Easy Exotic: Low-Fat Recipes from Around the World

by Padma Lakshmi

From international model Padma Lakshmicomes a collection of low-fat recipes that are delicious and simple to prepare. New in paperback, a tie-in to the upcoming, 13 part series starring Padma Lakshmi, to air on the Food Network in September. As an international model, Padmas schedule often leaves her with very little time to cook; yet she manages to create healthy and delicious meals. From her family and experiences of travel, she has put together easy-to-prepare recipes for the health-conscious chef. Each dish can be prepared in thirty minutes or less.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 1999

About the author

Padma Lakshmi is an American television host, producer, author, model, and activist whose multifaceted career has spanned fashion, food, literature, and social justice. Born Padma Parvati Lakshmi in Chennai, India, she immigrated to the United States as a child, where she was raised by her mother, a single parent and oncology nurse. Overcoming significant personal hardships, including bullying, health issues, and sexual trauma, Lakshmi has used her platform to advocate for marginalized voices and promote cultural understanding.
Lakshmi first rose to international prominence as a fashion model. Discovered while studying abroad in Madrid, she quickly became the first Indian model to build a successful career in fashion capitals like Paris, Milan, and New York. She worked with renowned designers such as Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Ralph Lauren, and Alberta Ferretti, and posed for iconic photographers including Helmut Newton and Mario Testino. Her modeling work, often showcasing the seven-inch scar on her arm from a childhood car accident, challenged traditional beauty standards and redefined representation in the fashion industry.
She transitioned into television with hosting roles on culinary travel shows and ultimately became best known for hosting Top Chef, a position she held from 2006 to 2023. As both host and executive producer, Lakshmi earned multiple Emmy nominations and three Critics’ Choice Awards. She later created and produced Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, a Hulu docuseries exploring immigrant and indigenous culinary traditions in the United States. The series received widespread critical acclaim, winning multiple Critics’ Choice Awards and a James Beard Foundation Award.
Lakshmi is also a best-selling author. Her debut cookbook Easy Exotic won a Gourmand World Cookbook Award, and her memoir Love, Loss, and What We Ate became a New York Times best-seller. Her other publications include Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet, The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs, and the children’s book Tomatoes for Neela. She has also contributed essays and articles to The New York Times, Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar, and guest-edited The Best American Travel Writing 2021.
In business, Lakshmi has built several successful ventures. She created The Padma Collection, featuring fine jewelry and home décor, and launched Padma’s Easy Exotic, a line of teas, spices, and organic foods. In 2024, she introduced Padma X Bare Necessities, a lingerie line celebrating body inclusivity.
A fierce advocate for women's health, Lakshmi co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America after being diagnosed with the condition herself. She is also an ACLU ambassador for immigration and women's rights and a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador. Her activism spans reproductive rights, anti-colorism efforts, and immigrant justice.
Lakshmi’s achievements have earned her numerous honors, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Carnegie Corporation’s Great Immigrants Award, and inclusion in Time magazine’s 2023 list of the 100 most influential people. In 2024, she became a visiting scholar at MIT and received the ICON Award from Boston University. Through her work, Padma Lakshmi continues to empower communities, celebrate cultural diversity, and advocate for equality on a global scale.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the personal stories that accompany each recipe. Padma Lakshmi's exstensive travels lends lower calorie recipes from Asia to Morocco. She also shares stories from her childhood in India.
I appreciate the full color pictures of each dish. I think every cookbook should spring for color print of the finished products.
My favorite recipes are the "Wild Mushroom Couscous" and the "Spanish Stuffed Bell Peppers". Yum!

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this for inspiration for meals when I want something that doesn’t feel heavy or rich—despite the “low fat” descriptor, it’s not horrifying in a nineties way. She still uses oil and whole foods—there’s no apple sauce, egg whites or margarine.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, but nothing amazing.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the personal stories here, and background for each recipe. I also like that she gives the full nutritional information, and you don't feel like you are eating diet food. Highlights for me were the stuffed peppers and Italian section. There is a lot of veal in here, and I wish there was more fish.

This is an interesting book, and the meals are generally quick to prepare. There are some exotic spices, but the same ones are used throughout, so you would get multiple uses from them. While I didn't love every single recipe in here, there was few that I could work into the regular rotation and I like that they are healthier.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well you are what u like eat keep it simple always wash your hand before doing any cooking also use the right shampoo so your hair doesen't fall out when your cooking.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat interesting.