Authentic Recipes From India

This is a good Indian cookbook and most recipes have accompanying pictures so that those new to Indian food can see what the finished dish looks like. The range of recipes featured is also good and includes several basics and staples.

The recipes are authentic, as the title claims. They are also a nice mix from various regions in the country. The section on basics and the one on bread and rice dishes were my favorites.

I also liked the introductory chapters on regional food, spices and their importance in Indian cooking, the functioning of an Indian kitchen, etc. Some statements in these chapters though, seemed a bit "outdated" (for lack of a better word). Just one example: "Millions of Indian kitchens are essentially very simple, with the stove set in the center. Although this stove, or chula, is often heated by charcoal..." This may be true of village homes only as homes in most cities, big and small, in India, are now equipped with every mod con ranging from the food processor to the microwave and gas stoves are the norm. But this was just a minor point.

I liked that the book has lots of nice pictures of the finished dishes and also that there is a glossary, list of commonly used ingredients with descriptions and a weights and measures section. I was disappointed though, that the desserts section was small - only 6 recipes. This is just a personal preference as I have a sweet tooth! Overall, this is a good cookbook.