Sun Prairie Public Library, Lunch & Learn. Alamelu, thank you for sharing your expertise on Indian cooking with curry with our Sun Prairie Library guests. Your good humor and engaging style and wonderful food make the afternoon complete.

– Friends of Sun Prairie Library (Near Madison)

Healthy, Delicious and Simple South Indian Cooking! I have had an interest in Indian cooking and have bought several books but had a hard time getting started. This book got me in gear! It includes a list upfront of what spices and ingredients are needed and suggestions for combining recipes and sample menus in the back. The recipes are easy to follow and viola we have delicious meals in 20-30 minutes.

– Lynn Mader, RD, Minnesota

Easy, Delicious Cooking!After taking a cooking class with Alamelu and sampling her delicious cooking, I bought the book and tried some of her recipes on my husband and friends. What a hit! Everyone likes the taste and recipes are easy to prepare using ingredients that are readily available. I have also substituted vegetables and gotten great results. This book is one of my favorite sources of cooking ideas.

–  Ptaran, Greendale, WI

This book is a terrific resource for those interested in exploring Indian style cooking. Easy to read format, glossary and clear step-by-step instructions makes even preparing two dishes simultaneously relatively easy. As Alamelu indicated in class, these recipes are very forgiving. This evening I botched up the cauliflower kootu and it still got thumbs up from our family. Need a low-fat, low-cal side dish to complement your (veggie) burger? Our favorite is, the cabbage and coconut poriyal – better tasting, and better for you than French fries. Nutritional information is available for those who are needlessly concern about such things-with these recipes you can’t go wrong. This book is a great addition to my other Indian cookbooks…… Enjoy it!

–  Tom Bruno, Whitefish Bay, WI

This cookbook has become like a bible. Personally, I instantly became one of Alamelu’s many enthusiastic fans after having the pleasure of attending one of her popular cooking courses. The class experienced many of her tantalizing dishes firsthand, which she followed straight from her cookbook. Alamelu’s wonderful personality reflects in her book as well, with colorful, descriptive “background” information to enjoy (such as the benefits, beyond seasoning, of certain spices) in addition to her delicious, healthful and easy-to-follow recipes.

–  Natalie Carroll, Shorewood, WI

Practical and Easy. I have been newly married into Chettiar community and my husband and his family loves South Indian Chettinad style food. This book was given to me as a marriage present and unlike others this was a useful and valuable one. I use it as a practical guide for daily cooking activities. I live in Australia where help/guidance to Indian Chettinad cooking is scarce. This book was and is very helpful to me and I follow it religiously when I cook. A must buy for any South Indian food enthusiast.

– Naga, Australia

Incredible flavors! We heard about this cookbook taking an Indian cooking class with Alamelu in 2006. Her class was fantastic and the food we made was delicious. We purchased this cookbook and have made a lot of the recipes from it. Every recipe we made was amazing and the flavors and aroma were incredible. The recipes are very easy to follow and most of the spices we purchase are from local Indian grocery store. We used to frequently dine at local Indian restaurants in Milwaukee and Chicago areas but haven’t had the need to as often since we are cooking Indian dishes at home. We recommend the cookbook and taking her classes if you live in the Milwaukee area or plan on visiting. ….Wonderful!

– Abigail, Wisconsin

Wonderfully authentic taste!!!  My children love the flavors. I took her cooking class at WCTC and when I brought home the left-overs, my boys (6 yrs. And 3 yrs.) fought over the black pepper rice. I didn’t even get any of it (thank goodness I got to eat some in class).

Alamelu is a class act…her love for presenting us with wonderful food with incredible health benefits inspires you to want to cook this food all the time. I really think this book is a must-have. I have quite a few other Indian cookbooks that do not even compare to hers. I think her cookbook actually delivers authenticity and flavor where the others simply do not measure up.

– Michele Schmidt, Oconomowoc, WI

Journey for All Senses. This book takes the reader/cook on journey to the southern region of India, known as Chettinad, where colors, fragrances, popping spices, and textured sauces excite the senses in a divinely inspired cuisine. The authors, of Indian and American backgrounds, set out each recipe in a clear and easy to follow manner. I’ve made the green beans poriyal, eggplant and potato masala, and bell pepper and tomato rice with other American (or western) dishes, such as roasted chicken and lamb chops. This book has taken my cooking to a new level!

A User from Milwaukee

Great for entertaining - guests will be impressed!  Healthy South Indian Cooking is an excellent cookbook-especially for beginners like me! The picture and glossary of ingredients are so helpful. The recipes are easy to follow and written very clearly. The dishes are flavorful (and healthy) and perfect for entertaining. Many of the same ingredients are used in different recipes. Once you have the standard items, making multiple dishes is a breeze. I highly recommend this cookbook for anyone who likes adventurous cooking.

– Khensiak

Crowd Pleasing Veggies!  These recipes are great, especially for jazzing up your sides for parties.

Most are easy to prepare ahead and people appreciate the unusual alternatives to potatoes and green beans. Great inspiration for getting out of the same old thing rut.

– Meneitzke