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TASTE CANADA AWARDS WINNER

Welcome Arvinda and Preena, the mother-daughter duo behind Arvinda’s premium Indian spice blends, into your kitchen with their decades of experience, vibrant recipes, and cooking wisdom! Learn the basics of both classic and modern Indian cuisine in this timeless book that you will return to again and again.

In New Indian Basics, Preena Chauhan and Arvinda Chauhan—the masters behind Arvinda’s Indian spice blends—present a collection of flavorful, accessible recipes and kitchen wisdom gained from a lifetime of personal and professional experience teaching Indian cooking, where spices take center stage. With their clear instructions and signature warmth, this mother-daughter duo will guide you to flawless renditions of Indian dishes, both traditional and modern, with absolute ease.

Here, you’ll find recipes perfect for all meals and all home cooks, whatever the time of day or level of experience. Chapters like Indian Brunch & Eggs are full of modern dishes like Chai-Spiced Apple Buckwheat Pancakes with Maple Cream or Indian-Style Baked Eggs in a richly spiced tomato sauce. Indian Street Foods & Savory Appetizers will make traditional snacks, like Chaat Papri, your new go-to nibble. And whether you’re looking for vegetarian or meat mains, you’ll find options to excite your palate, from a classic Butter Chicken or Channa Masala to a celebratory Vegetable Biryani with Saffron & Nuts or a Mapled Tandoori Salmon with Mint. There are many accompaniments that go along with a full Indian meal, so there are chapters dedicated to these components such as chutneys, pickles, raitas, and masalas to help you build your pantry, rice dishes, and, of course, flatbreads, like homemade Naan. And don’t forget about dessert! Preena and Arvinda share a full chapter on exquisite mithai, traditional sweets, and modern desserts as well. With this focus on the many expansive regions that make up India’s culinary fabric, you’ll be enticed to learn about beloved specialties and new flavor profiles. No matter the recipe, Preena and Arvinda use their many years as educators to walk you through every step.

In addition to their vibrant recipes, Preena and Arvinda include helpful resources like a spice glossary, a guide to different lentils and beans, a mini workshop on the best way to cook basmati rice, and information on how to serve—and eat—an Indian meal. They even suggest ways to put it all together with their celebratory and seasonal Indian menus. With a wealth of incredible recipes, knowledge, and gorgeous photography, New Indian Basics is sure to become a food bible in your kitchen.

About the Author

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PREENA CHAUHAN and ARVINDA CHAUHAN have been teaching traditional Indian cooking to home cooks, chefs, and restaurateurs since 1993, attracting participants from around the world. They create some of the world’s premier Indian spice blends, which are available at fine retailers across Canada and the United States. Arvinda is a recipient of the Woman of the Year award from the Women's Culinary Network, and Preena was named a Local Food Hero by the Toronto Food Policy Council. Together, they have run culinary trips to India, and worked as recipe developers, consultants, and speakers on Indian cooking, and Preena was the host of Masala Magic Recipes, an Indian vegetarian cooking television series.

Praise For…

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"Preena and Arvinda’s cookbook brings a contemporary ease to Indian cooking that is delightfully approachable and deliciously inviting, without a huge time commitment needed from the home cook. This cookbook will definitely reside in our kitchen, not on the bookshelf."
—ANNA & MICHAEL OLSON, chefs and authors

"Arvinda and Preena have taken Indian cuisine to a different level withtheir amazing recipes. This is a must-read for Indian food lovers."
—HUBERT DMELLO, chef/owner of UDUPI PALACE

"I’m making room on my shelf for Preena and Arvinda’s thoughtful guide to Indian cuisine. From spice mixes to basic techniques, they bring to life a rich culinary tradition and its wonderful colors, flavors, and aromas. Home cooks and serious chefs alike should consider New Indian Basics an essential book."
—CHEF MICHAEL BONACINI

"A spice journey for everything a home cook needs to know about Indian food, through authentic family recipes."
—CHEF SUSUR LEE