Features
The best Indian cookbooks
by Elizabeth Young
published on 1 January 2024, last updated on 19 December 2025
As diverse and multifaceted as the country itself, Indian cuisine encompasses a dazzling range of regional dishes, traditions, and flavours. From the thick curries of the north to the tangy rasam broths of the south, there are endless possibilities for the student of Indian cuisine to explore. Looking for inspiration? Check out our collection of the best Indian and Indian-inspired cookbooks here, including old favourites like Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Easy and modern classics like Meera Sodha’s Fresh India .
Over 100 accessible Indian recipes from Asma Khan
Vibrant inspiration for every occasion, including celebrations, dinner parties and midweek meals
From curries to starters, sides, desserts and more
Ammu
Asma Khan is the chef proprietor of London-based restaurant Darjeeling Express and star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table . Inspired by the home cooking of her Ammu (mother), this collection of 100 Indian recipes celebrates the inextricable link between food, family, and love. From celebratory feasting dishes to simple midweek options, the recipes span aromatic curries, show-stealing sides, moreish snacks and pretty pistacho and rose-petal adorned desserts. A must-own cookbook for Asma’s fans and anyone who wants to broaden their repertoire of accomplished Indian dishes.
Spice Box
Multi-award-winning chef Sunil Ghai got his start working in Oberoi, a prestigious 5-star hotel group in India, before moving to Ireland and setting up three restaurants of his own. Now, with his debut cookbook, he’s demystified Indian cuisine and flavours for the home cook with accessible, easy-to-follow recipes. Dishes include Chicken Biryani, Fish Cakes with Masala Mayo, and Turmeric Poached Pears.
130 mouth-watering Indian recipes made simple
Aromatic curries and flavourful dals
Homemade chutneys and pickles
Made in India
In her debut cookbook, Meera Sodha introduces British home cooks to the food she grew up eating here every day. Her recipes are fresh, vibrant and surprisingly easy to make – the pistachio and yoghurt chicken curry is a particular highlight
75 recipes inspired by the vibrant flavours of South India and Bengal
Speedy and fuss-free recipes for maximum flavour in return for minimum effort
Trademark traybakes, as well as stir-fries, snacks, weeknight curries, and simple desserts
India Express
From the author of the revolutionary Roasting Tin series comes India Express , a set of 75 South Indian and Bengali recipes. Fans of the Rukmini’s previous cookbooks will recognise the same emphasis on fuss-free cooking and bold flavours, plus plenty of her trademark traybakes. Expect curries, stir fries, desserts, snacks and more.
The go-to guide for vegetarian Indian cooking
130 stunning recipes with a fresh and light feel
Beautiful puddings with Indian-inspired flavours
Fresh India
A meat-free follow-up to the bestselling Made in India , Meera Sodha’s Fresh India is packed with curries, rice dishes, and street food-inspired snacks, all of them vegan or vegetarian. With 120 creative and authentic recipes, it’s a must-have for both Indian cooking enthusiasts and vegetarians.
Learn to cook curry with the world’s greatest expert
Quick curries to enjoy midweek
200 curries from across India
Curry Easy
In this seminal collection of recipes, Madhur Jaffrey proves that Indian food need not be complicated or involve hours in the kitchen. Her minced lamb with potatoes is guaranteed to become a firm family favourite.
All the recipes from Rick’s TV series
Over 100 meat and vegetarian recipes
Take a journey through India’s flavours
Rick Stein’s India
What makes a good curry? Rick journeys through India to find the answer, meeting chefs, home cooks and street vendors to learn about everything from long-held culinary traditions to cutting-edge modern techniques. His South Indian-style cod curry is one of the most popular on The Happy Foodie site.
Mother India at Home
With recipes from Monir Mohammed, owner of the award-winning restaurant Mother India, Mother India At Home incorporates a mix of the restaurant’s signature dishes and recipes created specifically for the book. If you’re looking to impress at your next dinner party, try the chana daal with scallops .
Curry: Recipes From Indian Home Kitchens
From Paneer Butter Masala to Spiced Chicken Curry , Maunika Gowardhan’s beautiful cookbook is an ode to the incredible dishes found in home kitchens across India, spanning regions and culinary traditions – and is a must-have addition to any bookshelf.
Vegetables: The Indian Way
Comprehensive, informative, and beautifully photographed, this cookbook from acclaimed restaurateur Camellia Panjabi is packed with over 120 authentic recipes that celebrate the sheer versatility of vegetable-based dishes. Discover 10 must-try recipes in our roundup here .
The Spice Tree
Centred around a truly ingenious infographic, this cookbook is for anyone wanting to learn how to use and improvise with Indian spices. The Spice Tree will show you what spices and ingredients work well together, and how to whip up flavoursome Indian recipes with ease. An indispensable cookbook for fans of authentic Indian food.
Delicious meat-free recipes
Simple recipes for popular classics
A perfect introduction to vegetarian curries
Curry Easy Vegetarian
Following on from her bestselling cookbook, Curry Easy , Madhur’s, Curry Easy Vegetarian offers over 200 Indian-inspired, meat-free recipes. With a diverse and vibrant array of dishes, Madhur proves, yet again, how easy it can be to cook authentic Indian food at home. The whole red lentils with cumin & shallots is a store-cupboard favourite.
Curry: Fragrant Dishes From India, Thailand, Vietnam & Indonesia
Curry shares the best curry from around the world, with plenty of Indian recipes as well as dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. You’ll find contributions from top chefs, writers and cooks, including Vivek Singh (The Cinnamon Club), Das Sreedharan (Rasa Restaurants) and David Thompson (Nahm). The king prawn and pumpkin curry is a particular highlight.
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