Betty Crocker Indian Home Cooking (Betty Crocker Books)

Very Good

My husband is a gourmet cook by hobby, and enjoys all types of foods. I discovered this author quite by accident at the local library, when researching Indian foods and cooking. I decided to buy this cookbook for my husband, after discovering another cookbook by this author. Neither my hubby nor I have been disappointed in our decision to purchase this cookbook. The recipes are incredible. Buying anything with the Betty Crocker name ensures that the recipes will be easy to follow, and fantastically edible. What is different about this particular cookbook is the writing style. Iyer, who won the IACP cooking teacher of the year award in 2004, does not just write recipes that are easy to follow and cook for the novice. He writes with love about growing up in India, and the regions of the country the cooking comes from. And that is only the beginning. For those of us who don't know India, who have never been to India, he writes of the country and of the origins of the dishes that he cooks. Cooking devices used in India are covered, as well as basic needs in terms of what items you will need in the kitchen to cook the food he describes. There is an entire section devoted to spices of India-to me, spices determine Indian cooking-that is not only helpful for the new cook, is extremely educational for the experienced Indian chef. I like the fact that Iyer allows for improvisation to occur in his recipes-you do not have to follow his recipe exactly, if you want to try something different; for it to turn out extremely well and very edible. The recipes are easy to follow, and we particularly enjoyed the bread recipes- all 15 of them! This cookbook is a fantastic gift for the person who is already knowledgeable about Indian cooking, or who wants to learn. I know my husband has enjoyed making the recipes that this cookbook has inspired-granted he has not always followed them exactly. And I have enjoyed the difficult task of eating the fruit of his labors in the kitchen-and have gained some weight as a result. Bon appetite! Or Namaste!

This book has thoroughly tested recipes -- & it shows. Take the trouble to make the spice blends whose recipes are on the first several pages -- mixes available at Indian grocery stores aren't fresh enough. I do use dried red chili peppers in place of the recommended fresh ones, -- just for convenience & I do cut the number recommended down by 1/3, as I don't like my food too hot. The results are complexly sour, sweet, pungent, hot & altogether tasty flavors, spicy galore. Buy this book -- you won't regret it!

It was excellent especially for a new cook. I bought it after reviewing a copy to give to my daughter who has eaten Indian food allof her life but never expressed an interest in trying to cook her cultural foods. I found the section on cookware was outstanding and the spice section was good. My god daughter will also be getting a copy. It feels great to know that someone in the family knows what the cooking implements in my pantry are except for me.

I just received this cookbook and it is so well put together with specific recipe instructions, nutrient guidelines with what a single serving is along with the number of servings per recipe. I love the photography in the book and the excellent variety of recipes. I am looking forward to being happy with this recipe book for a long time. I would be happy to recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good instructive cookbook on Indian cooking.

I am crazy about Indian food. So many recipes are difficult to make, or questionable in their authenticity - but this book is no joke! The recipes are easy enough to follow. And they are so accurate and spot on to authentic Indian food!!! Good ol' Betty Crocker... Who would have thought...