Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsNot for beginning cooks.
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2018
This is a very good, but not great, introduction to Indian cooking. It is clearly laid out, with gorgeous photography and a ton of recipes. However, often, the pictures are not labeled with which of the several recipes on the facing page is pictured. Ingredients might be challenging for some to locate, if there isn't a good Indian market nearby (Amazon has a lot of spices, but some of the fresh ingredients are harder to source).The author is also sometimes casual with steps and ingredient amounts which will be a challenge to less experienced cooks. For instance, the author never gives salt amounts ("season to taste"), and does not have a specific base recipe for garlic ginger paste (noting only a two to one ratio of garlic to ginger). One roti recipe calls for 3-5oz of water to create a thick, pourable batter. That ended up being nowhere near enough water to create the right consistency. Similarly, another recipe called for sauteing onions over high heat, stirring in the other ingredients, then adding a "few tablespoons" of water and allowing to cook for 15-20 minutes. Someone following this recipe exactly would end up with some pretty burnt curry, but a more experience cook would realize that they had to turn down the heat and keep stirring. The recipes I have cooked so far have all been wonderful, despite these obstacles. In all, a very good introduction to Indian cooking and a beautiful book, but not for someone who isn't already comfortable in the kitchen.
