Made in India: Recipes from an Indian Family Kitchen

First-time cookbook writer Sodha takes on the cuisine of India in marvelous fashion. Sodha maintains that “the majority of Indian home cooking is fresh, simple, and quick.” This book highlights the natural flavors of India while helping the reader understand how easy it is to replicate those flavors in the home kitchen. Many dishes that sound complicated are actually quite simple and easy to prepare, and they pack a lot of flavor. The explosive taste of pan-fried chicken livers in a cumin butter masala, or the deep, rich tones of dal makhani, will satiate the savory taste buds. For dessert, Sodha suggests pistachio and saffron kulfi or mango, lime, and passion fruit Jell-O. Full-page photos teem with color. Sodha offers helpful sections explaining how each Indian ingredient tastes and the best ways to use it, and how to fix a dish that’s too spicy or salty. The power of this book lies in its simplicity—both in terms of ingredients and technique. (Oct.)