Posted 13th November 2008
I’ve been outed. Shortly after the Frankfurt book fair, an Indian magazine announced my other big news.
My mad ramblings, irreverent rants and quick recipes are to be published into a lifestyle/narrative cookbook by HarperCollins titled “Miss Masala”.
Of course this being journalism, they got two out of three facts wrong. I write a Quick Indian Cooking food blog. True. I live in the US. False. I am the obese spoon-wielding aunty in a cotton sari depicted by the resident cartoonist. Gross misrepresentation!
Still, it’s far better than the tepid response from some of my family members. Gran and dad take it in turns to claim I inherited the skill from them. On his recent trip, dad responded disbelievingly at the meal I cooked for him. And even asked me if I knew what “blanching” meant.
Thank god I have publishing glory to look forward to. Even though the book won’t hit the shops until March 2010. Watch this space.
In the meantime, here’s a Tamatar Shorba or Mughlai-style Indian tomato soup recipe requested by one of my readers. I’ll spare you too much sentimentality, but I wouldn’t be here without you lot, yadi yadi yada… Just please start saving to buy my book!
Feeds 2:
- 10 medium tomatoes (about 1 kg)
- 1 tsp whole cumin
- Handful of fresh coriander
- 2 fat garlic cloves
- 1 red finger chilli
- Half tsp Kasoori methi or dry fenugreek
- 2 teaspoons brown dememera sugar
- 1 tsp sunflower oil
- Salt to taste
Wash, slice the tops off and quarter the tomatoes. Slice the garlic.
In a medium-sized pot, bring the oil to heat over a high flame. When it’s hot, add the cumin and garlic and fry for a few seconds until the garlic browns slightly.
Then mix in the tomatoes, sugar, chilli and coriander. Cook on a high flame, stirring every two minutes, for about 10 until the tomatoes disintegrate. In the meantime, soak the kasoori methi in a tiny cup with two tablespoons of hot water. This will help balance the sweet and spicy soup with its bitterness.
Then take the pan off the heat for a few seconds, stir in the methi and go in with a hand blender to puree all the contents. If you don’t have a hand blender, just wait for the contents to cool a bit and transfer them to a larger blender. If you don’t have any blenders, just pass the contents through a sieve or colander.
Add salt to taste and enjoy piping hot.
Congrats Miss Masala 😀 I am so happy for u and looking forward to adding ur glossy book to my tiny cookbook collection 🙂
Congratulations Mallika, that’s great, great news. Well done you. And wow, it is a time of big news stories from you isn’t it!
Looking forward to hearing more about the adventures of Miss Masala.
Congrats! Miss Masala I love the name. The soup looks superb. I started a piggy bank already 🙂
Congratulations! That’s very exciting news!
I am so happy to hear that! I can’t wait to read it now!!! Shorba looks grand…beautiful color, Mallika.
take care.
omg! congrats 😀 That is sooo sooo exciting 🙂 Keep up posted, and I’m bookmarking this recipe. I love all variants on Tomato Soup 🙂
Hurray! another happy news from your end! Many congratulations again
Take care
Fantastic, congratulations Mallika! Will you need any recipe testers? 🙂
Mallika, what fabulous news! Congratulations! I look forward to it. 🙂
Giving that beautiful tomato soup a bookmark as it sounds absolutely delicious!
Wow! A book deal! Congratulations! Send the cartoonist a link to your video 😀
I always said you look as pretty as Bipasha Basu. Are they blind?! Or may be they are stereotyping all “Indian ladies”? 😛
Congratulations on both personal front, read your mail y’day, so so happy for you. Take care and enjoy the success. Hugs and God bless! :))
oh my goodness! two things in less than two months! congratulations. The baby is excited too, I am sure. I am really really happy for you. It seems like it’s long time in coming but glad that it’s here! When the book comes out, can I get a signed copy? 🙂
Congrats Mallika!!! That is awesome! Somehow this news does not surprise me! 🙂
Congrats, Mallika!! That’s great news! And Miss Masala seems like such an appropriate name 🙂
I second Cindy..do you need any recipe testers?
congrats Mallika, that’s wonderful news 🙂 Looking forward to adventures of Miss Masala!
Congrats Mallika..that’s wonderful..really happy for ya. The color of the shorba is beautiful.
Wow, Way to go girl! Congratulations!!!!!
WOW fantastic news! Congratulations!
I’m not too surprised, you know! I always thought you’re publishing material! 😀
Let me know if you need any recipe testers! 😀
Wow. That is amazingly cool. Could you be any more boggged down with news? You know what they say… “Jamais deux sans trois!”
I wonder what the third thing will be?
Oh, superb! If there was a blogger I’d want to write a book, it’d be you. Will be first on the pre-order form. xx
Hola , Namesake ! Hooray for you and looking forward to the book 🙂
Many congratulations, Mallika!!!!!
This is fantastic news! Am very happy for you as you’re one of my fave Indian food blogs 🙂
Can’t say I’m surprised that you’re going to be published as your writing is witty and entertaining too.
Oh wow, congratulations! Well, not so surprised, really, the blog is so nicely done and the recipes are right on the money. Now, will you take on Ramsay when you get your own show? We dare him to accept the challenge…
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