Vegetarian Indian Instant Pot Cookbook by Pavani Nandula - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title: Vegetarian Indian Instant Pot Cookbook: Authentic Recipes Made Quick and Easy

Author: Pavani Nandula

Genre : Cookbook, Food

Print Length: 219 pages

Publisher : Rockridge Press (July 13, 2021)

Source: ARC from the author for review

Blurb:

Make Indian meals at home with vegetarian recipes for your Instant Pot

The Instant Pot makes it quicker and easier than ever before to cook up hearty dal, fluffy rice dishes, savory curries, and other meatless meals that capture the unique flavors of India. From restaurant favorites to regional home-cooking classics, this Instant Pot vegetarian cookbook is filled with recipes for a wide variety of meat-free Indian dishes that can be made entirely in your Instant Pot. Every recipe includes realistic time estimates that account for every step of the cooking process, including pressure-build and pressure-release time.

Inside this Indian Instant Pot vegetarian cookbook, you’ll find:
An Indian cooking primer—Learn how to stock your kitchen with common Indian ingredients and adapt traditional cooking techniques, like tadka (tempering) and bhunao (sautéing), to the Instant Pot.

Quick dishes—Many of the meals in this Instant Pot vegetarian cookbook come together in less than 45 minutes, and you’ll find convenient labels for super-fast recipes that take 30 minutes or less from prep to table.

Sample menus—Find menu suggestions for everyday lunches and dinners, dinner parties, holiday celebrations, vegan meals, and more in this Instant Pot vegetarian cookbook.
Staple recipes—Make your own Indian essentials from scratch, including ghee, paneer, peanut chutney, and garam masala.

Unlock the flavors of Indian cooking with help from this easy Instant Pot vegetarian cookbook.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

The instant pot has made our lives easier - it takes just one pot, no spills, is easy to clean, carries multiple tasks like steam, pressure cook, ferment, etc.,

I use instant pot to make biryani, dal, fermentation of idli/dosa batters, and yogurt. But, I didn't know for what other recipes I can use this instant pot.

Pavani's book is both for beginners of the instant pot and also for people like me who are using it for some recipes. This is also for beginners in Indian cooking. Pavani introduces us to spices, lentils, legumes, and other ingredients used in Indian cooking.

 The book is categorized into appetizers, dal and bean dishes, rice dishes, curries and stews, vegetable and grain dishes, and staples.

I am familiar with a few curries, dal, and rice dishes, but never tried appetizers, grain dishes, and stews with Instant pot. Vegetable Momos seemed interesting to try. Spicy tomato rasam seemed easy and useful for everyday cooking.

I would love to try Rajma masala and Chana saag next time. I liked the recipes of Paneer Makhani and Baingan masala in the curries section. 

Hearty Vegetable and Grain dishes have a wide variety of recipes like Hakka noodles, Indian-style Mac and cheese, Indian-style burrito bowls, and Vegetable Frittata. 

I tried the Vegetable Biryani from the book as it is quick to make on weekend evenings.

I loved the design on each page of the book. Tip about how to make the recipe Vegan is useful. Some recipes also have cooking tips and variations. I loved the way the author mentioned the combinations to pair the recipe with. 

The photos for the recipes are appealing. 

My Rating: 5/5

I recommend this to all who love to try Indian recipes on Instant pot.

About the Author:

Pavani is a food blogger, recipe developer, and photographer at Cook's Hideout (cookshideout.com). Her blog is all about delicious vegetarian dishes from India and all over the world. She shares recipes that are easy to make and tasty to eat.

Until next time,

The Essential Vegetarian Indian Cookbook by Pavani Nandula - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title: The Essential Vegetarian Indian Cookbook 

Author: Pavani Nandula

Genre: Vegetarian Cooking, Indian Cooking, Cookbook

Print Length : 208 pages

Publisher : Rockridge Press

Source: A free review copy from the author

Blurb:

Authentic Indian cooking comes home―125 classic and flavorful vegetarian recipes

Simply put, spice is the true essence of Indian cuisine. With The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook, you’ll learn how to master the magic of mixing simple herbs and spices like cumin and turmeric with fresh vegetables, legumes, grains, and dairy to create irresistible layers of flavor.

From Vegetable Korma to Paneer Makhani, this complete vegetarian cookbook gives you everything you need to get started simmering up these diverse and versatile dishes. Whether you crave Indian food and want to re-create your favorite mouthwatering meals at home or you’re trying to switch to a smarter, healthier way of eating, this is the perfect guide for you.

This standout vegetarian cookbook delivers:

125 Plant-based recipes―Discover dozens of delicious family favorites and lesser-known vegetarian fare that cover a wide range of regional Indian cuisine.
A straightforward approach―This vegetarian cookbook offers precise, easy-to-follow prep instructions and easy-to-find ingredients.
The basics―Explore Indian cooking techniques, kitchen and pantry essentials, expert tips, and more.

Spice up mealtime, anytime with this essential vegetarian cookbook full of real Indian flavors.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review :

The Essential Vegetarian Indian Cookbook is for those who want to try Indian cuisine and learn the basics of Indian cooking.

Spices play an important role in India cuisine, hence Pavani covers the information about the different spices used in the cuisine and introduces the readers to different types of lentils , legumes, cooking techniques and kitchen equipment required in the first chapter.

The book is divided into multiple sections to cover the basics, appetizers, recipes with egg and diary, main course dishes, chutneys, salads, desserts and spice blends.

There is a glossary, measurement conversions and menu ideas at the end of the book.

My Favorite recipe from the book is Kadai Paneer. 

Pavani explains the masala preparation ahead which can be stored for the future preparations. Paneer is the favorite for most of the vegetarians and Kadai paneer blends the spice and the creamy rich flavor of tomatoes very well. 

Tried this today and it came out so well. We had the curry with Indian flat bread rotis and kids too liked the curry.

I am planning to cook this dish for special gatherings and family meals as well.

What I liked about the book?

I liked some unique recipes like Stuffed Bell peppers with Aloo, Zucchini dry curry, Spicy Seviyan, and Coconut ginger chutney. 

I loved the meal plan ideas at the end of the book which are good for a simple family meal or a special buffet meal.

The process to prepare Paneer and Sambar masala are very useful for everyday cooking and planning. 

Appetizers mentioned in the book are interesting. I might love to try Okra fries and Vada Pav.

My Rating: 5/5

I recommend this book to the beginners in Indian cooking. It might be helpful for people like me as well who know the basics of Indian cooking and want to try the unique recipes that I mentioned above.

PS: I have received this review copy from the author in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the Author:

PAVANI NANDULA is the cook, creator, and photographer behind Cook’s Hideout, a top Indian food blog that she founded in 2006. Her recipes have been featured in BuzzFeed, Brit + Co, and Country Living. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and two kids. Find her online at CooksHideout.com and follow her on Instagram @cooks_hideout.

Until next time,

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