Author of the award-winning blog Food Fashion Party, Asha Shivakumar was born in India and now lives in San Francisco. She says this book is not fusion food. It is her effort to “introduce Indian cooking to those who love spices but want to have it in a way that’s comfortable for them.” It’s comfort food, like Fish Tacos, but with Indian flavored embedded. And sometime happily overflowing.
This is one of the beautiful cookbooks you will ever encounter. The photos will have you salivating and searching your kitchen shelves for ingredients. You will probably need your car keys because these recipes are laden with Indian spices. But, on the bright side, once your panty is stocked you are ready for one recipe after another.
The book’s chapters may appear “standard:”
- Bread and Breakfast
- Starters, Snacks and Side
- Vegetarian Mans
- Eggs Chicken and Seafood
- Sweet Treat
- Sauces, Dip and Chutney
- Drinks
- Spices and Ingredients
However, the recipes are anything but standard. Consider these ideas sprinkled through the book:
Coconut Cardamom Granola with Saffron-Infused Yogurt
Apple-Pistachio Waffled French Toast [yes, French toast cooked in a waffled maker]
Onion Rings with Wasabi Aioli [potato chips for the crust and baked, not deep fried!]
Chutney Sandwiches with Whipped Goat Cheese Spread
Hasselback Egg with Chili and Fennel Drizzle
Chickpea Cauliflower Stew with Apple and Onion Salad
Spiced Lentils with Scalloped Sweet Potato and Yam [think Thanksgiving!]
Tamarind Skillet Chicken [yogurt, garlic, and chili marinade plus tamarind sauce]
Chicken Soup with Vegetable-Stuffed Wontons
Curried Crab Corn Chowder
No-Bake Pumpkin Halwa Pie [her first American dessert with an unbaked almond-pistachio crust]
Carrot Halwa and Watermelon Colada
That last one, the Carrot Halwa? The halwa part is cooked grated carrots, milk and sugar. Combine that in a blender with watermelon and rum for an Indian cocktail of distinction.
The hasselback egg? You may have seen hasselback potatoes where the potato is cooked with may vertical slices, enabling you to season or sauce the interior of the entire potato. Here, the potato is replaced by that hard-boiled egg. Here’s the photo:
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. So, I am going to stop writing. You need to start cooking. Comfort food with Indian flare and fire. Masala & Meatballs is total pleasure.