Julie Sahni's remarkable ability to make authentic Indian cooking accessible to American cooks continues to make her first book, "Classic Indian Cooking," the definitive work of its kind.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is the best Indian Cookbook that I own (and I have several as my husband is South Indian). The author gives a complete explanation of all unfamiliar vegetables and spices. The recipes are relatively easy to follow, and she lets you know when you can use convenient U.S.-style prepared foods instead of doing everything from scratch. My Indian friends were amazed that I could invite them over for Idlis without 24 hours of preparation. The only problem is that recipes are indexed by her English translation of the Indian name, so if you want to make Idlis, you have to know that she calls it something like "Bean and Rice Dumplings". I recommend this book, and wish she had a non-vegetarian version. The book would be even better is it had photographs (there are none).
Format:Hardcover
This book has been in print since 1985 - proof enough that it's not just another vegetarian book or indian cookbook, but a particularly good one. The recipes are excellent - some of them intriguing; the introduction is thorough; the index is good; recipes sometimes include ingredients that can't be found outside India, for authenticity's sake, but alternatives are also suggested in most cases; and the writing style is clear.
But I won't give it 5 stars. To me, a book is the responsibility not only of the author, but also the publisher. It's just not acceptable to leave errors in a 20-year-old book, such as the dish from Mysore that turns out to be from Bangalore, or a reference to Tanjore as the site of the Meenakshi temple (that left me wondering - did they get the temple wrong, or is the recipe from Madurai?). Also, if I'm going to pay for a hardcover edition, I expect it to be durable, not start falling apart at the (glued-together) seams the minute I start using it.
Also, I agree with another reviewer that this book should have had a lot more on other grains, especially millet and sorghum which are very popular in India but almost never available in restaurants.
And I might as well mention my pet peeve with both Sahni's books: why the distinction between side dishes and main dishes? I find it meaningless - it would have made more sense to put veg with veg, dal with dal, etc.
Still, if you like Indian cooking and don't want to limit yourself to what your corner curry house can offer, and if you want to learn about a vegetarian tradition which is far and away the richest in the world, you will find this book very enjoyable.
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
excellent organization, every dish a work of art. The best cookbook ever. I love her.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A little disappointing..
If you really want to cook authentic, one-on-one Indian food, go for this book, but if you want to experiment or just get ideas, I wouldn't recommend this one. Read more
Published on 14 April 1999
4.0 out of 5 stars
A useful addition to your vegetarian collection
This is my second favorite Indian cookbook (I think the best is by Yamuna Devi). Some recipes are disappointing (only 4 stars...). Read more
Published on 15 Feb 1999
1.0 out of 5 stars
Blah.
this book was an utter disappointment... perhaps there are subtle differences in approaching indian cuisine... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 1998
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute *must* if you enjoy cooking Indian food!
Clear explanations of ingredients, techniques, and menus, in addition to a great variety of recipes give this volume distinction in its class. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 1998
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Vegetarian Cookbook...Period!
This is one of the best vegetarian cookbooks ever (and thus an ideal gift for meatless friends). Sahni points out, quite persuasively, that vegetarian cuisine has unfairly gotten a... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 1998
5.0 out of 5 stars
Julie Sahni's work is an inspiring masterpiece.
Julie Sahni's work on Indian vegetarian cuisine is a magnificent masterpiece. Her detailed explanations of authentic Indian ingridients and sypnosis of the vegetarian tradition... Read more
Published on 13 July 1997
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