Enjoy Indian food, but not yet ventured into cooking it at home for yourself? Then these two books from the pen of the award-winning writer and cook Manju Malhi are for you.
Born and brought up in London Manju has also spent several years in India exploring and experiencing its many different cuisines. Apart from writing cookery books she has made many appearances on British television cookery programmes too.
As the introduction to the East Indian Cookbook points out that Indian cookery does not involve curry powder, instead it relies on a balance of spices to create the distinctive flavours and aromas. Neither does Indian food have to be searingly hot – adapt the amount of chilli to your palette. And we had not appreciated until now that one of our favourite dishes – Chicken Tikka Masala was invented in Britain by Bangladeshi chefs.
Master a few basic techniques and the world of Indian cuisines is at your feet. To help cooks new to Indian cookery the book contains a useful and detailed list of ingredients, often suggesting alternatives should the original not be readily available. The recipes themselves are clearly set out and each main recipe sits alongside its own full colour illustration. A lovely book that inspires you to go out, buy the ingredients and get cooking.
Classic Indian Recipes is Manju’s take on classic Indian food taken from many of the regions of the sub-continent.
This book, too, has a well thought out Introduction which includes Cooking techniques and Basic skills. The Marinated Roast Leg of Lamb (Raan) sounds delicious; traditionally roasted on a spit over a wood fire – Manju has adapted it for a conventional roasting oven! As with the Easy Indian Cookbook, Classic Indian Recipes also carries excellent illustrations.
Manju Malhi: www.manjumalhi.com
Easy Indian Cookbook. Manju Malhi. Duncan Baird Publishers (dbp). £12.99. ISBN: 978-1-84483-894-3. www.dbp.co.uk
Buy now on Amazon: Easy Indian Cookbook (Easy Cookbooks) (affiliate link)
Classic Indian Recipes. Manju Malhi. Hamlyn/Octopus Publishing Group. £10. ISBN: 978-0-600-62235-2. www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Buy now on Amazon: Classic Indian Recipes: 75 Signature Dishes (affiliate link)
