Savoring India: Recipes and Reflections on Indian Cooking

Williams-Sonoma: The Savoring Series

by Julie Sahni

It's one of the world's oldest and most delectable cuisines, found in one of the world's most mysterious and enchanting countries. Savoring India takes readers on a remarkable culinary adventure, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the dusty plains of Rajasthan, to the sultry forests and palm-lined coasts of Goa and Kerala. Included are 140 scrumptious, authentic recipes for some of India's most-loved dishes, as well as fascinating sidebars on local festivals, ingredients, customs, and religions.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Eddie Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a whim my wife gave me this book for Christmas a few years back, and within a year I was besting what passes for Indian food at most restaurants here in Philly. It's kind of a coffee-table eye candy kind of book, oversized with loads of pictures and descriptive text, but it's also a serious cookbook which should end up with cover torn and yellowed with turmeric spread-eagled on your countertop.

I typically use half the amount of onion she calls for, twice the turmeric, and 1/2 to 1/4 the chilis.

Anyone who is curious about the wide world of spices should learn how to do a little Indian cooking.

A few years later I also picked up her Indian vegetarian cookbook which is a classic.

[Mugga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took this book out of the library and I need to own it now. Every recipe I've made in the book has been a hit. Especially the coconut lamb curry and the five different kinds of dal from various regions of India. I'm yet to find an Indian restaurant I love in Boston/Cambridge. The food tends to be an assault on the senses... and perhaps that's what Americans have come to expect from Indian food. However Sahni's recipes are full of subtleties and layers of flavor that I really enjoy and let ingredients shine. The introductions to each chapter and the photographs are also wonderful.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes in here have a nice span but there's a high number that are fried which are both hard for a home cook as well as not representative of the bulk of Indian cooking. I did like how recipe region was listed. The format made it hard to hold and use the book also. I won't use this again unfortunately because of those things.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful coffee table book. Enjoyed the color photos, the recipes, the history, the stories of the author's food memories. Worth buying

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice cookbook, I have made 3 recipes from it thus far and all have been amazing. Very rich and tasty. One complaint: occasionally, the author will rave about a certain dish she remembers from her childhood or eats every time she returns to India - and then not give the recipe. Drat.

[Theresa Garton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Beautiful pictures, and delicious recipes. There are also lots of pictures of India, and an explanation of Indian culture, specifically how the various recipes fit into that culture. I have made several things from this book, and have enjoyed them all.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the dutch translation.