The Dance of Spices: Classic Indian Cooking for Today's Home Kitchen [Hardcover]

Laxmi Hiremath (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 2005

A new classic on adapting authentic Indian seasonings and techniques to today’s American kitchen

Indian cuisine has finally come into its own in the United States, as evidenced by the opening of numerous stylish, upscale Indian restaurants. The "dance of spices" refers to the complex, subtle layering of flavors that is at the base of all Indian cooking. This definitive cookbook showcases the wonderful diversity of new Indian cuisine with 238 recipes: fragrant basmatis and rice pilafs; rich, soothing dishes like Chicken Korma; exotic dishes like Fennel-Scented Kashmir Lamb; tongue-teasing chutneys and relishes; side dishes like Velvety Mango Paneer; and sweet confections, all of which can be made with ease at home. Special chapters are devoted to subjects not fully explored in other books, such as tandoor barbecue, chaats–the savory street snacks of India–and popular flatbreads.

Laxmi Hiremath (San Ramon, CA), born in the South of India, has taught Indian cooking in the United States for more than a decade and is one of the San Francisco Chronicle’s most popular food writers. Her articles and recipes have appeared in such publications as Gourmet, Bon Appétit, and Fine Cooking.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Do you relish intensely spiced curries and deliciously cool raitas, velvety chicken korma and exotic Kashmiri lamb? If you love Indian food, you may wonder whether recreating the complex textures and delicate interplay of spices found in your favorite dishes is truly within your reach. Have no fear. In The Dance of Spices, seasoned chef and acclaimed food writer Laxmi Hiremath guides you every step of the way to bring the subtle, richly layered flavors of India's extraordinary culinary tapestry to your own kitchen.

Raised in southwest India, Hiremath perfected her own culinary art after moving to the United States, and so her recipes display a unique awareness of how Americans cook and eat. From microwaveable rice preparations to tangy-sweet chutneys used as memorable marinades for barbecued fish or chicken, Hiremath shares valuable guidance on how to cook exotic Indian specialties at home. She explains not only what to do but also why, combining clear, detailed explanations of specific techniques with important background knowledge that you can apply to every dish you prepare.

More than 200 recipes feature signature classics as well as eye-opening originals created by the author. Choices range from the irresistible opulence of Moghul Lamb Biryani and the elegant, soothing sweetness of Warm Mango Soup to the sweet-spicy surprise of Tandoori Turkey with Pomegranate Juice and the delectable crispiness of Quick Semolina Crepes and other South Indian dosa pancakes.

You'll find chapters on starters and sides, such as breads, rice pilafs, soups, and chutneys; meat and poultry, seafood, vegetable, tandoori, and other main dishes; desserts and drinks; and much more. Along the way, Hiremath demystifies the enticing palette of spices and herbs used in Indian cookery—their origins, flavors, and textures, and how they are best bought, stored, and used.

Peppered throughout the book are intriguing historical details and memories from Hiremath's own childhood: Tales of the Moghul elite's imperial kitchens mingle with enchanting stories of the mouthwatering street snacks (chaat) the author eagerly anticipated during childhood vacations in Mumbai.

Well organized and clearly written, The Dance of Spices is destined to become the new classic on Indian cooking. It will give you the skills and the confidence you need to make authentic Indian dishes at home—with spectacular results.

From the Back Cover

Praise for The Dance of Spices

"The Dance of Spices is filled with excellent, authentic curries, as well as dishes rarely explored in American home kitchens such as street-fare chaats. With this book, Laxmi Hiremath proves herself a skilled, intuitive teacher of real Indian cooking."
—Paula Wolfert, author of the award-winning The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen

"Laxmi's book is a clearly explained, friendly invitation to cook Indian food with confidence and pleasure."
—Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid, authors of Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey through Southeast Asia; Home Baking; Seductions of Rice; and Flatbreads & Flavors

"The Dance of Spices is a hands-on cooking class. [It] provides one with the information to truly understand and prepare a delicious Indian curry. I love that Laxmi includes information on history and social customs, as well as personal anecdotes to supplement the recipes."
—Roxanne Klein, chef and coauthor of Raw

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 454 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471272736
• ISBN-13: 978-0471272731
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,135,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Two decades ago when Laxmi Hiremath first came to America from India she did not know much about cooking. Today, she is the founder of Laxmi's Delights, and a leading culinary expert. She has introduced a line of Organic Flaxseed Spreads. Her line was awarded Outstanding New Product finalist by NASFT the specialty food industry's most prestigious award. The Spreads are nutritious, high in Omega-3 fatty acids and absolutely scrumptious.

Laxmi's Delights other products include scrumptious, sweet-spiced roasted walnuts, pecans and peanuts available on www.Amazon.com. Perfect for snacking and sprinkling everywhere from salads to cheese and pear slices, or serving with a cocktail.

Hiremath's highly acclaimed latest cookbook is "The Dance of Spices," published by John Wiley & Sons. Several magazines and newspapers cited this book in holiday best-of-the-year round-ups. The Oakland and Walnut Creek Public Libraries in the Bay Area selected "The Dance of Spices," as part of One City One Book Tour in January 2006. Hiremath's critically acclaimed "Laxmi's Vegetarian Kitchen", is a best seller with over two hundred savory Indian vegetarian dishes. Laxmi's cookbooks contain hundreds of recipes and have won great praise for their authenticity and for demystifying her native Indian cuisine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A staple for food lovers!, December 1, 2005

By 

S. Mehra (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dance of Spices: Classic Indian Cooking for Today's Home Kitchen (Hardcover)

I was always on the look-out for recipes that covered Indian cooking methods from the basic foundation of making your own spices to elegant pairings of traditional Indian and Western ingredients. When my husband came home with 'The Dance of Spices', given to him as a gift at a seminar, I was surprised by the level of detail, care, and passion. Things that my mother cannot explain to me because of the miles between us, Laxmi has done comprehensively in her new cookbook. I have learned simple techniques like how to make my own ghee at home, understand the marriage of spices, and most importantly, how to make finger-licking Indian food in a San Francisco home. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I have.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must have, November 30, 2005

By 

Amy Fisher - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dance of Spices: Classic Indian Cooking for Today's Home Kitchen (Hardcover)

All the recipes that I have tried from this book have turned out to be excellent. The book is very fun to read, with some interesting childhood stories from the author. The dishes are very easy to make and all of them are extremely delicious. This book is meant for anyone who enjoys cooking a wonderful meal for their family.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, March 4, 2005

By 

Charan "clwrites" - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dance of Spices: Classic Indian Cooking for Today's Home Kitchen (Hardcover)

I have made several dishes and they have turned out very well. The books is fun to read since it talks about techniques and ingredients. This is a very comprehensive recipe book covering most all of India. If you need an easy to follow book that has a bit of nouveau along with the traditional Indian food, then this is a great book to buy.