5 comments about Madhur Jaffrey Indian Cooking.

1. I purchased this book as my origainal copy was getting ratty and covered with oil and Indian spices. The recipes are easy to follow and simple to make.



2. This is one of the best indian cookbooks I have found. It has intruductions to the Spices and the tools and the techniques, including a recipie for Garam Masala which is a staple spice for most indian dishes. The intro to indian spices alone is worth the cost of the book. I am eager to try out all of the recipies in here and have recommended this book to any of my friends interested in wonderfully flavorful foods.



3. this book is magical.
   
   i have tried many MANY of these books. every time i try something out, it comes out perfectly. perhaps once have i made something that i didnt want to DIE over.
   
   but these recipes are great. well explained, and they come out shockingly good almost every single time.



4. I first saw this book at my daughter-in-laws house and was impressed by the authenticity and simplicity of the recipes, as well as the beautiful photographs of the food that just made you want to try them out. I was also impressed that it covered many different regions of Indian cooking, not just one style. Lots of spices and techniques that I just wondered about were clearly explained. I read the book from cover to cover while there, taking some notes and was hoping my daughter-in-law would just tell me to take it home with me, but alas, I left empty handed. I just HAD to order it as soon as we returned home. I am going to buy another copy to give as a gift for relatives that we will be visiting in England who love Indian food.



5. Recently purchased this book on the recommendation of a friend, who said all the recipes work beautifully. Also I have listened to Ms. Jaffrey several times on the Splendid Table radio show as a guest and was impressed by her knowledge of Indian cooking.
   
   I haven't yet had a chance to try the recipes, though the instruction and pantry info seems pretty thorough and easy to follow. My only disappointment is that such a large-format hard-cover cookbook should have so few photos. I am visually oriented, and a good photo of a completed dish, or photos of complex cooking steps, are inspiring to me as a cook. There are some, but more photos would make me want to tackle more of the recipes inside.

5 comments about The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian American Kitchens.

1. I purchased this book for my granddaughter who is exploring world cooking recipes. She called me and said she was thrilled with the book and would be trying it out frequently.
   Grandma



2. I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's especially useful because the ingredients are adapted to what is available (read:easier to find) in the U.S. market, yet they still maintain (somehow) that feel and taste of authentic Asian cuisine. Also, there are foods from many different regions of Asia, which makes for many interesting dishes and varied tastes. They even had a dish from Myanmar (not a very well-known country, but my mom was born there and reminisced about her childhood years enjoying that dish.) There are also pages with photos that help you identify what some of the ingredients look like. The pages that have "wisdom from the grandmothers/grandfathers" are interesting, but I personally didn't care too much for the history/personal accounts. Others might be, though, and they are insightful passages.
   
   The detriment to having a physical book (as opposed to something that is online) is that it's a tad difficult to look up recipes, for example by main ingredient or even region. The book is categorized by meal type (like "appetizer" and "main dish".) There is an index, but sometimes I couldn't remember the name of the dish.



3. I have wanted to try cooking Asian food since I served in that part of the world with the military. Asian cookng intimitated me until I tried this wonderful book. I figured Mother's recipes would be more forgiving. I was right, the recipes are easy to follow and the pictures of pantry additions are very helpful. The food was tasty.
   Thank You for this book



4. The book is great. The only thing that I wish it had was a Table of Contents with the list of all the dishes in alpha order or by type (main dish, dessert, etc.)



5. This is a great book! I bought it for my fiance after hearing about it on NPR. While I don't cook myself, everything he has made me from it has been delicious. And according to him, the ingredients are not that hard to find (a problem he sometimes has with Asian cookbooks).

5 comments about Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking.

1. the book is beautiful and the photos perfect. Delivery was very fast but I must say the packaging was worn and the book not protected from shipping damage so it looked old and was a little dirty- as though it was lost in transit!



2. This was a great addition to any food lover's library.not only is the photography superb,but the text is exceptionally well-written ,interesting and informative.Not,like some cookbooks,a list of recipes which the average person would have trouble duplicating,it is a fascinating,entertaining,introduction to the art of Japanese food and its preparation. Highest Rating.



3. This is one of the finest cookbooks I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The photography is absolutely gorgeous, and Morimoto breaks down the recipes in such a way that they all seem really simple. Now if only I had his knife skills, then I'd be able to make it look just like he does! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in food, eating, photography, or just about anything else.



4. This book is just awesome..thank you for not only a great book, but for fast shipping of it.



5. I bought this book for my husband for his Christmas present this book is beautiful. Words can not simple describe Morimoto's book. The presentation and creativity with food is outstanding. Morimoto is simply the best chef there is for Japanese Cooking. Great buy and great gift for anyone interested in Japanese cooking. The photos are worth a 1,000 words alone.

5 comments about Sultan's Kitchen: A Turkish Cookbook.

1. I live in Boston and am lucky enough to work close to the Sultan's Kitchen restaurant. I collect cookbooks and just had to have this one. The photos are wonderful and really inspire you to try the recipies. So far I have made the Rice Pilaf w/Saffron & Mussels; Shepherd's Salad; Creamed Eggplant w/Chicken and Chicken Breasts stuffed w/Rice. Everything turned out fabulous and nothing was difficult. I can't wait to make the soups and breads!



2. I was just about to buy Binnur's Turkish cookbook when I read a few reviews mentioning this cookbook as being GREAT! I figured since it was by a professional chef it would be better...I actually don't think the book is "easy" and it doesn't remind me of Turkish homecooking. A lot of Binnur's dishes are what my mother makes and at least for me, her recipes are a lot simpler and easier to make.



3. This is a good all around, and reasonably priced cookbook. I just returned from Turkey and this book has many of the dishes that I loved when I was there.



4. Whoever gave this cookbook 2 stars must be out of his mind. The cookbook is as good as the restaurant, definitely one of my favorites.
   
   The recipes are easy to follow, with TONS of great great pictures and really wonderful descriptions. One of my favorites is the zucchini fritters with yogurt sauce. I could eat these every day! And the pilaf! My friends and family have loved every recipe I've tried from Ozcan Ozan's book. This is a must-have for anyone who loves to cook (and eat).
   
   And if you're in Boston, stop into the restaurant.



5. I've been trying my hand at Turkish cooking off and on for about 3 years. I own four Turkish cookbooks: this one, two by Ayla Algar (Classical Turkish Cooking: Traditional Turkish Food for the American Kitchen, Complete Book Of Turkish Cooking) and one with recipes from a variety of chefs Turkey: Mediterranean Cuisine. Among them, I like this book the best, for several reasons.
   
   (1) Very clear directions (even complex recipes are explained very clearly and steps follow each other in a logical, sensible order)
   (2) Beautiful photos (though they are all of finished dishes -- there are no photos showing techniques, which is unfortunate)
   (3) Recipes at a variety of skill/effort levels (e.g. easy recipes like Kisir, Ezogelin Çorbasi, and basic Köfte, along with harder ones like homemade baklava, manti, and a variety of dolma)
   (4) Recipes usually produce very good results. I am a big recipe hack though I sometimes adjust them (for example, I add olive oil and tomato paste to my kisir, as most cooks use them and I think they add flavor)

5 comments about Everyday Indian: 100 Fast, Fresh and Healthy Recipes.

1. The content of the book is superb, hands down it is definately one of the better Indian cuisine books out there, but my new copy arrived with many of the pages uncut. I managed to get them cut pretty neatly but it doesn't look as good as it could have. If you are thinking of giving this as a gift or later resale, better check it carefully.



2. I have only had the opportunity to make a half-dozen of the dishes. But every one of these has been delicious.
   
   Some real favorites in there: My Mother's Chickpeas, Cherry Tomato & Paneer Salad, Tandoori Quesadillas, Bal's No-Butter Chicken.
   
   Several things stand out.
   1) Beautiful photography of the dishes.
   2) Entertaining narrative for each dish. I felt like I know the author after just reading a couple of recipes. Very, very warm and personal.
   3) Focuses on fast - fresh - and healthy... just as the subtitle says. She got me on the grapeseed & flaxseed oil kick when I cook.
   
   One note. You should take the time to prepare her masalas and various spice blends as it will help prepare some of the dishes.
   
   One small criticism. Give me a list of all of the recipes that use a given masala.
   
   Still give it a 5 star. Please note the 3 star of another reviewer was a criticism that the book was not cut correctly. Not really a reflection on the content of this book and hardly the author's fault.



3. What a lovely book - I've only had it a short time, but I've already made three of the recipies ("Chicken South Indian style" is particularly yummy), and read the book cover-to-cover . . . then again, I'm a cookbook nut - I read them like most people read romance novels. This is the first cookbook I've owned that is Indian-food themed - a terrific introduction.



4. Received it in the mail today, and while I have not tried any of the recipes yet, I have read through to see how "complicated" they were going to be. I am delightfully surprised, very few of them, if any, seem complicated or troublesome at all. I live in an area where access to certain produce and ingredients are difficult to come by, but for the most part, that will not be a problem with these. And Bal gives little "stories" as preludes to the recipes that makes the cookbook more enjoyable. I am greatly pleased with my new purchase!!!



5. I love this book. I have done many of the recipes and they turned out great.

5 comments about Six Spices: A Simple Concept of Indian Cooking.

1. I've always wanted to cook Indian, but found most Indian cookbooks intimidating. This book breaks it down and the results are simply delicious. The eight or so recipes I've tried so far are actually tastier than most dishes I've had in Indian restaurants. It's perfectly OK with me that the recipes have probably been simplified; they satisfy that particular craving that only Indian food can satisfy. And now, finally, it's home-cooked Indian. Neeta Saluja, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.



2. These recipes are clearer and easier to follow than any other Indian cookbook I've used -- and the food tastes really good! I should know -- my family is from India and my mom is a good cook! The author's explanations of different ways to prepare spices (dry mixes, wet pastes, roasting, etc.) gave me a better understanding Indian cooking. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to cook Indian food.



3. I absolutely love this book. Every dish I make from this book comes out tasting fantastic! The dishes are not heavy or greasy like some food at Indian restaurants but at the same time the food is so incredibly rich and flavorful. Certain things take a bit more time but it is definitely worth the effort. And I can get all the ingredients at my local grocery store. The lentil dishes are really satisfying and the technique's you learn can be used over and over to create really unique dishes. Just depends on altering things a little and you have a whole new dish. The salads are so different from anything you would eat anywhere else...I mean where can you find a recipe for salad with tomatoes and peanuts, or butternut squash and yogurt w/ mustard seeds. Also some of my favorites (to mention a few, corn fritters, mango lassi, egg curry and cabbage kofta curry (taste like veggie meatballs, really rich but no fake meat!) I'm vegetarian, but there are quite a few meat dishes in this book for all the omnivores :)
   I guess I'm especially passionate about this book because I grew up eating Indian food and this is a real tastes like home to me,



4. Excellent cookbook for the cook that is new to Indian Cooking, or the professional. There is beginning section that describes the needed spices and purposes for them. This also gives the cook an idea of what ingredients will need purchased in advance that will be useful for almost every recipe in the book. I have tried many of the recipes already and they are fabulous. They are not super HOT as most Indian recipes start out to be. I enjoy this cookbook very much.



5. We love Indian food and I wanted to get a gentle introduction to cooking it. Starting with 6 spices seemed a good way to do that. That turned out to be spot on. In the 3 weeks i've had this book I've tried 10 recipes. While not all of them will become favorites, not a one was less than good.
   
   This book isn't just about reproducing authentic Indian food, but more about using Indian style cooking and flavors with ingredients I can get at the local market. That's fine. Since I've never been to India, i wouldn't know authentic if it bit me. I do know when I'm getting tasty food and with that Neeta Saluja comes through. What's more, the recipes are straight forward to prepare. Also, the instructions are clear. I would appreciate photos of each dish, but that's a minor quibble and doesn't distract from my enthusiastic recommendation of this cookbook.
   
   Another plus is that many of the dishes are vegetarian, and I've been wanting to move more in that dietary direction. What I don't want is to simply substitute tofu and soy meat for things I'm used to eating. Yuck. With the new tastes I'm experiencing and with dishes that are intended to take advantage of their natural ingredients, the lack of meat is not taste a problem at all. Healthy is a byproduct of good food, not an idea imposed upon dishes that weren't developed for vegetable based ingredients.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Sushi.

1. perfeito , superou as espectativas.... o livro e recheado de fotos em alta resolusao,e modo de fazer,entre alguns sushi comum e incomum....



2. After this book all you have to do is create your own combinations. I have hundreds of cook books but, this is the only one I need for making and understanding sushi. If you are an expert perhaps this would not be so exciting.....aside from an accomplished sushi master....... I loved this book!



3. My boyfriend just got me this for Christmas and we made sushi for the first time today! The instructions in this book are so very detailed it makes it impossible for beginners to fail their first time. Has a lot of great information for purchasing ingredients, how to cook rice, and offers tons of roll recipes. I feel like after a few more attempts, I'll be a pro!



4. This cookbook was delivered to my home in good time - as promised - and is full of great recipes/ideas for your adverage adventurous sushi chef (my wife) to stay satisfied! I'm happy with this purchase.



5. This is the best book on making sushi I've seen. Good instructions and recipes. Great pictures. I'm learning,,,,

5 comments about The Indian Vegan Kitchen: More Than 150 Quick and Healthy Homestyle Recipes.

1. It's ridiculous how many Vegetarian Indian cookbooks I have, but this one is among my favorites.
   
   What I appreciated most was the labeling of Gluten Free recipes. I'm eat a gluten free, vegan diet one thing I miss is naan, roti, and puri. She gives alternative breads that are great accompaniments to your dishes.
   
   The recipes are very healthy and some of the best I have ever used. I appreciated all the breakdown and explanations of diet and ingredients.
   
   I haven't been able to find the right rajma recipe and this was a winning combo of ingredients (I did add 1 black cardamom seed and a pinch of black cumin seeds).
   
   Enjoy!



2. I was thrilled to find this book. So happy that there is a vegan Indian book. This should be a must-read for all interested in healthier and vegan Indian dining. Two thumbs up!



3. This book has completely altered my cooking habits. I love to cook and I love Indian food but my wife can't handle hot food and we are 90% vegan...so this book is a treasure...a real gift.
   
   I cook from this book about once a week...and now almost always have a dal in the fridge...and my two-year-old grandson now absolutely loves dal.
   
   Ready for a complete refreshment of your cooking? Get it!



4. I don't own a cookbook and never buy books, but I took a chance and bought this after finding Madhu Gadia on the web. I was intrigued by her flax-seed roti recipe. So much of Indian cooking is fried and full of fat, so this was appealed to my interest in Indian cooking and healthy eating. I am vegetarian by choice, and vegan once a week!
   
   I already know the basics of Indian cooking, being a 2nd generation Indian, but wish I had this book earlier. It explains all the different spices & beans we use, including Hindi and English equivalents. It was truly so easy to follow, and yet challenging enough for me as a (somewhat) experienced cook. She even includes nutrition information!
   
   So far every recipe I've tried has been satisfying. I've even followed her recipes for items I already knew how to cook, and was happy with the results.
   
   I would recommend this book to others. It really beats doing pointless Google searches for recipes that may or may not be healthy (or taste good!).



5. Just got this in the mail, as a surprise! Love Indian food, love vegan food and am prepared to love this cookbook. Haven't made anything yet, but I'm going to change that later today. I'm super excited.
   I do have one problem with the book-it's not completely vegan. I haven't read every recipe but there's a few that use butter in the frying or ghee as well. The author also talks about how some of the bread is so good with a little butter. I'm wondering if she knows where butter comes from? (Not really) I wish the editors would have caught that. Not a big deal but you can tell this author isn't really a part of the vegan culture.

5 comments about The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook: Spicing Up Life with Italian, Asian, and Mexican Recipes.

1. Living gluten free can be a bit of a challenge; it's not always easy to find ways to work around the seemingly omni-present gluten component of western diet, thus when this cookbook was finally purchased by my local library, I was elated to get a chance to look through it, given the numerous five star reviews on Amazon.
   
   I have to say I was thoroughly disappointed; most of the recipes are pretty basic (i.e. there are numerous pasta recipes that simply call for the replacement of wheat pasta with gluten free...I don't think most seasoned Celiac sufferers require that instruction note) and quite bland; I had to make several adjustments and add in different spices to create something that I would enjoy. Also surprising (as well as disappointing) is the fact that many of the recipes in this cookbook include seafood and soy, which truly surprised me, as many Celiac sufferers have other food allergies (such as peanuts, seafood, soy etc.). The author seemingly acknowledges the need to offer alternatives to her dairy ingredients (there are numerous "dairy-free" recipe notes in the book), so given the awareness of the need for dairy-free alternatives, I'm surprised she wasn't as careful with the seafood/soy ingredients.
   
   The one bright spot about this cookbook I found was the information at the beginning of the cookbook regarding Celiac disease, testing, and information on various non-wheat flours. The information seems well researched and is presented in a way that is accessible for the average reader.
   
   Overall, if you've been living a gluten-free diet for quite sometime, move on to something else: there are other gluten-free cookbooks out there that will provide you with far more interesting and in-depth recipes (I own a few of them). But if you're just starting out in the sometimes very frustrating world of gluten-free cooking, this book may prove to be a good basic reference.



2. As someone who doesn't follow a gluten-free diet, I was initially a skeptic about gluten-free meals. However, every meal I've had from this book is amazing. Ms. Maltin does a great job making gluten free food easy to make and even easier to eat- you won't even know you're eating a gluten-free meal!!!!



3. I love this book. Many of the dishes that I used to get at restaurants (in my pre-GF life) are in this cookbook. The recipes are really easy and the ingredients are pretty basic. Of the recipes I have tried, the flavors are really clean and delicious. I thoroughly recommend this book.



4. The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook offers a range of recipes perfect for libraries focusing on allergy diet plans, packing in over a hundred Italian, Asian and Mexican recipes that cut gluten but add lots of flavor. From Chicken Parmesan and Coconut-Ginger Soup to Potstickers and a Chocolate Fudge cake that's gluten-free, this offers many gluten-free options and is a 'must' for any allergy cookbook library.



5. This cookbook is hands down my favorite and I pretty much own/have cooked from most of the gluten free cookbooks on the market. Every recipe that I have tried has gotten rave reviews from my family. This cookbook needs to be on everyones shelf...not just people that have to cook and eat gluten free.

5 comments about Wok Cooking Made Easy: Delicious Meals in Minutes (Learn to Cook Series).

1. Overall a good book for your Asian collection. Not much info on fried rices. Explains Asian cooking terms...



2. This cookbook had more unusual recipes than I anticipated from paging through online. The pictures were very good. The book was purchased as a birthday gift for my adult son who is very much involved in wok cookery and he seemed pleased with the content. Haven't had any feedback from him yet as to how these recipes are working out for him.



3. This took forever to get to me. When I received it I only liked one recipe in it. I like simple, this book calls for alot of different foods. I haven't even used it yet.



4. We bought this cookbook when we bought our new stainless steel wok from Amazon. Since then I've purchased oriental cooking oils and new spices. This book really spiced up our healthful meals! Enjoy!



5. Most of the recipes in this book are quite wonderful. Very tasty, very easy to create and make. But are they authentic Chinesse???? Nope... Some are halfway Chinese....some are not at all Chinese; just western interpretations of Chinese recipes. Take the fried rice recipes, for example. The book does not tell you WHICH rice to use. But you can bet your bottom dollar that the long grain brown rice I used for these recipes is NOT what makes for an authentic Chinese dish.
   
   Still---what I created using my long-grain brown rice and the recipes herein----oh, yes, very yummy indeed. Just don't expect the results to even being to resemble anything you've eaten at your favorite Chinese restaurant.
   
   BUT--I still recommend this book. Photos are GREAT!!!! And, sometimes photos are all you need!!!!! Plus, no shortcuts are taken the way shortcuts are taken on many websites offering Chinese sitr-fry recipes. [read: Betty Crocker who wants you to use INSTANT RICE!!!!!! YEEE GADS....COULD IT GET ANY WORSE THAN THAT----I DON'T THINK SO]
   
   Okay....that's it. A good book. Not a great book, but for the price, a good book well-worth adding to a storehouse of Chinese cookbooks. Just don't make it your ONLY Chinese cookbook, or you'll wind up lost somewhere between the Indian Ocean and Connecticut....