A quick peek into Hari Nayak’s “My Indian Kitchen” & a Giveaway!

This is post is long overdue! I have been sitting on this post for awhile now. Not because I wanted to, but because of heavy workload, and some health problems with lil dumpling. But here it is, at last! When I received an email by the publishers of celebrity Indian chef and Restaurateur Hari Nayak’s latest cook book “My Indian Kitchen” to see if I was interested in receiving an advance copy, I readily agreed for two reasons. One, I love to leaf through glossy pages and pour over the beautiful pictures of delicious food! And second reason is Chef Hari Nayak comes from my home town, Udupi-Mangalore, a sleepy coastal town in Southern Indian state of Karnataka. Few months back I was pleasantly surprised when Hari mailed me when he came across my blog and wanted to leave few words of appreciation. So I was obliviously interested in taking a small peek into his kitchen and see how similar or different he cooks traditional recipes.

With in few days I received my pre-press release copy to my office address by morning post. It was not easy to concentrate on my work when all I wanted to do was tear open the package and leaf through pages after pages of delicious food captured beautifully and read the recipes. Although I am a sucker for cookbooks and also a hoarder, it’s different thing that I rarely cook from cookbooks! Did I hear few ‘gasps’ and see some ‘shocked’ expressions on some of your face? Well, it’s true! Being a foodie and having food blog doesn’t mean I religiously cook from cookbooks. Instead, cookbooks serve as a source of inspiration as I flip through pages, drooling at exotic food presented beautifully, and imagining how it would actually taste!

So for me to cook from any cookbooks, they MUST contain three important things. First, all the ingredients can be easily sourced or available. If not, then the book should contain alternate ingredients that will not compromise on taste. Second, the simplicity of preparation. The recipe shouldn’t be overly complex that it puts you off with lengthy list of ingredients that you never heard of and/or frightening cooking technique. And third and most important thing of all is end result, the very important taste test the recipe and elegant photographs promised! Hari Nayak’s “My Indian Kitchen” promises all three and delivers more!

Who is Hari Nayak?

Hari Nayak is part of the creative new generation of chefs from Asia. As a young boy, watching his grandmother grind fresh spices in the traditional stone mortar and hearing the splutter of curry leaves being thrown into hot oil, he knew that being around food was what he wanted to do, always. Nayak is known for his simple approach to food, staying true to the core Indian values of the dishes he creates. His inspiration apart from his village upbringing lies in an ability to absorb influences from other cultures and cuisines that he has experienced in traveling the globe. Since graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Nayak has worked in the food industry for the past 15 years—including stints at renowned New York restaurants like Aquavit and Daniel. He now runs his own consultancy business called Gourmet Gurus. He has also provided culinary and consulting services to various organizations such as Sodexo USA, ifoodTV, Whole Foods and several restaurants. He pioneeredAmerica’s first ice cream patisserie, Halo Fete, in Princeton, NJ. His first cookbook, Modern Indian Cooking, was named "best of the season" for 2007 by the Los Angeles Times. For more information, go to www.harinayak.com.

More on My Indian Kitchen:

This book contains more than 100 recipes from everyday chutneys to delicious side dish, from aromatic spice mixes to delicious desserts. The book has different chapters on Indian Spice Mix, Chutneys and Dips, Appetisers, Soups & Dals, Vegetable & Cheese Dishes, Seafood, Meat & Poultry, Indian Flat Breads & Rice, and Desserts & Drinks. The book also contains a chapter on “Pairing wines with Indian Food”. Since Hari comes from coastal town, he has penned down some wonderful sea food and also meat dishes for non-vegetarians who look for classic yet modern seafood and meat recipes. While this book contains some elegant restaurant style foods (Kadai Paneer, Rajma Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan, Samosas, Mango & Pistachio Kulfi), it doesn’t disappoint people like me who prefer home-styled cooking (Beans Poriyal, Coconut Chutney, Black Eyed Peas Rice, Garlic Pickle, Mangalorean Meen/Fish Curry, Tamarind Rice etc). This book also features recipes that use traditional Indian ingredients but used in western style of cooking (Chai Crème Brule, Pistachio Biscotti, Lamb Burgers, Crispy Masala Fish Fingers etc). The cherry on top is the recipes that use western ingredients which are easily available not just in western countries, but also in India and you had no idea as how to incorporate them in Indian way of cooking (Avocado and toasted Cumin Raita, Salmon cooked with five spices, Broccoli and walnut soup etc). From cooking perfect grains of Basmati Rice to making Indian flat breads, this book has it all! And best of all is the chapter dedicated to ten wonderful Indian Spice Mixes/Powders ranging from very famous and quintessential Garam Masala to Goan Vindaloo Masala!

So, what’s the verdict?

When you finish going through all the recipes you won’t be disappointed by the collection of recipes and the cooking technique. Hari Nayak’s passion for Indian food is very obvious in his “My Indian Kitchen”. “My Indian Kitchen” is for novice/beginners and also for advanced cooks, it is for vegetarians and also non-vegetarians, and mainly, this book is for everyone who loves and wants to try some delicious Indian Food at home without fuss! He not only gives substitutes for the ingredients which may not be available in non-Indian kitchens but also clear cut and precise instructions which is very easy to follow even for the novice cooks and those who are unfamiliar with Indian cooking techniques.

This cookbook review is incomplete without mentioning the photographs by Jack Turkel which are visual treats! From exquisite, aromatic spices to inviting, drool-worthy foods, the picture says it all. And the picture of typical Indian vegetable market just took my breath away! With his simple narration, precise ingredient lists, meticulous measurements and clear cooking techniques this book is a keeper and it certainly deserves a special place in your book shelf! Hari Nayak’s “My Indian Kitchen” is for all as its tagline suggests: “Preparing Delicious Indian Meals without Fear or Fuss”. Want to sample some delicious recipes from this cookbook? Then simply go to http://www.myindiankitchen.com/recipe-gallery . You can also order your copy from Monsoon Spice’s Amazon store.

Time for Giveaway… Hurray!!!

Monsoon spice will be completing 5 wonderful years of cooking, clicking, blogging and a beautiful FRIENDSHIP with it’s readers who make it a special place. This is a first giveaway of this month and I have decided to give something that I love! I don't have very large collection of cookbooks as I am very picky about the cookbooks and buy only the best of the kind. For me Hari Nayak’s “My Indian Kitchen” is one of the good books I have come across in recent times and I have decided to choose this one as the first give away for blog anniversary.

This giveaway is closed for comments and the winner of the Giveaway is announced here.