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    This Raksha Bandhan nudge your siblings to cook you a meal with ED’s curated list of cookbooks

    AUG 21, 2021 | By Twinkle Tolani
    Chetna's 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals—Photograph courtesy Nassima Rothacker;
    Photograph courtesy The Flavour Equation and Nik Sharma; Photograph Courtesy Baking with Shivesh; Chetna's 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals—Photograph courtesy Nassima Rothacker
    The Parsi Kitchen: A Memoir of Food and Family by Anahita Dhondy—Photograph courtesy Saumya Gupta, Crockery Courtesy Nilufer N. Dhondy; Chetna Makan’s book 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals—Photograph courtesy Chetna Makan; My Genius Lunchbox—Photograph Courtesy Uma Raghuraman
    Passionate about Baking - Chocolate—Photograph courtesy Deeba Rajpal; Photograph courtesy The Flavour Equation and Nik Sharma

    It’s that time of the year again! Are you wondering what to gift your sibling for Raksha Bandhan? How about something that benefits both of you? You could gift them a cookbook and slyly hint at them to pick up some cooking skills! #EDcurates a list of cookbooks from Instagram influencers we’ve grown to love over the years as they fill our feeds with food and hearts with joy. 

    The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained in More Than 100 Essential Recipes by Nik Sharma

    Nik Sharma goes off-the-beaten-tracks, and delves into a scientific approach to food and recipes in his book The Flavour Equation; Photograph courtesy The Flavour Equation and Nik Sharma

    Author, photographer, and columnist for The Guardian, Serious Eats, and Food52—Nik Sharma’s book The Flavour Equation approaches food with a scientific approach. The author tries to decode each ingredient and how it influences the elemental taste of the dish.

    The book holds 100 recipes for the reader to try and experience Sharma’s explorations themselves. In this way, the book is suitable for people at different levels in the culinary world – from beginners to skilled chefs.

    Price: Paperback ₹2410

    Publishing house: Harper Collins Publisher India

    Instagram: @abrowntable 

    To buy ‘The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained in More Than 100 Essential Recipes’ by Nik Sharma click here

    The Family Table by Aysha Tanya

    Brought in collaboration with the Arinhal Karuvantevalappil family of Kerala, author Aysha Tanya brings exquisite recipes from the Malabar region; Photograph Courtesy Qitaab

    In current times  fast foods are our go-to, and home-cooked, simple meals have become a novelty. Co-founder of the food media company Goya Media, Aysha Tanya turns brings us a collection of 47 heirloom recipes from the archives of the Arinhal Karuvantevalappil family of Kerala through The Family Table.

    The recipes are categorized according to meals, namely breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. With The Family Table you will bring home the distinguished and refined flavours of Malabar region of Kerala. The book was compiled with the support of her mother, Kathija Hashim, cousin, Shabreen Hashir and other members of the family, who cooked and tested each recipe.

    Price: Paperback ₹950

    Publishing house: Qitaab

    Instagram: @malabartearoom

    To buy ‘The Family Table’ by Aysha Tanya click here 

    Tiffin: 500 Authentic Recipes Celebrating India’s Regional Cuisine by Sonal Ved

    Tiffin’ was named the New York Times ‘Best Cookbook’ of the year; it won three gourmand world cookbook awards including ‘Best Indian Cookbook’; Photograph courtesy Roli Books

    Experience and taste flavours from the entire country with Sonal Ved’s Tiffin — awarded Best Indian Cookbook by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. The book is segregated into region-wise sections, and narrates 500 recipes in total.

    Whoever thinks Indian cuisine is limited to dosa and butter chicken, probably didnt read Sonal’s book! Easily transport yourself to another state in India by asking your sibling to cook these dishes in the comfort of your own home.

    Price: Paperback ₹1997

    Publishing house: Roli Books

    Instagram: @sonalved

    To buy ‘Tiffin500 Authentic Recipes Celebrating India’s Regional Cuisine’ by Sonal Ved click here

    Dishoom: From Bombay with Love by co-Authors Naved Nasir, Kavi and Shamil Thakrar

    Dishoom is a cookbook that represents Bombay as recipes, stories and photographs; Photograph Courtesy Dishoom

    Filled with recipes and stories of nostalgia, the much-loved restaurant Dishoom has spilled their signature recipes in this book. Naved Nasir is the executive chef of the restaurant, and Kavi and Shamil Thakrar are co-founders. 

    This book is an ode for all the Bombay-lovers out there! Recipes, stories, and stunning photographs by Haarala Hamilton of Mumbai fill the book. Close to the authors’ heart, the book shows you how nooks and corners of the city have been imbibed at Dishoom. 

    Price: Kindle Edition ₹484.47/ Paperback ₹868

    Publishing house: Bloomsbury

    Instagram: @dishoom

    To buy ‘Dishoom: From Bombay with Love’ by Naved Nasir, Kavi and Shamil Thakrar click here 

    Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals by Chetna Makan

    Chetna Makan’s book 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals is here to make our lives easier; Photograph Courtesy The Margate Bookshop

    Whipping up meals has never been so simple! The highly experienced Chetna Makan has curated a list of 80 Indian cuisine-inspired recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less. The range of dishes is varied; from toppings of toast to meat curries, there are speedy recipes for every occasion.

    The food writer and YouTuber is the author of numerous books, and each one of them grants a glimpse of her eclectic culinary style. Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals also has a vegetarian counterpart that is equally great!

    Price: Kindle Edition ₹679/ Paperback ₹1915.15

    Publishing house: Hachette India

    Instagram handles: @chetnamakan

    To buy ‘Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals’ by Chetna Makan click here

    My Genius Lunch Box: Lip-smacking Lunch-box Ideas Your Kids Will Love by Uma Raghuraman

    Uma Raghuraman, aka Masterchef Mom, authors a cookbook perfect for hassle-free snacks; Cover design by Meghna Menon and Shipra Bharati

    Fondly known as ‘Masterchef Mom’, Uma Raghuraman is a food blogger and popular Instagrammer. Her book ‘My Genius Lunch Box’, has over fifty easy vegetarian recipes that can be packed for lunch boxes. Although intended for children, can anyone deny tasty, on-the-go snacks?

    The book also contains recipes for bite-sized snacks. All the recipes mentioned are perfect for those small hunger pangs we feel in between work. Since they are lunch-box recipes, they need not be consumed warm and can be made beforehand.

    Price: Kindle Edition ₹188 / Paperback ₹216.00

    Publishing house: Penguin Random House

    Instagram: @masterchefmom

    To buy ‘ My Genius Lunch Box: Lip-smacking Lunch-box Ideas Your Kids Will Love!’ by Uma Raghuraman click here

    The Parsi Kitchen: A Memoir of Food and Family by Anahita Dhondy

    Inspired by her heritage and the quest to find the roots of her heritage, Anahita Dhondy’s book has a balance of story-telling and cooking; Cover photograph courtesy Nitin Sadana, Kurush Dhondy and Dhruv Prakash, Parsi Gara sari ASHDEEN, Styling Shiva Kant Vyas

    Who doesn’t like a good story? Especially when it comes with a record of culture, memories.. and recipes! Raised in a Parsi household, Anahita Dhondy is out with her book inspired by her upbringing. For her, the food of a place speaks volumes about it’s people.

    The book, however, is not limited to the cuisine. Anahita also shares recipes she discovered whilst unearthing her heritage through food. There’s a story for every dish, and there’s a dish for every story in Anahita’s first publication.

    Price: Kindle Edition ₹320 / Paperback ₹824

    Publishing house: Harper Collins Publisher India

    Instagram: @anahitadhondy  @theparsikitchen @weekendartist_ @poemsonmypalms @nilufer.n.dhondy

    To book your copy of ‘The Parsi Kitchen: A Memoir of Food and Family’ by Anahita Dhondy click here 

    Passionate about Baking – Chocolate by Deeba Rajpal

    Deeba Rajpal’s book Passionate about Baking – Chocolate contains recipes for chocolate desserts; Book design and layout Meher Rajpal

    Passionate about Baking, one of India’s most famous dessert blogs, needs no introduction. The woman behind it – Deeba Rajpal – has managed to make mouths water through screens with her baking skills. An eminent food stylist, Deeba’s picture composition and plating makes the delectable dishes look even more irresistible!

    In this book Deeba particularly spills her chocolate dessert recipes. The recipes make use of chocolate in the most innovative and healthy way possible. There’s a dish for everyone in the book — even the chocolate haters!

    Price: Paperback ₹628

    Publishing house: Penguin India

    Instagram: @passionateaboutbaking @pabrecipes

    To buy ‘Passionate About Baking: Picture Perfect, Indulgent & Easy Chocolate Recipes To Make At Home’ by Deeba Rajpal click here 

    Desserts for Every Mood by Shivesh Bhatia by Shivesh Bhatia

    Recipes in the book hold a special place in Shivesh’s heart; they have gotten him through some rough times; Photograph courtesy Baking with Shivesh

    Shivesh Bhatia’s classic baking style with a subtle twist has garnered over 600k followers on Instagram. ‘Desserts for Every Mood’ is his second published book. The book’s inspiration came from the realization that while sweet dishes are a mark of celebration, they are also great pacifiers when times are bad.

    The recipes are close to Shivesh’s heart. Some have gotten him through rough waters, and others have added extra sweetness to his happy moments. Caramel Chocolate Tart, Fresh Mint Lemon Chiffon Cake and Litchi Rose Tiramisu are three of many recipes in the book.

    Price: Kindle Edition ₹399.50 / Paperback ₹598

    Publishing house: Harper Collins Publisher India

    Instagram handles: @shivesh17 

    Looking for a getaway with your sibling? You could try one of these serene locales for a home away from home…