Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #394 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Amazon.co.uk
One of the reasons for the great success of the television series Indian Food Made Easy is Anjum Anand’s clear and straightforward presentation, rendering these recipes manageable (or least convincing us that they are within our own particular range). There is also a commendable avoidance of gimmicks -- particularly welcome in an era when TV chefs feel obliged to adopt unusual or eccentric personae to grab attention. And it's particularly pleasing to note that all of these qualities are in evidence in this book of the series: straightforward, concise recipes (illustrated only with tempting pictures of the food itself, rather than the presenter striking various telegenic poses -- she is to be seen on the cover only, admittedly looking Nigella Lawson-like). And given that Indian food is noted more for its delicious taste than its healthy properties, Anjum Anand takes on the negative reputation that the cuisine has in this regard, and comes up with alternatives to the standard high-fat ingredients (that's not to say that she doesn't unashamedly tackle such things where necessary -- taste is definitely the overriding consideration in this book). And with such recipes as Mangalorean chicken (with its mouth-watering combination of coconut, coriander and large fat red chillies) and wild mushroom and pilaff -- all presented in the most accessible and uncomplicated fashion -- this book is likely to accelerate the already considerable acceptance of Indian cookery for non-Indian aspirants. --Barry Forshaw

Synopsis
In her new "BBC2" series, Anjum Anand travels around the UK creating delicious Indian food that is light and healthy and bursting with flavour. Beginning with easy finger food and light grills, perfect for TV snacks, Anjum then goes onto visit a country fair in Dorset where she cooks Indian street food, creates a tasty lamb curry for some hungry firemen, and cooks up a seafood feast on the beach for a group of Cornish surfers. All the recipes from the TV series are included with chapters on Light snacks, Seafood, Meat and Poultry, Vegetables, Lentils and Beans, Rice and Breads, Chutneys and Raitas, and Desserts and Drinks. Anjum is passionate about using fresh, local and seasonal produce with all the ingredients readily available in supermarkets. Throughout the book, there are tips and techniques as well as expert secrets from some of the country's top Indian chefs.

About the Author
Anjum Anand grew up in London and Switzerland, and regularly visits family in Delhi and Calcutta. She has worked in the trend-setting Café Spice in New York and for Tommy Tang and the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles. Anjum is the presenter of BBC2 s Indian Food Made Easy and has also appeared on UKTV s Great Food Live.

Customer Reviews

Dissapointed too
I bought this book after watching a couple of shows on television. This book is not inspiring, it is westernized Indian food at best. I read the other reviews and disregarded the negative ones, this was a mistake. I hope whom ever buys this at the charity shop likes it better than I.

Failed To Inspire
Given my title, that would suggest that I havn't made anything from this book, and if you assumed that, you would be right. So, you may wonder what right I have to review a cookery book when I have not tried any of the recipes, surely though a cookery book has suceeded to an extent if it inspires you to attempt only one of the recipes presented to you on it's pages.

And that is the main problem with this book in my opinion, it just hasn't made me go into my kitchen and want to recreate any of the recipes I have seen in it, which is a real shame as I enjoy cooking a lot and like trying new kinds of cuisine.

So, does that make it a bad book? For me it is, but maybe for other people it's great. So I'd say see if you know someone who has a copy and ask to have a look at it or buy your own copy (it's not much money so even if it is a waste, it's not a big loss).

Disappointing
I was disappointed by this book, after catching and enjoying a couple of episodes of the television programme. I don't know about Indian Food "Made Easy" as I found many of the recipes really fiddly and time consuming. I planned on hosting an Indian Dinner Party, but after spending all weekend in the kitchen on the practice run the weekend before, I simply couldn't face it! Plus, although good, the food isn't GREAT, which is what you'd hope for when it's taken several hours to prepare.
Think this will just live on my shelf gathering dust.