipes you can improvise if you like less or more of something or you don't have the exact ingredients. It will drive you to keep a lot of spices on hand.

My only criticism is that the recipes are not usually something that you can prepare quickly.

Follow the instructions for making Garam Masala. Your kitchen will smell wonderful for a couple of days.

The stained pages in my copy attest to the fact that I use this book often. The Whispering Windows Butter Chicken is a favorite. Some reviewers have stated that too much cayenne is called for in the recipes, but I'd like to point out that cayenne comes in different levels of heat units and that if you use the lowest "heat unit" cayenne the recipes come out perfect. If you use high "heat unit" cayenne then, yes, the recipes would be too spicy for many people.

I've made most of the lamb recipes, too, and they are wonderful. Many of them have no cayenne at all and are perfect for people "afraid" of Indian food for fear that it is too spicy.

We've found that if we prep the spices ahead of time (measure them and put then into small containers to be added at the correct time) then after-work cooking is a breeze. This is a great book for both the novice and experienced cook.