My Thali: A Simple Indian Kitchen

The Indian answer to tapas or tagine, thali is as fun to eat as it is pretty to serve.

Cooking thali might sound like a lot of work. And it sometimes is if the occasion calls for an eye-popping all-out feast in full-on splendor. But everyday thalis are quite simple. Many dishes can be whipped up in fifteen minutes; recipes can be doubled, allowing leftovers for another day; and almost all can be made ahead, leaving the cook with little to do but make rice while the curries warm up for supper. With one or two anchor dishes, plus rice, the balance of a thali is made up of the small stuff- condiments, accompaniments, and sides that give the meal flavor, character, zing, and balm, usually found in jars or bowls in the fridge.

Like a tagine or casserole, a thali describes not only a type of kitchenware, but a type of meal. A thali is constructed of many small dishes served on a platter that harmonize through contrasting textures, visual appeal, complimentary spices, and sheer deliciousness. Once reserved for special occasions, this traditional way of eating is now a popular way of dining at home.

In My Thali, Joe Thottungal, award-winning owner and chef at Ottawa's Coconut Lagoon and Thali restaurants, shares his favorite home-cooked recipes and stories from his homeland of Kerala, connecting past and present to open up the world of Indian cooking today.

Thottungal presents a mosaic of 85 delicious and accessible recipes-from fresh salads to flavorful curries and fragrant desserts -that are simple enough to be created with common ingredients (found at most supermarkets or online grocers) and everyday cooking equipment, without any compromise to flavor or authenticity. Each recipe can be enjoyed on its own or joined together to compose a thali: a complete and balanced meal.

Colorful chapter intros and recipes headnotes offer insights into how the chef lives, cooks and eats, along with the inspiration and cross-cultural influences behind the dishes.

My Thali showcases South Indian home cooking-defined by seasonality, affordability, nutrition, and traditions-and the joys of thalis, both simple and homey, and grand and glorious.
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