5 cookbooks by James Beard Award-winning author Madhur Jaffrey that should be on your bookshelf

Madhur Jaffrey, the Padma Bhushan winner, food writer, cookbook author, actor, and television chef, was recently honoured with the 2023 James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first South Asian to do so. Over her many decades in the food industry, Jaffrey has written more than 30 cookbooks, with seven of them winning the James Beard Award. Her cookbooks are known for demystifying Indian cuisine to the world, and Jaffrey’s contribution in this aspect has earned her the moniker of “Godmother of Indian Cooking”. 
Jaffrey will be collecting the award in June at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony, and if you’ve not been introduced to her body of work, or are looking to increase your collection of cookbooks, now’s a perfect time. To help you out, we’ve picked our top five that deserve a spot on your bookshelf. 

An Invitation To Indian Cooking 

This is the book that started it all. Madhur Jaffrey’s debut cookbook published in 1973, introduced the world to Indian cuisine beyond chicken tikka masala. It is a compendium of recipes from the subcontinent that span everyday dals and mains fit for parties, to staple sides like pickles and chutneys. The book won the James Beard Award for Cookbook Hall of Fame. 

Curry Easy

An introduction to the vast and delicious world of curries, this cookbook is the perfect gift for someone who’s just started to cook or is not well-versed in Indian cuisine. It breaks down various spices and ingredients that are the foundation of most Indian curry-based dishes and has recipes that are accessible and easy to make. From a spicy Goan prawn curry made using canned coconut milk to save time, to a hearty Sri Lankan beef stew, you’ll find plenty of weeknight meal inspiration between the pages of this cookbook. 

Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian

If you’re a vegetarian looking to build your recipe Rolodex, this cookbook, which won a James Beard Award, will make for a nice addition to your collection. Jaffrey has drawn from her decades of experience to compile an extensive collection of more than 650 vegetarian recipes from five continents. Like her other cookbooks, this one takes an easy approach to cooking without compromising on the complexity of flavours. Explore sections on everything from beans and vegetables to grains and dairy, and try recipes that make fresh produce the star. 

From Curries to Kebabs: Recipes from the Indian Spice Trail 

In this cookbook, Jaffrey traces the journey of curries and kebabs and how they came to be, throughout Asia and Eastern Africa. The tome includes more than 100 recipes that range from simple to elaborate, yet approachable, thanks to Jaffrey’s signature writing style. Apart from Indian dishes, you’ll discover unique recipes from around the world—think lobster in yellow curry from Thailand, Sumatran lamb curry from Indonesia, and more. You’ll also find ample recipes for soups, noodles, chutneys, and side dishes. 

At Home with Madhur Jaffrey 

Indian food sometimes gets misconstrued as overly rich, indulgent, and only fit for special occasions. But with this book, Jaffrey shatters this notion by sharing recipes that come together quickly and are bold in flavour. Go through the section on snacks, which will be perfect to make with your evening cup of tea. Follow it up with soups, salads, and side dishes. Eggs and chicken get a makeover, too—Jaffrey has shared fresh and unique ways to cook with them. Think a chicken curry featuring a splash of vinegar, a Bombay chicken dish with apricots, a Bengali chicken stew with yogurt and cinnamon, and more. There is a wide range of vegetarian dishes too, where ingredients like brinjal, okra, and seasonal greens are the heroes.

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