Top 6 Indian Cookbook Authors

“I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.” - Julia Child

It’s probably very surprising that the famous chef Julia Child started cooking only at the age of 32!! Just goes on to show that you don’t need to start training at the age of ten! Lots of young people these days start learning to cook only when they’re out of the confines of their homes and are left to fend for themselves. And in such instances, one always prefers to go to the experts for guidance!

Indians generally prefer simpler flavors, made with fresh and authentic ingredients. Yet, cooking in India has seen a new surge of popularity, in no small measure due to the MasterChef series. Fusion dishes are emerging as the world gets smaller and young chefs are making their mark. We’ve decided to put the spotlight on some of these chefs and since today is World Book Day, we’re going to focus on the top 6 Indian cook book authors. Read on to see if you can spot your favorite!

1. Tarla Dalal 

 

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It is unlikely that there is a home in urban India that doesn’t have a Tarla Dalal cookbook! After selling over 3 million books, Tarla Dalal has become an icon of sorts, especially for vegetarian Indian cooking. Though she died in 2013, her legacy continues through her website, books and magazine, and is still the first spot for Indian recipes.

2. Sanjeev Kapoor

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Sanjeev Kapoor is the man who brought the treasure of good cuisine into our living rooms, through a show that is considered the longest running of its kind in Asia! He has a huge number of accomplishments to his name, including restaurants across the world, a TV channel and a huge number of books in various languages.

3. Nita Mehta

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After Tarla Dalal and Sanjeev Kapoor, the next name that comes to mind when one thinks of Indian cooking is Nita Mehta, who’s published a whopping 400 books on food! She has won awards and is a regular on TV shows, going on to open a culinary academy and publishing house, all by herself!

4. Vikas Khanna 

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Vikas Khanna is probably the person who made cooking look attractive, both in India and abroad! With a pleasing personality, he is a favorite on international TV and is also known for his humanitarian efforts. A Michelin starred chef, Vikas Khanna has a number of books to his credit, including ones for kids!

5. Madhur Jaffrey 

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There aren’t too many people who can have two careers, both equally successful. Yet, Madhur Jaffrey is one such incredible person! A successful actress, she is also a noted culinary expert with several award winning books on Indian cooking under her belt. She started out as a person who nearly failed cooking at school to be known as an ‘actress who could cook’ to receiving an Order of the British Empire for her culinary contributions!

6. Thangam Philip 

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International chefs usually create wonders with the raw materials on hand, but not all of them think about their hungry brothers and sisters around the world. Thangam Philip is one such person, who was faced with the challenge of creating alternate menus for the Annapurna cafeteria chain in Delhi during the famines of 1950. She has written a number of books on food, and one of them is even a prescribed textbook for hotel management institutes in India.

The lives of these famous chefs are nothing short of inspirational, having overcome many challenges to reach the heights of their careers. So this World Book Day, pick up one of their books and browse through some traditional Indian deliciousness!!