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Preparing Indian Dishes at Home for Family and Friends

HAVING GROWN UP in an Indian home in the suburbs of Houston, Texas with immigrant parents, I certainly have had a diverse food experience. This includes home-style Indian meals prepared by my mother, eating out at Mexican and Italian restaurants (my parents’ favorite when not eating at home), ordering pizza at home and traditional American food from school and college cafeterias, as well as in the homes of my American friends. We spent many summers in India visiting our family and touring the country. While there, I enjoyed Indian street food and watching and helping my relatives prepare meals. I was intrigued by the efforts and techniques involved in making a traditional meal in India. Cooking three meals for a family seemed to be an all-day, labor intensive event but it did seem interesting—especially when I got to help my grandmother make bread in her tandoor, an Indian oven. When we returned home to the United States, I noticed that my mom’s quicker and easier cooking methods resulted in the same great-tasting food. Of course, my mom had more modern conveniences but as a career woman, she was also pressed for time and did not have all day to prepare a meal.

Once I became a working professional, I realized that I did not know how to cook efficiently—a necessity for enjoying a wholesome homemade meal after a tiring day at the office. Following graduate school, I re-entered corporate America and became the manager of my department. I found myself coming home late, tired and hungry after a long day’s work. At first, I would simply pick up a quick takeout dinner on the way home or resort to a frozen meal but as time went by, this was becoming more unhealthy and less satisfying. It was time to learn how to quickly make delicious and healthy home-cooked Indian meals!

I began by utilizing two of the most expert Indian home cooks I know—my mom, who is from the northern region of India and my mother-in-law, who is from the southern region of India. I called them when I wanted one of their recipes and would quickly jot down the verbal recipe on a handy piece of scrap paper. To these “scribbles,” I added my own personal touches—all for the purpose of being able to make a traditional Indian meal as efficiently as possible. In time, after honing and developing the recipes, I was able to come home after an exhausting day at work and have a satisfying and delicious Indian home-cooked meal in minutes! Eventually, I decided to collect all of my scraps of sloppy handwritten recipes and neatly type and compile them into binder to make my own personal Indian “cookbook.” One day as I was browsing the cookbooks at a local bookstore, I noticed that there weren’t any Indian cookbooks that had clear and easy home-style recipes that are commonly made in Indian homes and are from the diverse regions in India. At that moment, I realized that my “binder” was a unique recipe collection that could be of use and interest to Indians and non-Indians alike.

I am very excited to share my recipes and techniques with you! If you love Indian food but think it must be too time-consuming for a busy person like you to make, especially for a weekday meal, I hope you will pick up this book and give it a try. It was with you in mind that this book was written! You will be amazed at the simplicity of my recipes, which use easy-to-find ingredients and everyday cookware— all without sacrificing the authenticity of the taste.

I certainly did not get it perfect the first time I tried cooking Indian food at home, but I do hope my simplified recipes with clear step-by-step instructions will help you get it perfect or very close to perfect the first time you try. Don’t be scared, don’t get frustrated but do have fun. Practice makes perfect. And remember, it’s always nice when you entice with spice!

Shubhra Ramineni