Books like Dining with the Maharajas by Neha Prasada

A scholarly overview tracing the development of Indian cuisine from prehistoric origins through British rule, exploring regional practices, ancient medical theories, and the cultural, linguistic, and technological forces that shaped its diverse culinary heritage.

"The second most populous country in the world after China and the seventh largest in area, India is unique among nations in its diversity of climates, languages, religions, tribes, customs and cuisines. Today, Indian food in its many incarnations has become a world cuisine. This reflects an increased awareness of the virtues of a traditional Indian diet, especially the centrality of fruits, vegetables and grains and the extensive use of spices, the benefits of which have been confirmed by modern science. India has always been part of the global economy. For thousands of years, the subcontinent was the centre of a vast network of land and sea trade routes - conduits for plants, ingredients, dishes and cooking techniques to and from the rest of the world. Foreign visitors have long marvelled at India's agricultural bounty, including its ancient indigenous plants, such as lentils, mangoes, turmeric and pepper, all of which have been central to the Indian diet for thousands of years. Yet what is it that makes Indian food so recognizably Indian, and how did it get that way? Feasts and Fasts: A History of Food in India is an exploration of Indian cuisine in the context of the country's religious, moral, social and philosophical development. It addresses topics such as dietary prescriptions and proscriptions, the origins of vegetarianism, culinary borrowings and innovations, the use of spices and the inseparable links between diet, health and medicine. It also looks at special foods for festivals, street foods and the splendour of Mughal feasts. This lavishly illustrated book gives a mouth-watering tour of India's regional cuisines, containing numerous recipes to interest and excite readers."--Publisher's website.

An encyclopedic look at Indian foodways that traces regional dishes, religious and caste dietary rules, and the impact of the British Raj, while exploring festivals, sweets, Ayurveda, and the growing restaurant culture—complete with regional recipes.

"During the first week of February, 1995 many of the subcontinent's finest photojournalists and film makers fanned out across the country to record for posterity an adventure of enormous fascination and complexity - a visual time capsule of the world's most diverse nation.". "Under the editorial guidance of internationally acclaimed writer, ecologist, and film maker Michael Tobias and renowned Indian photographer Raghu Rai, photographic teams visited nearly every state and union territory to discover the elusive passions of a country that defies easy definition. The result: more than 30,000 images and 200 hours of film footage that together form a sumptuous portrait of a nation."--BOOK JACKET.