[.ca] From Bengal To Punjab (ISBN 0895945096)

Great introduction to Indian cuisine:
Echoing another reviewer, this is by no means a comprehensive examination of Indian cuisine. The cuisines of southern India tend to be neglected in favor of more familiar Mughal recipes. Smita Chandra addresses regional cooking more equitably in her "Cuisines of India." Also, the recipes contained in "From Bengal to Punjab" are not grand recipes that would be served as a centerpiece at a banquet; they are simple, basic recipes which are easy to make but not dazzling. If you keep that in mind, you will find this a most satisfying cookbook, which will introduce you to the basic components and techniques of Indian cooking. I have used this cookbook for over 10 years, and have always been happy with the results. The cookbook is inexpensive, well laid out, and the recipes are very easy to follow. There are virtually no ingredients in these recipes that you cannot find in most good urban market these days, which reflects the rising popularity of ethnic cuisines. If you are interested in learning the basics of Indian cuisine, then this is a very good cookbook to use for that purpose.

Fabulous!:
I'm an Indian food freak, and have a tendency to buy Indian cookbooks often. Overall this is definitely my favorite. The instructions are very clear (as opposed to some of my other Indian cookbooks, where they state something like, "cook onions for 5 minutes", which could be anywhere from barely sweated to brown at the edges depending on the heat and your particular stove), and all of the recipes I have tried have been delicious. I especially love the Chicken with Coconut Milk and Ground Lamb with Peas (much better than some of the other versions I've tried). This is a must-have for lovers of Indian cuisine!

Excellent Indian Cuisine:
This book is absolutely excellent. You will need some specialty spices, but each recipe is easy to follow and produces fabulous results. I've had this cookbook for about a year and have not found a single recipe that I didn't like. Don't expect this food to be the watered-down generic version - these recipes are spicy, flavorful and exciting.

Delicious Indian cuisine at home!:
Three years ago, I purchased this book wishing to recreate dishes that I had at local Indian restaurants and to save money. I got more than I bargained for! Since then I bought several other Indian cookbooks, but I cook from this book most often. I no longer need to go to restaurants to taste Indian cuisine because I can cook better! Everything I cooked so far were delicious; I have impressed my Indian friends! Legume and vegetable sections are especially good for people who wants to have more vegetables in their diet and enjoy them too. I think many recipes are from northern India. Ms. Chandra gives menu suggestions and how to vary a dish with her charming writing style. Thank you Mrs. Chandra!

A good book for the beginner only:
This book is well written and organized (as one would expect from this author) and I'm not sorry I bought it, but it is not a star of my collection. The beginner will find it an excellent overview and introduction to east Indian cuisine, but it provides very little that is new for the serious collector of Indian cookbooks.