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The best Indian cookbooks

by Elizabeth Young

published on 1 January 2024

As diverse and multifaceted as the country itself, Indian cuisine encompasses a dazzling range of regional dishes, traditions, and flavours. From the thick curries of the north to the tangy rasam broths of the south, there are endless possibilities for the student of Indian cuisine to explore. Looking for inspiration? Check out our collection of the best Indian and Indian-inspired cookbooks here, including old favourites like Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Easy and modern classics like Meera Sodha’s Fresh India.

Ammu

by Asma Khan

Asma Khan is the chef proprietor of London-based restaurant Darjeeling Express and star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table. Inspired by the home cooking of her Ammu (mother), this collection of 100 Indian recipes celebrates the inextricable link between food, family, and love. From celebratory feasting dishes to simple midweek options, the recipes span aromatic curries, show-stealing sides, moreish snacks and pretty pistacho and rose-petal adorned desserts. A must-own cookbook for Asma’s fans and anyone who wants to broaden their repertoire of accomplished Indian dishes.

Spice Box

by Sunil Ghai

Multi-award-winning chef Sunil Ghai got his start working in Oberoi, a prestigious 5-star hotel group in India, before moving to Ireland and setting up three restaurants of his own. Now, with his debut cookbook, he’s demystified Indian cuisine and flavours for the home cook with accessible, easy-to-follow recipes. Dishes include Chicken Biryani, Fish Cakes with Masala Mayo, and Turmeric Poached Pears.

Made in India

In her debut cookbook, Meera Sodha introduces British home cooks to the food she grew up eating here every day. Her recipes are fresh, vibrant and surprisingly easy to make – the pistachio and yoghurt chicken curry is a particular highlight

India Express

From the author of the revolutionary Roasting Tin series comes India Express, a set of 75 South Indian and Bengali recipes. Fans of the Rukmini’s previous cookbooks will recognise the same emphasis on fuss-free cooking and bold flavours, plus plenty of her trademark traybakes. Expect curries, stir fries, desserts, snacks and more.

Fresh India

A meat-free follow-up to the bestselling Made in India, Meera Sodha’s Fresh India is packed with curries, rice dishes, and street food-inspired snacks, all of them vegan or vegetarian. With 120 creative and authentic recipes, it’s a must-have for both Indian cooking enthusiasts and vegetarians.

Curry Easy

In this seminal collection of recipes, Madhur Jaffrey proves that Indian food need not be complicated or involve hours in the kitchen. Her minced lamb with potatoes is guaranteed to become a firm family favourite.

Rick Stein’s India

What makes a good curry? Rick journeys through India to find the answer, meeting chefs, home cooks and street vendors to learn about everything from long-held culinary traditions to cutting-edge modern techniques. His South Indian-style cod curry is one of the most popular on The Happy Foodie site.

Mother India at Home: Recipes Pictures Stories

Mother India at Home

by Monir Mohammed, Martin Gray

With recipes from Monir Mohammed, owner of the award-winning restaurant Mother India, Mother India At Home incorporates a mix of the restaurant’s signature dishes and recipes created specifically for the book. If you’re looking to impress at your next dinner party, try the chana daal with scallops.

The Spice Tree

The Spice Tree

by Nisha Katona

Centred around a truly ingenious infographic, this cookbook is for anyone wanting to learn how to use and improvise with Indian spices. The Spice Tree will show you what spices and ingredients work well together, and how to whip up flavoursome Indian recipes with ease. An indispensable cookbook for fans of authentic Indian food. 

Curry Easy Vegetarian

Following on from her bestselling cookbook, Curry Easy, Madhur’s, Curry Easy Vegetarian offers over 200 Indian-inspired, meat-free recipes. With a diverse and vibrant array of dishes, Madhur proves, yet again, how easy it can be to cook authentic Indian food at home. The whole red lentils with cumin & shallots is a store-cupboard favourite.

Curry: Fragrant Dishes From India

Curry: Fragrant Dishes From India, Thailand, Vietnam & Indonesia

by DK Publishing

Curry shares the best curry from around the world, with plenty of Indian recipes as well as dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. You’ll find contributions from top chefs, writers and cooks, including Vivek Singh (The Cinnamon Club), Das Sreedharan (Rasa Restaurants) and David Thompson (Nahm). The king prawn and pumpkin curry is a particular highlight.

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