(1) Unlike other books, this book is not merely the compilation of some Indian recipes. It explains the basic principles of Indian cooking and the role of spices and additives in it so that the reader would be able to formulate the recipe of the dish of his own liking. (2) The authors take the reader to ordinary Indian kitchen by describing utensils, ingredients (including herbs, spices and condiments ) and cooking techniques. (3) The book describes the most common food cooked in Indian homes . The recipes are simple and easy to follow and additional useful information is given in the Notes. (4) The Indians are fond of sweet dishes so the book describes four categories of sweet dishes which can be cooked by the reader easily. (5) The book is profusely illustrated by full page colored images of all the dishes.