The Wonderful World of Meera Sodha
I rarely buy cookbooks anymore. After a certain point it feels like we’ve got every recipe we could ever possibly want… but three weeks ago I was reading about a young London Chef (and bestselling author) named Meera Sodha. Apparently a genius with vegetables. I thought, well, why don’t I get just two more books to see what they’re all about. (I’m always trying to increase our vegetable consumption, so it seemed like a good idea.)
The books are absolutely fantastic. Pleasant, humorous, simple and sophisticated. A perfect picture of Indian cuisine. Both books are good. Made in India includes recipes with meat and Fresh India doesn’t. Honestly, I (highly) recommend both. Especially if you’re one of those people who has that (sick!) secret impulse to outdo everyone you know. She even teaches us how to make paneer, yogurt and a variety of Indian breads 🙂 Because who doesn’t want to turn to their guests and smile whilst thinking, see how much better than you I am! You don’t have a chance.
Her book is on Amazon, but if you want to get an idea of what she does, have a look at her beautiful website: 97% Indian Food (various recipes available including Keralan Coconut Prawns which is fab.)
My Mazamet 
I recently bought that one, too!
But my roommates are VERY ethnic Chinese and they abhor the fragrance of Indian and Italian herbs and spices.
So when the house clears out for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I’m going to take Meera Sodha out for a spin…
…figuratively speaking, of course!
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I looked at the website and I’ll try the aubergine and cherry tomato thing tomorrow: if it works then I might order the books.
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That was one of the first ones we tried. Great balance of flavours and I imagine with the sort of produce you get in Latin America, it’ll come out particularly well.
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Yes, availability can be a bind sometimes ….(thus returning from England with kippers in the suitcase)….but we have both in abundance in the garden, and the other ingredients,so I’m looking forward to trying it.
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Tried it tonight. Worked very well indeed, so the books are on order for the next visitor to bring out. Many thanks for the tip off.
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Not sure if its available, but if you ever get a chance, try Nepalese red rice… Especially the vareity from Jumla in far west Nepal. Astonishing.
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Bless Google, looky here
http://royalmt.com.np/blog/jumla-red-rice-apples-yarsagumba-and-the-origins-of-nepali/
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Is it anything like the red rice from the Camargue?
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No idea. Maybe. I remember it to be big, almost like a bean, and incredibly absorbant.
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You’ve almost convinced me. We have more cookbooks than probably anyone else in France, certainly than any expat who has moved around a lot in France! We have so many books, a library full of them and half are cookbooks! And the worst thing do we look at them? Not so much as now there is always an iPad to hand and the Internet, who needs a cookbook. But, I spent a year travelling around India, I adore the country and the people, I tried to get my husband to move there but he wasn’t as passionate as I was. I love Indian food so long as it’s not too hot, and I am always looking for recipes to surprise our French friends with, this might be just the answer!
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I know, it seems like we’re in the post-book era. But I found these really fun. They’re more than cookbooks. They’re an insight into an Indian way of life. Generosity, sharing, not wasting food. I’m in love with the whole concept.
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I may be tempted…not sure where I’d put them, as I have lots of recipe books, but we love Indian food & have excellent Indian supermarkets near us , so I’d have no excuse not to try many recipes.
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I’ve starting putting the books I don’t really want in boxes to give away at some point. That clears up space a bit 😀
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