vegetables and vegetarian

This book should do for eastern cuisine what Julia Child's _Mastering the Art of French Cooking_ did for French. No other vegetarian cookbook even comes close to this one for sheer know-how per page. Not only are the recipes that we've tried simply phenomenal, but the vast array of techniques and terms will make you want to explore things that you never knew existed.

I've even enjoyed this cookbook from time to time as a relaxing evening read. Just ask my wife.

I'd love to see an updated edition. Many of the ingredients that the book says can be found only in specialty or ethnic markets (like wasabi powder, bitter melons, and fry-them-yourself poppadums) have started appearing in better mass-market grocery stores.

I am a fan of Eastern food. And since I am currently living in a more rural environment, it is often difficult to go out to a restaurant to satisfy my cravings for intense flavors and spices. This book helps me overcome my cravings. The ingredients are generally easy to find (even in the country) at the grocery store or health-food store, and the recipes are not too difficult to prepare. There are some elaborate recipes, but the author recommends that they be prepared for a special occasion. Most can be made on an everyday basis, after work.

There is a wonderful variety of ethnic groups in this cookbook, varying from Japanese and Chinese to Persian to Phillipino to Indian....on and on. A great book for people who are both new or experienced to this type of cuisine. And, everything I've made from this cookbook has been delicious so far. Try it!

This is the second Madhur Jaffrey cookbook I bought, and both are great, but this one has ten times the number of recipes. It's filled with great information about cooking methods, nice vignettes about the sources of the recipes, suggested pairings for dishes, and the most beautiful artwork of any cookbook I've seen. This is an ideal book for anyone who likes to cook Indian food, Chinese food, Japanese food, Vietnamese food, etc., etc., etc..