My Indian kitchen Preparing delicious Indian meals without fear or fuss

With its emphasis on vegetables, Indian cooking fits perfectly with contemporary notions of healthful eating. The central role of spices makes what might otherwise be bland-tasting food into one of the world's most intensely sensual cuisines. Nayak takes up the challenge of encouraging Western eaters or anyone else not familiar with Indian cooking to explore some of the vast terrain that these foods encompass. Detailed but accessible introductory glossaries with full-color photographs lay out basic techniques, equipment, and staple ingredients for novices. For those without access to Indian markets, he gives instructions on making fundamental spice mixes for the balance of the book's recipes. Fresh chutneys appear, as well as preserved ones, for those who enjoy canning. Recipes for elaborate dinner dishes and for street-food snacks illustrate Indian cuisine's astonishing diversity. Nayak's sophisticated approach extends even to a chapter on how to select and serve appropriate wines, a special challenge for spicy, peppery foods.--Knoblauch, Mark Copyright 2010 Booklist

Indian is fast becoming one of the most popular ethnic foods in the United States, and while most of us can find a suitable samosa around the corner, many Americans have yet to try frying one up at home. Here Nayak (coauthor, Modern Indian Cooking) integrates Indian spices into common dishes like Shrimp Bruschetta and Spicy Lamb Burgers. There is a lovely little chutney and condiment section that includes tasty and simple mint chutney and the rarer coconut chutney. The book includes an excellent introduction to the tools and ingredients that are commonly used in making Indian meals. The vegetarian section is relatively small for a cuisine that is rich with vegetarian recipes, while there are plenty of fish and meat dishes. One other major drawback is the focus on "fusion" desserts, leaving out the delicate, wonderful Punjabi dish carrot halwa and the fried perfection of jalebi. Verdict Overall, this is an ideal Indian cookbook for beginners; those with experience cooking Indian dishes should look elsewhere to expand their repertoire.-Claire Moitra, Providence (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.