Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals: The New Indian Cuisine for Fearless Cooks and Adventurous Eaters [Paperback]

Ismail Merchant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

His partnership with director James Ivory has yielded a succession of acclaimed and award-winning films, including A Room with a View, Howard's End and The Remains of the Day. But Merchant's talents extend into the culinary world as well, as evidenced by this exquisite collection of over 100 recipes from his native India.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Merchant, best known for the films he makes with partner James Ivory, presents more than 200 innovative Indian recipes, many considerably less labor-intensive than traditional Indian fare.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Merchant is not only a talented film producer (with director James Ivory) but a talented-and passionate-cook. His previous book, Ismail Merchant's Indian Cuisine (LJ 8/86), is still highly regarded, and now he has gathered more of his favorite recipes, innovative and mostly quick Indian dishes for friends and family. Some of the names may sound familiar, but Merchant, a natural in the kitchen, likes to improvise, and so these really are personal recipes, accompanied by a personable and inviting text. A number of Indian cookbooks have appeared in recent months; this one is particularly recommended.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap) (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786881291
• ISBN-13: 978-0786881291
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,034,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A interesting blend of traditional recipes and new creations, August 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Cleveland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals: The New Indian Cuisine for Fearless Cooks and Adventurous Eaters (Paperback)

I've been cooking Indian food for several years now, starting with Madhur Jaffrey's books. I recently received Passionate Meals and am intrigued by the wide array of recipes. Unlike some of the others who reviewed this book, I've not had any problems with measurements in any of the recipes I've tried. I agree that some of the techniques aren't as well described as they could be, but perhaps the book isn't for beginners to Indian cooking. Overall, I've enjoyed the anecdotes and history of the dishes. I also appreciate that he's directed the book to Americans (rather than Brits, like other Indian cookbooks do) and the ingredients available to us. Finally, he has done a good job creating recipes that either borrow from traditional Indian dishes or those that complement standard Indian Fare. I have no hesitation recommending this book to adventuresome eaters or cooks!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a passionate convert, August 20, 2004

By 

S. D Haynie "girlranger" (carlsbad, nm United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals: The New Indian Cuisine for Fearless Cooks and Adventurous Eaters (Paperback)

My husband and I "discovered" Indian food on our honeymoon nine years ago in, of all places, Seattle (on our way to Alaska). It was fabulous, of course. When we returned home we had a strong desire to replicate those meals. We live in New Mexico, now, and at the time lived in West Texas. I probably don't really need to describe the paucity of restaurants that would satisfy our needs. So, we went cookbook looking.

We found this absolute treasure. We have made numerous dishes from this cookbook and loved them all. We have an absolute favorite. Dhaniya Murgh (Coriander Chicken) gets made in this house so much we both could do it without the instructions (and the instructions are complex). It's the dish we make in huge quantities and freeze. It's the dish we serve company.

The cookbook tells you about Indian cooking and how to mix what with what. There are sections on lentils, on chicken, on meat. You even get a recipe for making the strange cheeses and the wonderful raita that are served alongside the meals.

It's one of those cookbooks where you drool reading the recipes even if there's no picture right there (all pics are in the center).

One thing: the guy's pretty proud of all the people he knows. He's a name dropper. Funny thing, maybe because I'm only 31, but I know NONE of those people. Never heard of them. Oh well, the man can cook AND he can teach you how, too.

My husband now experiments based on what he's learned from this book.

Want some adventure in your cooking? Looking for Indian food that doesn't call for Cream of Chicken soup? This is the book!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful recipes, May 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals: The New Indian Cuisine for Fearless Cooks and Adventurous Eaters (Paperback)

I am a novice at Indian cooking, and I did not have any trouble with these recipes. Every one I've tried is delicious. Some tend to be higher in fat than I like, and I prefer cookbooks with a nutritional analysis for each recipe, but overall this was a great addition to my collection.