Novel Recipes
I’m using the word “novel” in two ways. First, they’re related to my novels. So far, the only one published is India Interlude. But some of these recipes will give you a “taste” of the books to come. (Get it? A little heavy, but I couldn’t resist.) Second, they’re novel in that they’re not authentic. I like to cook, but I don’t like to spend a lot of time at it. So, these recipes are meant to be in the spirit of the locations and events of the novels, but to take much less time than “real” recipes.
Many of them, at least at first, lean heavily toward Indian food. That’s because the first novel, India Interlude, is about a group of Americans encountering Indian food. Although I try to eat vegan, I have included a recipe or two that reflects what the Americans were served, or ate, in the book. So, yes, there is a mutton recipe, but in this case, it’s made with lamb, since mutton is much less available outside India. It can be hard to find good vegan recipes so I have indicated which of these are vegan. Also gluten-free, just because.
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Samosas
Using eggroll wrappers to make Indian food? Obviously, not traditional. But crunchy samosas make an easy appetizer for an Indian meal such as the Cauliflower Lentil Dal found here, for other dinners, or for finger food at a party. They’re self-contained, and the wrappers from the grocery store make the whole process so much easier.
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Cauliflower Lentil Dal
Dal is a staple of the Indian diet, made from the variety of lentils and beans that form so many dishes in the country’s cuisine. This variation is very Americanized, but introduces Indian food to those who may be unfamiliar with it. The dish can be topped with some additional spices (cumin, coriander, etc.) sizzled