I got this fairly basic book after getting and loving a more recent cookbook of Madhur Jaffrey's (At Home with...), and having great success with every dish from it I tried.

So far, this one is just as good, but focuses more on traditional dishes, some of which are more elaborate than in the other.

I have had particularly good results with various of the rice dishes and the vegetable ones, because those have been my focus. I just finished reading it cover-to-cover, though, and am itching to try some of the meat, chicken and fish dishes, as well as the breads! I LOVE Indian breads!

The information is excellent, and she has one of the best run-downs on rice cooking that I've ever seen. I admit that in general I use a rice cooker, and I wish she included some information on adapting recipes using white rice to use brown instead, but I've been able to figure it out. The secion on spices and ingredients was fascinating and valuable, and I now know what to get next time I hit the Indian grocery.

Most dishes come with some information about them and serving suggestions. I haven't made one of the complete meals yet, but plan to!

This would be an excellent book to start with as one starts to make authentic Indian dishes at home. This edition is 30 years old, though, and it looks like she may have an updated edition. I hope it's just as good!