Books News

Monica has published three cookbooks:

Modern Spice: Inspired Indian Flavors for the Contemporary Kitchen – Simon & Schuster, 2009

A local approach to global flavors, Modern Spice captures the spirit of Indian cuisine while updating the genre to reflect modern tastes and lifestyles. Author Monica Bhide builds on longstanding traditions and techniques to create stylish and refined Indian fare that captures the vibrant flavors and colors of a new generation. With a compelling foreword written by Mark Bittman, the award-winning author and food writer, Modern Spice dispels myths about Indian cuisine being all about the curry, while introducing its audience to a new chapter in Indian food.

The Everything Indian Cookbook: 300 Tantalizing Recipes–From Sizzling Tandoori Chicken to Fiery Lamb Vindaloo – Adams Media, 2004

A country of more than 1 billion people, with over a dozen languages, 800 recognized dialects, and several religions, India is as diverse as it gets! India’s cuisine has been influenced greatly by the multitude of invaders throughout the country’s history; the Mughals, Turks, Europeans, and Portuguese all left their mark. By adding their own cooking styles and ingredients, they provided a rich diversity, resulting in a unique cuisine. What holds this diverse cuisine together are the aromatic and flavorful spices. The art of Indian cooking is in blending spices so they are in perfect harmony in each dish. Monica Bhide perfectly blends the cultures and flavors of this diverse country in The Everything Indian Cookbook.

The Spice is Right: Easy Indian Cooking for Today – Callawind Publications, 2001

The Spice is Right proves that simple Indian cooking is within every home cook’s reach. Home cook and food writer, Monica Bhide has written a down-to-earth cookbook featuring 150 simple, healthful versions of Indian classics and Western favorites with an Indian twist. Recipes are easy to follow, use readily available ingredients, and don’t require complicated cooking methods. Perfect for newcomers to Indian cooking, the book is organized into menus, which takes the guesswork out of planning an Indian meal. What’s more, Bhide infuses the margins of each page with colorful anecdotes and invaluable cooking tips.