Made in India

A warm, personal collection of over 130 recipes gathered from three generations of Meera Sodha’s family. Made in India was a bestseller and award nominee that proved Indian home cooking is neither difficult nor time-consuming when you have the right guide.

Why This Book

Made in India takes a different approach than most Indian cookbooks. Rather than organizing by region or technique, Sodha organizes by the way her family actually eats: street food snacks, quick weeknight curries, slow weekend dishes, sides, and desserts. The result feels less like a reference book and more like being invited into a real Indian kitchen.

Sodha grew up in a Gujarati family in Lincolnshire, England, and her recipes reflect that dual heritage. You will find classic dishes like cinnamon lamb curry and chili paneer alongside less expected items like beet and feta samosas. The instructions assume you are starting from scratch, with clear guidance on building spice blends and balancing flavors. Most recipes call for ingredients you can find at any decent supermarket.

The book is especially strong on vegetable and lentil curries, which makes it a great companion to Curry Easy if you want to expand your repertoire. Sodha’s writing is engaging and personal, full of family stories that give context to each dish.

What to Expect

A 320-page hardcover with photography by David Loftus. The recipes range from 15-minute snacks to slow-cooked celebration dishes, with the majority falling in the easy-to-moderate range. You will need a basic Indian spice collection, but Sodha is careful not to overwhelm with obscure ingredients. Named a book of the year by the Times and the Financial Times.