Fast and Easy Indian Cooking cookbook review

It’s 2009 and UK Thermomix Director Janie Turner and Independent Thermomix Consultant Rosie Laljee have just published a smashing Thermomix TM31 cookbook called “Fast and Easy Indian Cooking.” Over the book’s 170 pages and more than 140 recipes, Janie and Rosie took us on a journey of discovery on several levels, both by introducing many of us to Indian home cooking and by showing us that Thermomix can make home made Indian food a Fast and Easy undertaking – with delicious, flavourful results!

Fast forward to 2018. Rosie and Janie have just released the second edition of “Fast and Easy Indian Cooking” and it’s a stunner. The photography is fabulous – a real feat when photographing reddish orange meat stewy dishes, I can tell you! The 124 recipes presented here have been crafted for the Thermomix TM5 and the TM31, with clear, concise instructions and loads of tips and hints to help you get the best results.

After the very helpful Indian Cooking Essentials section, Janie and Rosie offer up a selection of Soups and Starters, Snacks and Sides, Rice and Breads; then come the Mains, with Vegetarian, Seafood and Meat recipes. My favourite curry has always been the Chicken in Yoghurt recipe from this book and I’m delighted to see it here again in a beautiful presentation. To go with the mains of course, there is a large section on Condiments and Chutneys, followed by Drinks and Desserts. So many Indian dishes you’ve heard of are presented here, and all are Fast and Easy to make in your Thermomix 😉

And of course, Dear Reader, I have sacrificed myself for you and tested two of the recipes in “Fast and Easy Indian Cooking” 😉 I was delighted to see that the book layout is airy and elegant. It’s easy to follow the recipes and create your own homemade Indian dishes – often in less time that it takes to heat up a takeaway or a shop-bought ready meal.

This weekend I made Janie’s Cashew Chicken from page 178, and the Lamb and Mushroom Curry with Potatoes which you will find on page 196. All I can say is Wow! Both were very straightforward to make, using the Thermomix of course, and also the hob and oven. And so delicious!

I love being able to incorporate several cooking techniques in my dishes, letting the Thermomix shine as it carries out its tasks with ease and speed. Rosie and Janie’s recipes also show how easy it is to cook for large numbers with Thermomix. The Cashew Chicken recipe makes enough for an army – well, 8 portions, anyway! – all in the Thermomix bowl. The Lamb and Mushroom Curry with Potatoes is made in the Thermomix, on the hob and in the oven, with delicious results. It tastes just like some of the lamb curries I’ve ordered in Indian restaurants and I will definitely make it again.

At a current price of 30£ plus shipping to the UK, Republic of Ireland and the Rest of the World, “Fast and Easy Indian Cooking” is great value, delivering great taste! Get your copy direct from the authors at Cook With Janie!

Bon appétit with Why is There Air, Thermomix and Fast and Easy Indian Cooking!

Please like & share: