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Conference turris::cooks

Title:How to Make them Goodies
Notice:Please Don't Start New Notes for Old Topics! Check 5.*
Moderator:FUTURE::DDESMAISONSec.com::winalski
Created:Tue Feb 18 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4127
Total number of notes:31160

1016.0. "BOOK: Indian Cookbook" by SQM::AITEL (Every little breeze....) Tue Mar 01 1988 10:57

    I'm looking for some Indian recipes, since I've enjoyed my meals
    at Indian restaurants so much.  I'm mainly looking for main dishes
    and vegetable dishes.  Since there's an Indian food store here
    in Nashua (in Lamplighter Square), don't worry too much if your
    recipe has unusual ingredients - I'm sure they could get them if
    they don't have them.  Oh, in addition, I don't use too much fat
    in cooking.  I can modify casseroles, but would prefer recipes
    that are not fried.
    
    The other thing I'm looking for is a good Indian cookbook - one
    with lots of pictures and directions, much like the Sunset, HP,
    or Cooking Class type cookbooks.   Anyone know of one?
    
    Thanks,
    	Louise
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1016.17USWAV5::DECNETSun Dec 23 1984 11:198
Making your own curry:

Three EXCELLENT cookbooks with information (and recipes) are:

	Flavors of India  by Shanta Nimbark Sacheroff, 101 Productions

	Vegetarian Epicure, and Vegetarian Epicure, Book Two
	both by Anna Thomas, Vintage Press
1016.1TLE::NELSONWed Mar 02 1988 08:458
    I have a really excellent Indian cookbook.  It doesn't have pictures,
    but all the recipes I've tried have always come out tasting delicious.
    In addition, my husband (who is from India) actually likes the book!
    The author is an Indian woman who adapted the recipes she had for
    an American kitchen:
    	An Invitation to Indian Cooking  by Madhura Jaffrey
    
    Beryl
1016.2A couple suggestions and a couple recipesTUDOR::ERYNWed Mar 02 1988 08:5374
    Though its not "authentic" some of my favourite Indian recipes come
    from _The New Laurel's Kitchen_, published by ten speed press. Her
    recipes are naturally low in fat. The other source of Indian recipes
    I use is Madhur Jafrey's book on eastern vegetarian cooking (I don't'
    remember the exact title). Neither has full color pictures but both
    give fairly simple directions. The Jafrey recipes all need modification
    to reduce the amount of fat, but I am used to doing that. 
    
    Recipes for one of my favourite Indian meals, Cauliflower-Eggplant
    CUrry over Basmati rice and South Indian Sweet potatoes follow (both
    from _The New Laurel's Kitchen_). Regular Basmati rice can be gotten
    at the Indian food store mention in .0, but brown basmati rice can
    only be gotten at a health food store as far as I know. I have
    occasionally seen it in Alexanders supermarket in the gourmet section,
    but I can usually get it at Earthward, a health food store in Milford
    New Hampshire. People from Mass should have no problem finding
    natural food stores (unlike those of us in the growing metropolis
    of NH). Once you find the brown basmati, prepare it as you would
    brown rice or follow direction on package if it was purchased in
    a package.
    
    Cauliflower-Eggplant Curry (flavorful but not in the least hot)
    
    1 T Olive Oil  (don't eliminte it altogether - its a small amount
                    for the size of the dish)
    1 tsp black mustard seeds
    1 tsp turmeric
    1-2 tsp curry powder
    1 head cauliflower broken into small flowerets
    1 eggplant, cut in 1/2" cubes
    1-2 potatoes cut in 1/2" cubes and par-boiled (can be done while
                       cutting and sauteing other veggies)
    1 Cup peas (fresh or frozen)
    1 tomato chopped or 1-2 Tbs tomato paste
    Juice of 1 lemon
    
    Heat olive oil in a large pan (I use a dutch oven; a large skillet
    with high sides could work also). When it is warm add mustard seeds
    and cover quickly. keep covered until the sound of wild popping
    dies down, but be careful not to burn them. Remove the cover, add
    the spices, and saute a minute or two. Add the cauliflower, stir to coat
    with the oil and spices, then add the eggplant and 1/4 to 3/4 cup
    of water. Cover and simmer until eggplant begins to soften. Add
    potatoes and peas if fresh. Cook until veggies are done. Just before
    serving add tomato and lemon juice. If using frozen peas try not
    to cook them more than a few minutes. The amount of water varies
    depending on the quantity of veggies and how wet you want the dish
    to be. I like it fairly wet, with the eggplant well cooked and the
    cauliflower not mushed yet, but that is difficult to achieve. In
    the Indian dishes I have had in restaurants, all the vegetables are
    well cooked.
    
    South Indian Sweet potatoes
    
    3-4 Sweet Potatoes cooked and mashed
    1/2 Tbs olive oil
    1 tsp black mustard seeds
    1/2 green pepper chopped
    1 tsp cumin
    lemon juice
    
    Heat the oil in a skillet with a lid, add the mustard seeds, cover
    until the wild popping dies down. Add the green pepper, cook until
    soft, add the sweet potatoe and cumin, cook until heated through.
    Add Lemon juice to taste. 
    
    A hint on the sweet potatoes: I have a timer feature on my oven,
    so what i do to get cooked sweet potatoes without having to be home
    for the 1 1/2 hrs they need to cook is: wash them and put them in
    the oven on tin foil, set the oven to come an about 1 hr 15 min
    before I am due home, and to turn off about when I am due home. They bake
    thrououghly and I don't have to be home the whole time.   
    
     
1016.4Another book by Madhur JaffreySHIRE::CSTAHLIChristine Stahli, EHQ Geneva, DTN 821-4901Thu Mar 03 1988 08:5711
    I also have a book by Madhur Jaffrey called 'Indian Cookery' and
    it is fantastic.  The book is produced by the BBC and there are
    pictures, a description of the commonly used ingredients and
    descriptive introductory paragraphs a la Craig Claiborne style.
    She also gives a section on techniques and menu planning. 
    
    I'll add a recipe for her version of tandoori chicken (without
    the tandoor) and spiced basmati rice - which just happens to be
    what we had for dinner last night (and it was superb).
    
    
1016.5Three Indian cookbooks I useCADSYS::RICHARDSONThu Mar 03 1988 09:0914
    "Indian Sweet Cookery"
    Jack Santa Maria
    Shambhala, Boulder, 1980
    ISBN 0-87773-176-4
    
    "An Invitation to Indian Cooking"
    Madhur Jaffrey
    Random House, NY, 1973
    ISBN 0-394-71191-2
    
    "Traditional Indian Cookery"
    Jack Santa Maria
    Shambhala, Boulder, 1978
    ISBN 0-87773-138-1
1016.7Excellent book, well-suited for American kitchenSERPNT::SONTAKKEVikas SontakkeThu Mar 10 1988 09:154
                            CLASSIC INDIAN COOKING
                                 Julie Sahni
                    William Morrow & Company Inc, New York
                              ISBN 0-688-03721-6
1016.10Vegetable PakorasSTAR::BONDEThu May 05 1988 15:1450
    _The Vegetarian Epicure, Book Two_ by Anna Thomas (Alfred A. Knopf, New
    York, l978) has some good Indian recipes.  My favorite is the vegetable
    pakoras (although her recipe for dal runs a close second).  Anna
    writes: 

    "Pakoras are spicy fritters, ideal to serve hot as an appetizer or
    snack, with a tall, cool drink.  Try them with a gin and tonic, or a
    Pimms' and soda with a slice of cucumber in it." 


		Vegetable Pakoras (Hot Vegetable Fritters)
                -----------------------------------------

2/3 C. chick-pea flour
1/4 t. backing soda
5 T. cold water
1/4 t. ground cumin
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1 scant t. salt
pinch of crushed saffron threads
1/2 C. finely diced potato
1/2 C. slivered onions (paper-thin slices, 1 to 1-1/2 in. long)
2 T. finely chopped fresh cilantro (coriander leaves)
2 C. vegetable oil.


    Mix together the chick-pea flour, baking soda, and cold water, stirring
    or rubbing the dough between your fingers until it is absolutely smooth
    and free from lumps.  Add the cumin, cayenne, salt, turmeric, and
    saffron and stir again until well-combined.  Stir in the potato and
    onions. 

    Heat the vegetable oil in a 10- to 12- inch wok until it is about 350
    degrees.  Stir up the batter, scoop up a teaspoonful of it and, with a
    second spoon, slide it off into the hot oil.  Fry 6 or 7 pakoras at
    once, for about 8 minutes or until they are golden brown all over.
    Scoop them out with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels, and serve
    hot. 

	Serves 4 to 6.

****NOTE****

    As good as these pakoras are, they're even better when served with
    onion chutney.  There's  a wonderful recipe for Onion Chutney in note
    1073.6 -- try them together!!
     


    
1016.16Another M. Jaffrey BookPHDVAX::MURRAYTue Jun 20 1989 17:2319
Another book by Madhur Jaffrey is "A Taste of India".  	In it, Ms. Jaffrey
takes the reader on a gastronomic tour of the subcontinent.  It is packed
with incredibly nice photos both of food and locales.  And, oh yes, recipes
from each region.  What makes it special is Ms. Jaffrey's writing style
that lets the reader know that one does not successfully extract recipes
from this culture without extracting something of the culture.

Browse this one and see if you can walk away.  It's available in hard and
soft cover and the person at my local bookstore told me he's seen the hard
cover edition on the "closeout" shelf!  If anyone sees it, let me know.

Enjoy!

A_very_recent_and_incredibly_enthusiastic_discoverer_of_Indian_cuisine,

Rich Murray

p.s.  	One recipe that is NOT in the book is �kulcha�, a type of bread.
        Anyone out there know how to make this?