Sattvik Foods of India by Anupama Shukla is a cookbook with a
difference. As the first word in the title of the book reads ‘sattvik’ – one can
easily get it that it is a vegetarian cookbook. The book revolves round the
idea ‘we are what we eat’. But, in today’s fast paced life we have forgotten
the importance of food in our life – we just have food to fill our hungry
bellies. We tend not to give much importance to the nourishment factor which
eventually disturbs the natural balance in our body and pushes it towards
illness.
This book is not just a collection of recipes – it also dwells
on the basics of why having the right kind food is essential for one’s physical
and mental well being. The author very much believes in how Ayurveda explains
the science of food. Before she begins dishing out delicious recipes, she
briefly explains the Panchamahabhutas – the building blocks for every single thing
in this world. She tells us about their relationship with the human body. We
also get to know about the three ‘doshas’ that can affect a human body and ultimately
how the ‘Prana’ in sattvik food can alleviates the negativity of the doshas.
Every human being can have a different body constitution – so if we can
understand our body type, we will be in a better position to choose the right
balance in the food we consume. The best part is that the author has summed up
the basics in just a few pages. So, my advice is before you jump to the recipe
section of the book, do go through the first few pages – it will help you in
appreciating the recipes better.
The recipe section of the book is divided into certain
segments. Right from breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, condiments and
festive recipes are covered. If you were under the impression that sattvik food
can be nourishing but not as delicious, this book is going to going to make you
reconsider that thought. Some of my personal favorite recipes in the book
include Aam ka Panha, Thandai, Chaas, Moong Anardana Salad, Paneer Pakora, Bhel
Puri, Panchmel Dal, Bhara Paratha, Shrikhand, Rabdi and Til Patti. The book has
over 70 recipes to please different tastes and palates. It showcases the fact
that sattvik food can be tasty, colorful, nourishing and varied. The recipes
are written in a simple and easy to follow language. There is an introduction
to every recipe and notes where needed to assist the reader. Here I would like
to add that it would have been useful to add the number of serving each recipe
makes.
The illustrator Suhita Mitra has done a great job with the
numerous illustrations in the book. But, still I missed seeing pictures of the
final dishes. A few pictures in between the pages could have made the book look
more appealing and attractive – after all we all eat with our eyes first.
Overall, it is a nice cookbook - one that doesn't just give out recipes but also educates us about the importance of eating the right kind of food for a healthy body and a sound mind.
I received a free review copy of the book from the Leadstart Publishers in lieu of an honest review.
