Description

2026 JAMES BEARD AWARD NOMINEE: VEGETABLE-FOCUSED COOKING

Discover authentic Indian comfort food through the timeless combination of dal and rice, with Ayurvedic wisdom woven throughout.

Dal and rice, which together form the foundation of a homestyle Indian vegetarian diet. Dal is a Hindi word commonly used to describe all forms of pulses including dried beans, lentils, peas, and whole and split legumes. Chawal, the Hindi word for rice, is the perfect soulmate for dal. Not only a delicious harmony, together they form a completely balanced and nutritious meal. This comprehensive vegetarian Indian cookbook features 85 recipes that form the foundation of traditional Indian home cooking.

Sapna Punjabi combines a lifelong vegetarian practice, Ayurvedic training, and expertise as a registered dietitian and nutritionist to create plant-based recipes that address many common dietary issues, including gut health and inflammation whilst promoting a holistic lifestyle. This is Indian comfort food at its finest: economical, healthy, and delicious.

Publisher Review

Sapna’s book confidently fills the gap in the conversations around Ayurvedic foods and cooking. The recipes indeed alone are marvelously enticing, but it’s her thoughtful approach that makes it extra special. — Nik Sharma, James Beard Award finalist, chef, and author and photographer of Veg-table Sapna Punjabi has written a beautiful ode to traditional, plant-based Indian food for modern times. Flavor, nutrition, and ayurvedic principles blend seamlessly in each recipe. Whether you are a chickpea devotee or a lentil enthusiast, you’re bound to find a slew of new recipes that’ll make eating healing foods a joy. — Sandra A. Gutierrez, author of LATINISIMO: Home Recipes from the Twenty-One Countries of Latin America