Prompt: Read a cookbook cover to cover
Book Choice: Raghavan Iyer’s On the Curry Trail
Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review! This book is available now.
I chose Raghavan Iyer’s cookbook On the Curry Trail for the “Read a cookbook cover to cover” prompt for Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge because 1) I received an advanced copy and 2) I loved the cover. I was so excited to get approved for this one because it sounded so fascinating…and it absolutely was!
I had no idea curry was so widespread, and I feel like I learned so much with this book. Iyer breaks recipes up by country/area and introduces the recipes with historical background, as well as the differences between ingredients and preparations in the different regions. I found this to be particularly interesting, and I definitely feel like I will revisit these sections for the information. Iyer writes with intelligence and humor, and I really want to pick up more of his books.
The book is tastefully designed and I LOVED the artwork. The whole thing felt warm and inviting. As for the recipes themselves, they range in difficulty (I also am very much a basic cook lol), but so many sound mouth-watering. I can’t wait to try some! I live in a smaller area so I know I will have trouble finding ingredients for some of the recipes, but there are definitely recipes in the book that are accessible. Iyer includes “tips” at the end of each recipe and I found myself looking forward to these just as much as the historical background. I enjoyed that he included substitutions as well as tips for how to make a recipe vegan/vegetarian.
If you enjoy curry, or just want to read an interesting cookbook, please check this one out!
The Bookish Bird 