Craving Samosas
The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking is one of my all time favorite cookbooks. I have the hard cover copy. (I always choose hard cover if it’s an option.) The author Yamuna Devi became hooked on Indian and vegetarian cuisine in 1996. How did it happen? Her sister was getting married. Her sister and her fiancee had met an Indian swami, Srila Prabhupada. He was going to be preparing the wedding meal. Joan Campanella aka Yamuna Devi assisted in the food preparation,
This is a book I curl up with. Do you know what’s bizarre? I don’t think I’ve ever followed a recipe (that’s true with most of my recipes books) in here. However I’ve been inspired by many of the dishes and have come up with variations. What keeps me coming back it Yamuna’s writing style. I feel like I’m listening to a friend. She changed her name from Joan Campanella to Yamuni Devi and served as Srila Prabhupada personal cook, off and on, for around eight years.
In many of the recipes she shares a personal story. I like that since it adds a personal touch to this recipe book. The book is over 700 pages and should put the myth to rest that vegetarian/vegan food is boring. Many of the recipes listed in this book can be “Veganized.”
This Saturday evening ‘ll be having company over. I’m planning to make samosas and a variety of other dishes. My friends aren’t vegan but they do eat my veggie dishes. I love to cook (or in my case uncook) and I truly enjoy spending time in the kitchen whipping up tasteful cuisine.
When I cook for my nonveggie friends/acquaintances I usually make a few dishes that have ingredients that they are familiar with and I tend to throw something exotic into the mix. This week I’ll be making raw (dehydrated) and cooked somosas. I’m not sure what will be in the raw samosas. I haven’t made them before but it will come to me.
I don’t have peas growing yet so I’m going to stop by my favorite farm and pick up some fresh peas, corn, and potatoes. I cannot wait to make baked & raw samosas!
on May 2nd, 2007 at 11:03 pm
I have been trying to find this book in libraries - haven’t been able to locate it yet…can’t wait until I do…might have to get it on Amazon or a like site. I love Veg*n Indian Food!!!
on May 2nd, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Harmonia,
You should definitely think about adding this to your permanent selection the lowest price I saw was on Amazon at $19.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0525245642/ref=dp_olp_1/103-2938783-0660650?ie=UTF8&qid=1178161570&sr=8-2
on May 2nd, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Neat! thanks a bunch!!!
on May 3rd, 2007 at 7:26 am
Harmonia,
You are welcome. Whenever possible I try to buy like new used books. I bet you’ll love this book. :-)
on May 3rd, 2007 at 7:42 am
I LOVE Indian cuisine. The book cover looks very familiar but don’t remember where I saw it. I have been meaning to get a couple recipe books. We are going to Half Books this weekend and wonder if that is where I spotted it. Not sure…
on May 3rd, 2007 at 9:48 am
Beth Ellen,
You might have seen it. It’s a very popular book. :-) It’s sold many copies!
on May 3rd, 2007 at 3:43 pm
The books pretty big over here, but then Indian food is one of, if not the most popular current food in Eng.
on May 3rd, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Adam,
That’s what I hear. I have an English friend that is always talking about the Indian restaurants in his area.
on May 3rd, 2007 at 4:00 pm
We’ve been seriously considering going vegetarian around my house. One of the reasons I think we could manage the switch is how great Indian food is! This book looks really interesting. I may have to hunt down a copy myself. I have a Williams Sonoma Indian cookbook that is marvelous as well. Wonderful pictures, recipes, info.
on May 3rd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Diane,
This cookbook is a keeper. I’ve had it for (at least) seven years. There are quite a few fabulous vegetarian cookbooks our there. Another favorite is The Passionate Vegetarian by Crescent Dragonwagon. It’s a large book and like Yamuna she shares personal stories.
If you think it would be hard to make a complete transition why not take baby steps. You could start by eating veggie x amount of days each week and gradually building upon that. I’ve been vegetarian since 1992 I haven’t looked back and personally I never crave animals.
I’m fairly muscular and definitely not lacking in protein. (Actually we don’t need as much protein as they claim but that is a whole different post.) Where do you get your protein? That’s one of the main questions I receive from people. :-)
I usually wear vegan or raw vegan name shirts at the gym and I usually have someone asking me “What do you do?” since it’s obvious to them I’m doing something since I’m muscular. My physique completely squashes that protein myth.
on May 3rd, 2007 at 11:53 pm
i wish more books were “personalized” like this one i. Thanks for calling it to our attention, Opal!!