[.ca] Ismail Merchants Passionate Meals (ISBN 0452282322)

Passionate Author, Mediocre Recipes:
I've had this book for a few years now, and I'm finally ready to give up on it. The only problem with this book is that none of the food I've made from it is good. I have to twist arms to use up leftovers. I'm really sorry to say this because I absolutely love Indian food and of all my Indian cookbooks, this one has the easiest, quickest recipes with commonly found ingredients. Merchant doesn't send you on a hunt for fresh curry leaves, for instance. And nothing I've made from this book took much work. The dishes fall into place effortlessly. Perhaps I've tried exactly the wrong recipes, but looking back through the book, I see page after page of notes to myself not to repeat this dish or that one. I agree with the reviewer who comments that Merchant overuses Dijon mustard. It just tastes out of place. For simple recipes suitable to a home cook, I'd suggest Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cooking. Like this one, it has no hard-to-obtain fresh ingredients and it has no complicated processes to follow. The results from her books are more reliable. I'll remain a die-hard fan of Merchant himself and of his movies.

Truly lives up to its provocative title:
Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals: The New Indian Cuisine For Fearless Cooks And Adventurous Eaters truly lives up to its provocative title! From A Better Gin and Tonic, Taza Kumbhi ka Shorba (Fresh Mushroom Soup), and Nimbu Masoor Dal (Lemon Lentils), to Tamatar Gosht (Tomato Lamb Curry), Sarson-walla Jhingha (Mustard Shrimp), and Naaspati ka Murabba (Stewed Spiced Pears), this compendium of delicious, memorable, dishes are adapted for Western cooks and will prove irresistible for gourmet dining and liven up any family meal.

For enthusiasts of ethnic and regional cuisines:
Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals is a compendium of more than two hundred Indian-inspired recipes adapted for the Western kitchen. From Bambai Bhajya (Bombay Vegetable Fritters), Besan Walla Chana (Black Chick-Peas with Gram Flower Sauce), and Murgh Masala (Spicy Chicken Curry), to Bhuna Gosht (Pan-Roasted Lamb), Machli Dam Masala (Cod in Tomato and Basil Sauce), and Nimbu ka Achar (Sour Lemon Pickle), Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals offers a mouth-watering, appetite satisfying spectrum of dishes to enhance any meal. Highly recommended for enthusiasts of ethnic and regional cuisines, Ismail Merchant's Passionate Meals treats the reader to Merchant's engaging personal anecdotes and reflections on Indian customs.

Every recipe is a winner:
Everything I've cooked from this book has turned out to be a winner. I've made recipes for both friends and family, those who like spicy food and those who enjoy milder foods. These recipes are flavourful and I keep getting requests for more.