By Patricia Gale

Indian cuisine is not about eating—it’s about entertaining. So says Komali Nunna, known as “the Indian Komali NunnaMartha Stewart,” a California-based chef who was born in South India. She has written a lavish new coffee-table cookbook, Entertaining from an Ethnic Indian Kitchen, which would be too pretty to cook from if it didn’t have aqueous-coated pages that can be wiped clean if food spills.

Nunna, who learned to cook and entertain from her mother, a legendary cook and hostess in their rural Indian village, presents hundreds of original recipes, including adaptations of traditional favorites, the best of regional Indian cuisine (Hyderabad, Gujarat, and Punjab), Indian festival foods, and even American holiday fusion dishes for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.

But what sets this book apart from others is Nunna’s passion for the oft-overlooked details of artful Indian entertaining that turn meals into unforgettable occasions. From creating a special ambience with the right music, flowers, and lighting, to transforming a meal into a themed event with unique table accessories and party favors, Nunna’s style of entertaining creates rich, memorable experiences for your guests.

The recipes accommodate both vegetarians and nonvegetarians—and 80 percent of the recipes are also gluten-free and vegan, which will be a welcome surprise to people with dietary restrictions. What’s fun about this book is that it’s organized around complete menus designed for different types of entertaining. These include:

• Snack and chaat party—an Indian-style appetizer party
• Tea party—perfect for baby or bridal showers
• Dosa party—a one-of-a-kind brunch idea
• Barbecue party—brings the best of Indian barbecue to your backyard
• Mogul banquet—features opulent and regal dishes from the Moghul era
• Dinner by the fire—for an intimate meal with best friends
• Outdoor candle light dinner—for romantics
• Elegant dinner—a meal designed to impress
• Garden party—celebrating the most abundant time of year

Every page features spectacular color photographs, along with fascinating commentary from Nunna about the Indian people, languages, festivals, rituals, historical and geographical influences on the cuisine, health benefits of Indian spices, and memorable personal stories from her childhood. Entertaining from an Ethnic Indian Kitchen offers riches and delightful surprises for novices and experienced cooks alike, and gives American cooks an entirely new perspective on Indian cuisine. 

Komali Nunna is a California-based chef from Southern India who has been entertaining guests in her home and community for 25 years, and now shares her time-tested recipes in a new cookbook, Entertaining from an Ethnic Indian Kitchen.  Learn more about Nunna and her cooking at www.KomaliNunna.com

Entertaining from an Ethnic Indian Kitchen, Komali Nunna

ISBN 978-1-60585-526-4, 320 pages, hardback, $50.00

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