The dish is meant to showcase a single vegetable here, tender zucchini are the focus, though Chitra suggests that many summer vegetables will work well. Giveaway closes May 2 at noon EDT.Ĭhitra’s Summer Squash in Herby Coconut Yogurt Curry, Majjige Huli, is a dish I know I’ll go to again and again as the abundance of my CSA share hits full force.

I’m giving away a copy of Vibrant India to a reader! To enter, leave a comment below sharing your favorite vegetarian meal. Taken as a whole, it’s an excellent source of inspiration for creative vegetables and sating pantry meals. And if you’re unfamiliar with Indian cooking, it’s a great introduction with its array of quick and simple curries, rice dishes, dal and lentil recipes, and a host of bright chutneys and inspired pickles. The lively dishes offer interesting takes on familiar vegetables and beautiful flavors. To make the most of the recipes, you’ll want to find an Indian grocer and properly stock your pantry, but after, you’ll have everything you need to turn simple ingredients into wonderfully flavorful, satisfying vegetarian meals.Įven if you’re not a vegetarian, Chitra’s book is a must-have. But almost as important, she synthesizes the complex flavors and layered ingredients of Southern Indian cuisine in a way that’s approachable and weeknight-friendly. As the title promises, Chitra’s book is bursting with vibrant flavors. So when Chita Agarwal‘s book, Vibrant India: Fresh Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Brooklyn arrived in the mail, the inspiration was welcome. But as they’ve grown more adventurous, I’m giving their palates a little push.

I know spicy food is the norm for younger kids in many cultures, but I’ve tended to cook milder meals for for the girls after seeing spicier meals go completely uneaten. They’re old enough, I think, for aggressive amounts of garlic and other alliums (my fave), not-so-sweet smoothies (we refer to these as dirt-flavored smoothies), and spicy dishes. I’ve started challenging my daughters with more assertive flavors at the dinner table. A recipe for a simple and flavorful herbed coconut yogurt curry with tender zucchini from Chitra Agrawal’s beautiful debut cookbook Vibrant India.

Vibrant india cookbook