Heartland Masala
An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen
Spicy flavors zing through Heartland Masala, a delightful cookbook by mother-son team Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji.
Recreating traditional Indian dishes in American kitchens, the book combines culinary history and commentary with a wealth of regional recipes. Spices are central to its work, which includes ample advice on tempering them in hot oil or ghee and on how to make spice mixtures. A descriptive addendum on the usage and storage of numerous spices, from amchoor to turmeric, is also included.
Plenty of Indian favorites are here, including samosas, butter chicken, and mango lassi, but fusion dishes abound too. American Masala Brussels Sprouts with potatoes and ground dried mango; fresh corn meets ginger, lemon, and cilantro in Bhutta Chaat; and cubes of watermelon are dressed with kalonji and warm-flavored spices infused in hot oil. Further, a wealth of bean dishes proves perfect for meatless and budget-conscious home cooks.
The ingredients, gear, and techniques needed for each recipe are described with playfulness and panache. Most recipes involve just a supermarket trip, but there are some dishes that require sourcing ingredients elsewhere. For instance, Murgh Rezala calls for white poppy seeds, kewra water, and water lily seeds.
Lighthearted illustrations add wit and valuable information on how to prepare vegetables, identify legumes, and shape breads. Plentiful color photographs reflect how the finished dishes should look. The Mukharjis’ effervescent personalities sizzle in the recipe introductions and are further reflected in their illustrated selves and captioned banter, as when Jyoti has the last word over Auyon on the deep-frying of beloved snacks: “Ignore him. Fry deeply.”
Heartland Masala is a joyful, inspiring cookbook that shows off the dazzling culinary inventiveness of an appealing mother-son cooking duo.
Reviewed by
Rachel Jagareski
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
