Curried Favors: Family Recipes from South India

by Maya Kaimal Macmillan

This engaging cookbook, the first to feature the tropical dishes of South India, demystifies the cuisine and offers more than one hundred recipes with light, tropical flavors and simple preparations, along with sumptuous photographs of the food and the region.
Challenging the stereotypes that Indian curries are rich and heavy, difficult to prepare, and made with hard-to-find ingredients, this book introduces the light, tropical tastes of south India with accessible ingredients and simple methods. Adapting these south Indian recipes for the average kitchen, the author familiarizes the home cook with this lesser-known cuisine. An abundance of coconut and seafood, along with a host of exotic fruits and vegetables, including fresh hot chilies, distinguishes the curries of south India from those of north India. The focus is the traditional southern fare-dishes such as Rava Masala Dosa (wheat crepes stuffed with potato curry), Sambar (spicy stew of legumes and vegetables), and fish Aviyal (chunks of fish in an aromatic sauce of coconut and tamarind)-which is harder to find in restaurants outside of India. North Indian classics, also family favorites, like Lamb Korma, Tandoori Chicken, and Spinach Paneer are included. With everything from appetizers to desserts, this is an excellent introduction to Indian cooking. The author has an extraordinary talent for explaining unfamiliar cooking techniques, and specially commissioned full-color photographs provide helpful visual cues for preparing a wide variety of dishes. The inspired recipes, purposeful photographs, extensive notes on ingredients, practical menu ideas, and useful source list make it a primer on Indian cooking as well as a significant exploration of regional specialties.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

Reviews

[Austin Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main benefit of this book is its southern and eastern Indian recipes (which are the main focus of this book). When it strays north (which it has to, I understand, because who’s going to buy an Indian cookbook that doesn’t have the classic Mughal dishes that Americans associate with Indian cuisine?) the recipes can be a bit lackluster.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book for about 10 years now, and I cook from it, maybe, once a week? Every recipe I've tried is a winner. Every spice mixture is different, and the author rarely uses fenugreek, so the dishes don't have that "curry" taste that you get when you use most store-bought curry powders. This is definitely worth a purchase if you and your family like to eat things other than traditional American fare.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this cookbook, my daughter asks for the Green Beans Thoren every year for her birthday (I use the recipe, but make it with asparagus). The photos beautifully represent the finished dishes, which is helpful to someone who is new to southern Indian cooking. Get yourself a mortar and pestle and never buy supermarket "curry" powder again!

[Kelton Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cookbook was an introduction to Indian cooking, family style. The recipes were authentic but without a lot of orthodoxy over ayurveda or absolute requirements for impossible-to-find spices, just the enjoyment of good recipe traditions passed-down from generation to generation and how to get to know them from an introductory perspective.

[Kelli Oliver George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love Maya Kaimal's method for approaching recipes and her way of listing out ingredients. She makes it clear, concise and easy to prepare Indian dishes - even for a beginner. I highly recommend this book for someone just starting out. Extra kudos for the photography in this.

[Anita]

love the pictures. and it has.. wait for it... APPAMS!!

[Saima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the beautiful pictures and spicy recipes in this book. My favorites are eggplant with tomatoes and cabbage with coconut. Add plain rice, lentils and some yogurt and you've got a great meal.

[danica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Potato Korma is my favorite!