Zaika: Vegan recipes from India

by Romy Gill

With a foreword by the OBSERVER FOOD MONTHLY's editor, Allan Jenkins, ZAIKA celebrates the very best of Indian vegan cooking. With over 100 innovative and exciting curries and side dishes, vegan recipes have never been so inviting.Inspired by her own heritage, Romy Gill M.B.E., has expertly written a collection of recipes that not only delivers incredible vegan food but are simple to make - they can be made in a hurry for a fast weekday supper or leisurely at the weekend to enjoy with friends. Most importantly, they are a celebration and a timely reminder of the benefits of flavoursome vegan cuisine. The spices used in Indian cooking are at the core of Ayurvedic medicine, with purported health benefits as diverse as promoting digestion, bolstering the immune system, reducing inflammation - and even benefiting prostate health. Realise the benefits of Indian veganism today with ZAIKA, with these classic yet fresh vegan recipes.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Reference, Nonfiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2019

About the author

Chef Romy Gill MBE is a British/Indian chef, food/travel writer and broadcaster based in Southwest England. She was the owner and head chef at Romy’s Kitchen. In 2016 she was appointed an MBE in the Queen’s 90th birthday honours list.

Romy is now one of the chefs on the BBC One new series of Ready Steady Cook and has previously appeared on Sunday Brunch, BBC The One show, BBC Country life, BBC Celebrity MasterChef, The Hairy Bikers’ Comfort Food, James Martin’s Saturday Morning and much more!.

Romy is also a regular on BBC Radio 4 Food Programme.

Romy regularly contributes for national and international publications including The NewYork Times. She travels in UK and abroad to food demos and conferences. Romy was recently invited to cook at the prestigious James Beard Foundation in New York.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

There wasn't much in here that caught my eye or made me want to try it. I've copied out a roti recipe to try as this is due back to the library. A smoky aubergine dish looked nice but for my tastes there were too many salads, smoothies and desserts featured in this book. I don't think many people get an Indian cookbook to try out fruit salad recipes or make rice pudding, I certainly want to find more main dishes. Not every recipe has a photo but most do. Frustratingly this cookbook only has grams so had to convert measurements for my pounds and ounces scales.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. I think I was expecting more from it. There were a few recipes I made a note to try, but mostly from the sides and snacks chapter.

I would recommend Meera Sodha's East over this if you're looking for Asian vegan and vegetarian recipes.

[Bev Irving-Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best cookbook we have ever bought and we have a lot! We have found that we have had to add a bit more water to certain bread and there's a mistake on one of the lentil dishes, there needs to be a lot more lentils or a lot less water! But anyway, by far the best book we have. Not made a disappointing dish yet.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The khichri with the aubergines recipe a recommended are very good

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a struggle to find some of the ingredients (e.g. black chickpeas) but once I find them, I've been very pleased with the recipes.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite recipes to try:
* Gram flour turmeric pancakes
* Piaz Parathas
* Aloo parathas
* Watermelon and mint salad
* Vegetable chow mein
* Chaat masala deep fried okra
* Sweet stuffed peppers
* Red lentil dal
* Chana dal
* Chloe kala chana (black chickpeas)
* Aloo methi (fenugreek with potatoes)
* Khali dal (black lentil dal)
* Moong dal with palak (spinach dal)
* Vada pav
* Elderflower Pakoras
* Roasted pineapple circles
* Posto boras (poppy seed cakes)
* Jalebi
* Elderflower and saffron cordial
* Gulab (rose water) sharbat
* Spiced lemon water
* Ginger, turmeric and mint tea
* Rose harissa pickle with preserved lemons
* Mint and coriander chutney
* garam masala
* Anardana (Dried pomegranate seeds
* Onion paste