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Book Review: Gujarati Kitchen
by
Karishma Pais
Calificación: 4.0
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%20As%20often%20happens%20with%20early%20immigrants,%20the%20families%20held%20on%20to%20the%20sanctity%20of%20their%20original%20Gujarati%20recipes%20with%20minimal%20adaptation,%20other%20than%20forgetting%20recipes%20for%20which%20ingredients%20weren't%20available.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EMs.%20Hajratwala%20moved%20to%20the%20US%20when%20she%20got%20married%20and%20moved%20with%20her%20husband%20across%20New%20Zealand,%20Australia%20and%20the%20United%20States.%20Through%20all%20these%20moves,%20she%20enjoyed%20cooking%20for%20and%20feeding%20her%20family%20and%20friends%20while%20pursuing%20her%20own%20career%20as%20a%20physical%20therapist.%20Her%20friends%20soon%20started%20asking%20her%20to%20teach%20them%20how%20to%20cook%20Gujarati%20food%20and%20she%20readily%20agreed.%20This%20later%20expanded%20to%20conducting%20cooking%20classes%20and%20demonstrations%20and%20contributing%20recipes%20for%20community%20cook%20books.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20book%20begins%20with%20a%20list%20of%20ingredients%20commonly%20used%20in%20Gujarati%20cooking%20and%20other%20than%20ganthoda%20kokum,%20batrissu%20(a%20Gujarati%20spice%20mix),%20charoli%20and%20vaal%20they%20are%20easily%20available%20across%20India%20and%20in%20Indian%20stores%20abroad.%20A%20list%20of%20measurements%20follows%20which%20clearly%20gives%20liquid%20and%20weight%20substitutes%20for%20terms%20like%201%20cup,%201tsp%20etc.%20Since%20the%20book%20uses%20US/Imperial%20measures%20throughout,%20Metric%20conversions%20are%20also%20provided%20in%20this%20section.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EGujarati%20cooking%20has%20a%20few%20spice%20blends%20specific%20to%20their%20cuisine%20like%20fresh%20masala%20&%20seafood%20masala%20and%20some%20commonly%20used%20ones%20like%20chai%20masala%20and%20garam%20masala.%20Understanding%20that%20many%20of%20the%20readers%20of%20this%20book%20may%20not%20be%20Gujarati%20or%20cook%20Gujarati%20food%20daily,%20Banu%20has%20also%20given%20exact%20directions%20to%20make%20smaller%20quantities%20(3%20tbsp)%20of%20the%20fresh%20masalas%20that%20have%20shelf%20lives%20of%206-8%20weeks%20in%20the%20fridge%20and%20this%20kind%20of%20thoughtfullness%20carries%20on%20through%20the%20book.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20recipes%20that%20follow%20are%20categorised%20in%20the%20standard%20format:%20starters,%20mains,%20breads,%20rice,%20kadhis%20&%20dals,%20sweets,%20chutneys%20&%20relishes,%20pickles,%20snacks%20for%20teatime,%20drinks%20and%20a%20special%20section%20for%20mukhwaas.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20recipes%20are%20very%20clear%20and%20easy%20to%20follow.%20Substitutes%20are%20detailed.%20For%20eg:%20in%20the%20preface,%20Banu%20explains%20that%20fresh%20or%20whole%20turmeric%20is%20much%20better%20and%20healthier%20than%20turmeric%20powder%20and%20then%20in%20all%20the%20recipes%20she%20gives%20quantities%20for%20both%20whole%20turmeric%20and%20powder%20for%20the%20convenience%20of%20those%20who%20have%20no%20access%20to,%20or%20the%20time%20to%20powder%20and%20grind%20whole%20turmeric.%20The%20recipe%20for%20Khandvi%20includes%20both%20the%20stove%20top%20cooking%20method%20and%20a%20microwave%20oven%20method.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHer%20husband,%20Bhupendra's%20support%20extends%20beyond%20the%20standard%20spousal%20variety.%20He%20has%20provided%20line%20drawings%20for%20this%20book.While%20in%20some%20cases%20they%20are%20purely%20decorative,%20in%20a%20lot%20of%20places%20they%20are%20illustrative.%20Like%20how%20to%20roll%20patra,%20fold%20a%20samosa%20and%20crimp%20a%20ghughara%20(gujiya).%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EGiven%20that%20this%20was%20my%20first%20insight%20into%20non-vegetarian%20Gujarati%20cuisine,%20the%20first%20dish%20I%20decided%20to%20try%20from%20this%20book%20was%20the%20%22Chaap%20ne%20Bataka%20Roast%20-%20Roasted%20Lamb%20Chops%20with%20Potatoes%22%20Its%20difficult%20for%20me%20to%20follow%20recipes%20from%20a%20book%20to%20the%20letter,%20since%20I%20love%20to%20improvise,%20but%20since%20I%20was%20reviewing%20the%20book,%20I%20tried%20to%20stay%20true%20to%20the%20recipe.%20So%20I%20only%20substituted%20the%20oil%20with%20olive%20oil%20and%20lemon%20juice%20with%20apple%20cider%20vinegar,%20since%20I%20did%20not%20have%20enough%20limes/lemons%20on%20hand.%20The%20chops%20turned%20out%20very%20well,%20even%20though%20I%20served%20them%20with%20rotlis/phulkas%20rather%20than%20the%20recommended%20garlic%20bread%20and%20the%20recipe%20was%20very%20easy%20to%20follow.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EBanu's%20instructions%20are%20precise%20and%20detailed,%20substitutes%20are%20very%20clear,%20notes%20on%20which%20food%20can%20be%20stored%20for%20how%20long%20and%20the%20ideal%20way%20to%20store%20them%20are%20also%20included.%20Her%20thoughtfullness%20towards%20the%20home%20cook%20%20show%20through%20every%20recipe.%20Banu%20says%20she%20originally%20started%20measuring%20quantities%20and%20writing%20recipes%20to%20share%20them%20with%20her%20children%20who%20were%20leaving%20home%20for%20further%20education.%20This%20concern%20and%20detailed%20attention%20shows%20in%20every%20instruction.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20only%20thing%20you%20need%20to%20watch%20out%20for,%20when%20cooking%20from%20this%20book%20is%20that%20the%20cooking%20time%20specified,%20is%20purely%20cooking%20time.%20It%20does%20not%20include%20pre-prep%20time%20or%20marinating%20time.%20It%20assumes%20that%20you%20have%20the%20spice%20powders%20&%20blends%20ready%20and%20soaking%20and%20sprouting%20time%20isn't%20included%20either.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%22Gujarati%20Kitchen%20-%20Family%20Recipes%20for%20the%20Global%20Palate%22%20is%20thus%20an%20excellent%20pick%20for%20anyone%20who%20is%20a%20new%20cook%20or%20a%20comfortable%20cook,%20someone%20who%20wants%20to%20learn%20Gujarati%20cooking%20or%20even%20someone%20looking%20for%20a%20simple%20introduction%20to%20Indian%20cooking.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ERating:%204.5/5%3C/p%3E){kind=link}