Secrets from an Indian Kitchen [Hardcover]

Mridula Baljekar (Author)

Book Description

Series: Secrets from | Publication Date: October 2000

Accompanying her delicious but easy-to-follow recipes, Mridula's book reveals the secrets that create the delicate aromas that distinguish the many varied Indian dishes.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

ea. vol: Pavilion, dist. by Trafalgar Square. (Secrets from a Kitchen). Apr. 2001. 176p. photogs. index. $27.50. COOKERY Each of these first three titles in an attractive new series (first published in Britain but Americanized) provides a personal tour of a popular cuisine. Baljekar grew up in northern India but has long lived in England, where she is a cooking teacher, author, and host of a television series. She has an engaging style and provides many useful tips the "secrets" of the book title on unusual ingredients, techniques, and other culinary matters. Many of her recipes come from her grandmother, while others are from the more sophisticated repertoire of her family's cook, and some come from her husband's family in southern India. The Los' father founded a cooking school in London and wrote extensively on Chinese food. Now Jenny is the chef and Vivienne the manager of The Teahouse, their own restaurant in London. Like Baljekar's, their recipes are organized generally by cooking technique, and they too include many family classics and "secrets," as well as memories and anecdotes. Venturi, who grew up in Milan and travels frequently throughout Italy, runs a cooking school/catering business/gourmet food shop in Buckinghamshire, England. Much of her knowledge of Italian food comes from her grandmother, whose cooking was an unusual combination of Sicilian and Piemontese food, and from her husband's nanny, also a talented cook. Nevertheless, with the abundance of Italian cookbooks already available, hers is not a necessary purchase. But most collections will want to consider both Baljekar's and the Los' books.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

This outstanding new series of international cookbooks reveals tried and tested “secrets” that have been passed down from generation to generation — tips and techniques that are the key to authentic home cooking. With 100 recipes per volume, these books are designed to form an essential kitchen library of the world’s cuisines.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Pavilion Books (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862051437
• ISBN-13: 978-1862051430
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #639,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yum! Great Directions and Varied Recipes Meet in this Book, April 8, 2008

By 

MM "rocklifter" (Northern CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets from an Indian Kitchen (Hardcover)

I checked this book out from the local Library, as I'm a fan of Indian food and wanted to try my hand at cooking it at home. I came to Amazon to see if I can find a copy to purchase, as I didn't want to return it! The recipes are well-explained, the reasons for procedures are given so you're not flying blind. I loved the variety of dishes, each with its own introductory tale. I've improved my repertoire of Indian dishes, and have this book to thank. Luckily I have many ethnic markets easily accessible, as many ingredients are not to be found in supermarkets, though this has been improving as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and educational Indian cookbook!, August 7, 2010

By 

llamachief "llamachief" (Orlando, Fl USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets from an Indian Kitchen (Secrets from a Kitchen Series) (Paperback)

I checked this cookbook out from the library and now I'm going to buy it. I've tried many different Indian cookbooks and recipes, but never with such success. All of the recipes I have made over the last month from the book have turned out delicious. The book also teaches you about different spices, how to cook them effectively, and it also educates the reader on different Indian cooking techniques. It does take the average cook out of his/her comfort zone at times, as I had to make a trip to my local Indian grocery to buy spices I'd never heard of...but it was well worth it! The dishes are amazing and when I've made them for friends my guests have been amazed. I guess my only criticism is that I wish the cookbook told more about where the different dishes originate (Northern India, Southern India, etc.). The author mentions geographical distinctions for a few of the recipes, but I'd love to know more about the history of the individual dishes.

6 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Having More Pictures Would be Good, September 12, 2002

By 

"vui" (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets from an Indian Kitchen (Hardcover)

I am not an Indian, neither am I well-exposed to Indian food. I recognise only a few dishes, finding most of them unfamiliar. Nevertheless, some unfamiliar ones are interesting enough for me to want to try cooking them. However, I am put off as I do not know how the dish should turn out. Not all recipes in this book are accompanied by pictures; there are only a few pictures interspersed between pages of recipes.