Rick Stein's India: In Search of the Perfect Curry: Recipes from My Indian Odyssey

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I saw the BBC series that launched this book. I loved the colourful photography and production of the films, even though I find Mr Stein to be a bit of a pompous, arrogant prat. This, however, is not unusual in TV chefs of a certain age, and I know from my participation on cooking forums that he appeals to a certain sector of the viewing public. However, despite my dislike of his TV persona (it's obvious in a couple of episodes that he is about to explode at his longsuffering team, and treasures a lot of idiotic memes about the India that never was), the recipes looked good enough to want the book. As a person who lives on a fixed pension, I was wise enough to wait until I could find the book secondhand for a fraction of the original price. Anybody who has done business in India will know that the bureaucracy is present in every transaction. The number of permissions we needed to do anything, anywhere were mind boggling. In Calcutta, for example, we had permission to film in the streets but only if we didn’t film cows. Getting permission to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar took months, but when we arrived at the gates they told us we couldn’t bring in our tripod as we had only obtained permission for the camera.

Whenever I hear the word curry, I'm filled with a longing for spicy hot food with the fragrance of cumin, cloves and cinnamon. I see deep red colours from lots of Kashmiri chillis, tinged with a suggestion of yellow from turmeric. I think of the tandoor oven, and slightly scorched naan shining with ghee and garlic.When Indians talk of their food, they talk about their life. To understand this country, you need to understand curry. Did you discover any essential cookware or kitchen gadgets on your travels? Have you brought any home with you? Add the leek, carrots and oats, season with the salt and pepper and cook for a further 30 minutes. Add the potatoes and swede and simmer for another 30 minutes. Thankfully, not all Brits will fall for the hype. Some British chefs do an excellent job of documenting their Indian food journey (see Gordon Ramsey's show). If you need someone to make Indian food more accessible for the Western palate, try Madhur Jaffery who does a good job. At least she knows what she is talking about!On to the food now; the tamarind rice, or puliyodharai, we saw tonight was prepared in the kitchen of the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Once the rice is cooked, it is pressed against a stone surface by hand; as they believe it gives an additional flavour(!)

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together. For those with a sweet tooth, it was time for a dessert dish this week with the inclusion of payasam, a sweet milk pudding with vermicelli. This one is a typical Tamil dessert and is apparently always served at local weddings. With plenty of milk, ghee and sugar this dish, like most Indian desserts, is best enjoyed in small portions!That said, the recipes are eminently useable by anyone with any experience cooking their own food from scratch. (If you're a member of the microwave readymeal generation, start with any of Anjum Anand's books and work your way up.) These recipes are simple, delicious, and they work if you know which side of a saucepan to put the food in. Everyone you met in India spoke with such passion and pride of their food. Was there one person who stood out to you most as embodying the spirit of Indian cooking? Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family. Whenever I hear the word curry, I’m filled with a longing for spicy hot food with the fragrance of cumin, cloves and cinnamon. I see deep red colours from lots of Kashmiri chillis, tinged with a suggestion of yellow from turmeric. I think of the tandoor oven, and slightly scorched naan shining with ghee and garlic.When Indians talk of their food, they talk about their life. To understand this country, you need to understand curry.

These are my simple suppers. Recipes that are straightforward and informal - yet effortlessly delicious. The idea of supper appealed to me because it suggests an ordinary meal. When one is not trying too hard; maybe something you're going to cook in your jeans and Polo shirt, a glass of vinho verde on the worktop. Recipes are doable and tasty. His pakora recipe is inspiring; most others are heavy on veggies as Stein tries to expand the importance of vegetarianism & Indian tradition to BBC viewers. (This is a change from his previous work as he's a 'seafood and meat guy'. A mini food processor makes light work of turning garlic and ginger, with a splash of water, into pastes, which are used throughout the book. However, for smaller quantities, or if you don’t own a mini processor, you can use a microplane grater to finely grate ginger or garlic. Or you can crush the garlic, either by chopping finely with a sharp knife or using a garlic crusher.Add a layer of the chilled apple purée to 4 glasses, followed by a layer of the toasted nuts and breadcrumbs. Add another layer each of apple and breadcrumbs/nuts and then top with the whipped cream and the remaining toasted hazelnuts. Someone who I was signing a book for the other day said their slogan was “you can’t hurry curry”and I think that, having experienced how Indians cook, I’ve now become even more aware of taking the time to cook something like a stew when I’m not in a hurry. It always makes such a difference. Fast suppers: Sweet potato, chorizo & sweetcorn tacos, Baked portobello mushrooms with Dolcelatte & walnuts Some of us in Britain are probably also a little guilty of finding curries made with goat meat a little off-putting. Whereas Indians much prefer goat to lamb, and use it in what they call mutton curry. The Cochin first-class railway mutton curry that featured tonight is actually made using lamb shanks, but is full of flavour and fragrance from marinating over night and cooking long and slow. Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.