Crossword Bookstores: Asha Khatau’s New Book Features Exciting Dishes Like Thepla Quesadillas

Yogurt Romesco dip, cheese papad rolls and thepla quesadillas anyone? Smt. Amruta Fadnavis launched THE GOURMET QUEEN, Asha Khatau’s latest cookbook “NOUVELLE INDIAN CUISINE “at Crossword Bookstores, Kemps Corner today in the presence of Chef Vicky Ratnani and singer Ms. Anuradha Paudwal.

The celebrated author has been in the news. At a show celebrating 20 years of Gourmand World Cookbook Award, it was announced that Asha’s debut book “Vegetarian Cuisines of the World” was also chosen as one of the Top 20 books in the world and is amongst the “Best of the best in the world.

Commenting on the launch of her book, Asha said, “Nouvelle Indian cuisine is the 12th book in the Epicure series, explains how Indian cuisine can be presented in western style. It was inspired by French nouvelle cuisine, which began over a decade ago. The hallmarks of this cuisine are dishes plated aesthetically in a modern style that are also lighter on the palate. Discover the beautiful combination of the traditional and the modern, and I am sure it will make cooking and eating an ever more pleasurable experience.”

The book is a treasure trove of fusion recipes. Welcome drink suggestions include cucumber buttermilk, ginger rasam with kaffir lime leaves, lemon sherbet and rose syrup sherbet with rose petals. A range of ideas for starters include yogurt Romesco dip, cheese papad rolls, thepla quesadillas, Masala khandvi pie and even baingan bharta in savoury cones. Yummy!

The main course has delights such as dum aloo jhalmudi, palak paneer frankie rolls and tricoloured dhokla flan. The well-spoken Amruta Fadnavis added, “ Recipes today are all over - on blogs, on the internet. With books like these, the traditional method of having a book shelf, will find the right place.”

"I got the copy of the book a few days ago and it has very good ideas and recipes. This book must go international because there are lot more people out there in the world who actually aspire to cook Indian food and I think there are lot of trending and attractive recipes, with very limited ingredients. I would also want to make these dishes with her sometime, ” added Chef Vicky Ratnani.