Vibrant India : Fresh Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Brooklyn

Vibrant India is a fresh, new book from the folks at 10 Speed Press. Authored by Chitra Agrawal, the book represents an intriguing guide to Southern Indian cooking. With an interesting look into her family history, the book gives a glimpse of what day-to-day cooking entails. Best of all, the recipes that are included provide a mouth-watering escapade into vegetarian cooking. The book explains some simple principles of Indian dishes, as well as discussing the main ingredients to this style of cooking.

The recipes are fresh, clean, and packed with nutrition and flavor. They are simplistic yet harmonious, all while being perfectly accessible to most home cooks. The colors and flavor combinations are sure to excite your family. These dishes are wonderfully timed for the upcoming Summer months, when fresh, delicious produce is bountiful here in the States. I tried the "Spiced Spring Vegetable and Coconut Polenta" and it did not disappoint. Preparation couldn't have been more simple, with the dish coming together in less than 30 minutes. I'm looking forward to making the "Pineapple and Peppers in Red Coconut Curry" next. And for a cool, pool-side treat, why not try the "Chile Watermelon Juice with Lime and Mint Leaves"? The photos are stylish yet simple and packed with color, tempting the taste buds as you thumb through the pages.

Overall this is a wonderful book that I would recommend to anyone that is looking to add some variety to their weekly menu. It makes great use of readily available ingredients, most being found in your favorite supermarket. You too can make Indian entrees that are packed with flavor and ingenuity.