The Indian Vegetarian: Flavors for the American Kitchen [Hardcover]

Neelam Batra (Author), Shelly Rothschild-Sherwin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 1994

The Indian Vegetarian features more than 300 recipes of the zesty meatless dishes Neelam Batra has cooked all her life. Batra translates India's wide range of vegetarian dishes for home cooks, combining authentic Indian spices with local produce and simple cooking techniques to create exciting, satisfying, healthful dishes, ranging from classics to originals. Following a primer on Indian spices and flavorings, The Indian Vegetarian features more than 130 recipes for quenching beverages like Sparkling Limeade, a savory array of appetizers and snacks, piquant salads such as Fresh Spinach Salad with Cumin Yogurt Dressing, and vegetables in all their glory — Pumpkin with Fenugreek Seeds, Royal Eggplant with Garlic and Spices, New Potatoes with Ginger and Cilantro, to name just a few. There are recipes for cooling yogurt dishes like Barbecued Zucchini in Yogurt with Sauteed Mustard Seeds, homemade low-fat cheese preparations, and hearty bean and rice recipes like Black-Eyed Peas with Garlic and Scallions, and Rice with Basil and Sun-Dried Tomatoes. There is also an extensive section on condiments, side dishes, and dressings including Hot and Sour Chili Pepper Chutney, and Cilantro Coconut Chutney. Sauces for vegetables (or meats if there are carnivores in the family) include Fresh Mango and Ginger Sauce, and Tomato Mustard Sauce. Luscious desserts like Cashew and Saffron Rolls and Orange Peel and Almond Cookies are a sweet coda. The Indian Vegetarian is one of the most complete and satisfying books of its kind on the market.

Praise for The Indian Vegetarian:

"Congratulations to Neelam! She has written a comprehensive book on the fascinating tradition of Indian vegetarian cooking. By combining the bright palate of fruits and vegetables available to us today with her knowledge of traditional cooking techniques learned in India at her mother's knee, she has created a very fresh and appealing style of vegetarian cooking."
— Viana LaPlace, author of Verdura and The Unplugged Kitchen

"Ever since I first saw Neelam Batra teach a cooking class twelve years ago and tasted her food, I have been hoping she would write a book of her delicious recipes. The Indian Vegetarian was definitely worth waiting for. Neelam makes fabulous Indian cuisine accessible to busy, health-conscious cooks. If you are interested in adding wonderful vegetable dishes to your menus, you will love this book."
— Faye Levy, author of Faye Levy's International Vegetable Cookbook and The New Casserole

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Cooking is not always [about] doing the right thing, but is [about] being able to create a new masterpiece when something goes wrong.... Think of [it] as an adventure." Combining Indian culinary tradition with others from around the world for an American audience, Batra assumes little about our familiarity with the subcontinent's habits. She's a persuasive proselytizer. Her recipe for lemonade is memorably minted; so is her version of the British cucumber sandwiches. A potato salad, which calls for both sweet and russet types (and a yam, too), is unusual. Salads, chutneys, beans, appetizers, cheeses, rice dishes, yogurts, breads and sweets are thoroughly covered. Check out the orange peel and almond cookies, also the avocado chutney. The chapter on sauces (tomato mustard sauce; pumpkin sauce) is extensive and rewarding. In addition to recipes, Batra offers well-worded introductions, brief informal memoirs and mail-order sources.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The latest in a slew of similar cookbooks, like Chandra Padmanabhan's Dakshin: Vegetarian Cuisine from South India (LJ 4/15/94) and Ruth Law's Indian Light Cooking (LJ 4/15/94), this book emphasizes vegetarian cookery. Batra grew up in New Delhi but is now a cooking teacher in California. She offers not only authentic traditional Indian dishes but also recipes inspired by the produce at her farmer's market, her American friends and students, and a variety of ethnic cuisines. In addition to a delicious array of chutneys, for example, she includes a chapter on intriguing sauces, not usually treated as separate entities in Indian cooking. Cilantro Mashed Potatoes (a current American obsession) and Rice with Peas and Tomatoes, inspired by a favorite pasta, mingle with classic dishes like Nine Jewel Vegetables. Recommended for most collections.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 399 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan; 1st edition (July 25, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0025076752
• ISBN-13: 978-0025076754
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The book that saved my marriage!" :), November 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Indian Vegetarian: Flavors for the American Kitchen (Hardcover)

My husband and I (both Indian) were *really* getting tired of over- or under- spiced Indian dishes that didn't seem to capture the richness of this cuisine. In desperation, I asked my mom to select a good cookbook for us, as the ones in my collection clearly weren't cutting it. I have to say this is by FAR the most authentic, comprehensive, and easy-to-use Indian cookbook I've seen. The food literally tastes like my mom's cooking. Everything I've cooked from this book has turned out *perfectly*. Plus, the recipes don't call for too much oil. I've given this book as a gift to several friends, all whom have been extremely grateful. If you're going to get one Indian cookbook, let this be the one.

Thank you Neelam Batra!

P.S. The chole, vegetarian shammi kebabs, and eggplant bharta are to die for!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good books for enthusiastic cooks., April 18, 1998

By 

AD (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Indian Vegetarian: Flavors for the American Kitchen (Hardcover)

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.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delicious!, October 2, 2001

By 

merrymousies (Waterford, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Indian Vegetarian (Paperback)

Delicious and interesting recipes! There's even a whole chapter on chutneys. Recipe names are in both english and indian which I like. There are some really tasty cauliflower dishes - but I shouldn't single anything out. I've been so pleased with this book. The recipes are pretty srtaightforward, not overly complex(pretty much all one-pagers) and the author gives good tips in each recipe on the benefits of the different foods, how to select the best vegetables for the dish, etc. Its really a greaty resource. Glad I bought it!