A Life of Spice

The Everything Indian Cookbook

A country of more than 1 billion people, with over a dozen languages, 800 recognized dialects, and several religions, India is as diverse as it gets! India’s cuisine has been influenced greatly by the multitude of invaders throughout the country’s history; the Mughals, Turks, Europeans, and Portuguese all left their mark. By adding their own cooking styles and ingredients, they provided a rich diversity, resulting in a unique cuisine. What holds this diverse cuisine together are the aromatic and flavorful spices. The art of Indian cooking is in blending spices so they are in perfect harmony in each dish. Monica Bhide perfectly blends the cultures and flavors of this diverse country in THE EVERYTHING® INDIAN COOKBOOK: 300 Tantalizing Recipes -- From Sizzling Tandoori Chicken to Fiery Lamb Vindaloo

Buy it on Amazon.

© 2004; F+W Publications, Inc (Adams Media; May 2004: 14.95/trade paperback).

The Spice is Right

THE SPICE IS RIGHT ($18.95 / softcover / 144 pages) proves that simple Indian cooking is within every home cook’s reach. Home cook and food writer,  Monica Bhide has written a down-to-earth cookbook featuring 150 simple, healthful versions of Indian classics and Western favorites with an Indian twist. Recipes are easy to follow, use readily available ingredients, and don’t require complicated cooking methods. Perfect for newcomers to Indian cooking, the book is organized into menus, which takes the guesswork out of planning an Indian meal. What’s more, Bhide infuses the margins of each page with colorful anecdotes and invaluable cooking tips. 

Buy it on Amazon.

Menu Magazine (

UK

): Light, chatty, and very informative and includes a lot of classic favorites from all over the Indian subcontinent reworked.

Graham Kerr (The Galloping Gourmet): If you have an interest in creatively replacing high levels of sodium or fats, this book is of enormous help.

Real Simple magazine: To keep the pizza-delivery boy at bay, we consulted with Bhide to determine which staple ingredients to stock for Indian.

The

Boston

Herald: Bhide's recipes -- authentic, simple, delicious, and easy on both the waistline and wallet -- couldn't be easier to prepare.

The

Toronto

Star: In the competitive cookbook market, this captivating book stands out. Bhide succeeds in crafting easy-to-follow recipes using readily available ingredients.

New

Asia

Cuisine and Wine Scene: A refreshing change from the oft-repetitive gamut of Indian cookbooks in the market. Typically Indian recipes plus innovative dishes.

Associated Press: Recipes range from traditional Indian favorites to Indian versions of contemporary fare for occasions like Thanksgiving and Super Bowl parties.

The

Toronto

Star: In the competitive cookbook market, this captivating book stands out. Bhide succeeds in crafting easy-to-follow recipes using readily available ingredients.

The

Washington

Post: This snappy book features traditional foods, but with an eye toward the tastes, lifestyles and health-consciousness of Bhide's generation.