Indian Vegetarian Cooking from an American Kitchen [Paperback]

Sahni (Savoring Spices and Herbs, LJ 4/15/96) has already written the introduction to Indian cooking, her authoritative Classic Indian Cooking (1980). In her new book, however, which might be considered the "light" version of the earlier one, she presents simpler, more casual dishes in an effort to make Indian food seem unintimidating even to the novice cook. The recipes are uncomplicated?most have only three steps?and the headnotes are informative but very user-friendly. Recommended for most libraries Prasad's book, on the other hand, written with more or less the same goal in mind?to make Indian vegetarian cooking accessible to busy family cooks?is rather disappointing. Some of the dishes don't seem particularly Indian, while many of the others can be found in any basic Indian cookbook, and the bland, "generic" headnotes don't add much ("Black pepper lends a special flavor to this okra dish"). Neelan Batra's The Indian Vegetarian (LJ 6/15/94) does a far more interesting job of combining Indian and American tastes and flavors.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

For those intimidated by the complexities of Indian cooking, Prasad offers easy-to-prepare vegetarian dishes based on Indian models but with American simplicity and convenience always in mind. Prasad makes a lot of use of corn. Creamy corn on toast accents corn's sweetness with lime juice, and she spices it and adds color with both sweet and hot peppers. Her samosas make a great party appetizer, with traditional potato-and-pea filling perfumed with garam masala, ginger, coriander, and cumin. Prasad's version of nan, Indian flatbread traditionally baked in a clay oven, cooks first in an iron skillet before finishing under the broiler. Although these recipes with their Eastern spices may be unfamiliar, they are much more accessible to American vegetarian kitchens than are most other Indian cookbooks' offerings. Mark Knoblauch

Recipes include:
¸  Cucumber Pirogue
¸  Spicy Potato Soup
¸  Fruit Salad with Yogurt Cheese Dressing
¸  Sautéed Eggplant and Bell Pepper Curry
¸  Spinach with Homemade Cheese (Saag Paneer)
¸  Mixed Vegetable Korma (Navarathna Korma)
¸  Rice Pilaf with Cashews, Black Pepper,
   and Coconut
¸  Vegetable Biryani
¸  Basic Toovar Dal
¸  Spicy Black-eyed Pea Curry
¸  Chapatis (Whole Wheat Flat Breads)
¸  Parathas (Whole Wheat Flaky
   Griddle Breads)
¸  Aloo Parathas (Potato-stuffed Breads)
¸  Masala Dosa
¸  Rava Idli
¸  Minty Yogurt Drink
¸  Sweet Vermicelli Pudding
¸  Almond Milk Fudge

"A remarkably skillful job of bringing authentic Indian flavors to the American kitchen."
--David Rosengarten, author of The Dean & Deluca Cookbook
and host of Taste (TV Food Network)

"Vasantha Prasad's book is a must-read for anyone who loves healthy Indian vegetarian fare. Her recipes are wonderful and use all five of the senses!"
--Nina Griscom, co-host of Dining Around (TV Food Network)

Vasantha Prasad was born in Bangalore, India, and      developed a passion for vegetarian cooking in her late teens.
Growing up in a country renowned for its exotic spices and wide  variety of vegetables,
not to mention age-old family culinary    secrets, she learned to prepare healthful and tasty vegetarian delights.
She came to the United States in 1972 and now lives in Mamaroneck, New York, with her family.