Chetna's Cardamom Trail: Baking with Eastern Flavors

MR ALEXANDER J MORGAN: The book is wonderfully set out, and takes the reader on a little tour of India’s popular herbs and spices. The recipes are unlike any I’ve seen, and I’ve already made the ‘Star Anise and Lemon Chocolate Mousse Cake’. It’s one of the most delicious desserts I’ve ever eaten. If I had one very small criticism, it’s that the background photos to the spice sections make it a tiny bit hard to read the text…but it’s a quibble. Chetna’s recipes are glorious.

United Kingdom on May 07, 2022

k McC: Pictures and recipes are great.

Canada on Nov 06, 2021

C. J.: Although I have 3 other books by Chetna, and loved them all, I was slow to buy this one because the cover left me with the impressions that it was a dessert-centric baking book. It definitely isn't. I was wowed as I poured over the wealth of imaginative savory baked goods and accompanying photos. Lots of photos! I confess that I just received the book today and haven't actually baked any of the recipes. These aren't your mother's baked goods, even if you were born in Asia!

I will edit my review after I have tried a few.

United States on Aug 09, 2021

Sarah Culbert: I loved Chetna in the Great British Bakeoff and her cookbook lives up to expectations. I cannot wait to try many of her recipes, being a keen fan of Indian food but also intrigued by the way she has combined British cuisine with Indian flavours and ingredients. The only thing I would have asked of this cookbook is more narrative. There was some but I would have liked more, that’s just my opinion. Overall a wonderful book and one to savour.

United States on Nov 27, 2018

Bradetta Vines: What a beautiful book! I knew about Chetna Makan from the Great British Bake Off. I was drawn to her bakes the entire time she was on the show. Her spices, her flavor combinations and the confidence behind her recipes captivated me. The stories that accompany the recipes in the book are delightful and make the food even more meaningful- and isn't that what cooking and sharing a meal is all about? Truly unique and adventuresome yet appealing to the familiar ingredients of my usual repertoire. Cardamom is one of my favorite spices. So many of my favorite spices are included in these recipes but I've never found them all in one place! Although I've just started trying the recipes the ones I've tried are spectacular. Note: I'm a new baker but with an experienced pallet. While the spices were familiar some of the combinations were delightfully new to me. The pictures are gorgeous and helpful. Clear instructions. Most of the meat dishes look adaptable to vegetarian ( which I am). The rest of the recipes look intriguing, achievable and yummy! I can't wait to try them all! - Bradetta (aka the Gingham Altar Gal)

United States on Sep 05, 2017

Mr K HughesMr K Hughes: I wanted an introduction to baking with Indian spices, and that's exactly what I got!

I loved Chetna on the bake off, and was very excited to hear that she had released this book! It's beautifully produced and split into logical sections and lots of high quality pictures. The recipes are well written and provide enough information to produce great bakes, I also like the fact the book is interspersed with pages that describe the spices used. There's also a good mix of both sweet and savoury bakes.

So far I have made:

Nankhatai - delicious, yet incredibly simple spiced indian shortbread.
Coconut Ladoo - Indian sweets made with desiccated coconut and chocolate. Really tasty and they didn't last long in work!
Mango and Cardamom Cake - a beautiful fresh cream cake with fresh mangoes and a delicious cardamom flavour.
Chocolate and Coconut Cake - indulgent and tasty with lots of coconut! My partner loved it!

I definitely recommend this book!

I've included photos of the things I've baked so far. Some of the cake decoration differs slightly from the book, but that's just me putting my own twist on things!

United Kingdom on Nov 09, 2016

Jessica Weissman: Chetna Makan was, famously, nearly the winner of a season of the Great British BakeOff. She made some appealing and unusual recipes, and the book is full of similar ones. If you are interested in spicing up your baking, this book will help you do so. There are a few too many not-quite-baking recipes for my preferences, but that's just me.

I've made a couple of things that worked well, so the recipes themselves are reliable. You'll have to be able to translate a few British baking terms into US practice (make sure you have a scale that measures in grams). And you'll have to follow her shaping instructions carefully; they aren't always as clear as they could be. You'll also find yourself in an Indian grocery store buying a few unusual spices. But its worth it for the results and the fresh ideas.

United States on Jul 05, 2016

orginzo: Delicious fusion foods. Chetna was a good & an inspirational baker on "The British Bake Off" who made aromatic flavourful bakes. I had wanted to lay my hands, acquire some of her recipes and this book does not disappoint.

This book is inspirational, lovely pictures of the food stirs you to want to get some of these apetising foods baked. I loved watching her during "The Great British Bake Off" and Chetna never failed to impress, yes, and so has this book not disappointed with all these baking based on flavours of the East. The baking includes chapters on cakes, pies and tarts, Sweet things, savoury small bites, breads and accompaniments. Spices are discussed in detail and a handy little index at the front directs you to the information, the information then gives suggestions on recipes containing that spice. I have yet to try any of the recipes but next holiday I'm going to give the savoury semolina cake, coriander and mint loaf, chilli chicken wraps and sweet baked samosas. If you want to be inspired by cooking with spices this is a great book well thought through. This Book will find a place in every kitchen. Well done Chetna.

United Kingdom on Jun 23, 2016

JR: This is a beautiful book. Even reading each recipe you can taste the wonderful flavors of each bake. If you don't bake often, you should learn the basics first, some recipes assume you have the experience. But if you bake a lot as I do, this book is like an adventure of flavors. In fact, because it takes the time to describe each spice in detail you can even use it for ideas to add a twist to soups. grains bowls, meat, fish, etc. A must have, and this is the millennial in me speaking, but the pictures are AMAZING! A must have in your cookbook library.

United States on May 12, 2016

Rosebud: I loved watching Chetna on The Great British Bake Off, so when I saw she had written a recipe book I just had to have it. It is a fantastic price on here so it was very happily ordered.
I have had this book for a week now and have made 2 of the bakes from it so far. I can't wait to make the others too! The Rose and Honey cake is simply divine. I bake with rose a lot but have never baked anything as stunning to taste as that was. That will definitely be made again!
There are a wide range of recipes in this book, from biscuits and cakes to breads and savoury dishes. I love the fact that it encourages you to try flavours you might not normally use. For example, the sensational Rose and Honey cake uses toasted fennel seeds in the cream filling and topping. I hang my head in shame and confess I had never bought or used fennel seeds before, but am so glad Chetna included them in her recipe as they have a lovely taste. I bought a big bag of them luckily, as they were also in the other recipe I made (fennel and phirni custard tartlets), and I shall also be making this again!
There really is a recipe for every occasion in this book. Every recipe has clear easy to follow...

United Kingdom on May 08, 2016