To close the circle here, I ended up getting Sahini CLASSIC INDIAN COOKING and MADHUR JAFFREY INDIAN COOKING. Former nice to have, and certainly informative, but latter was *exactly* what I was looking for in terms of a reasonably comprehensive selection of weeknight-cookable dinners etc. Thx for all the recs.

More celebrities one of my favorite Raghavan Iyer http://www.raghavaniyer.com/

and Christine Manfield SPICES http://books.google.co.in/books?id=GqJ2_MuNmtIC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=Christine+manfield+indian+book&source=bl&ots=241gVKQcxF&sig=2UVW3aoPxdLEPHY7QsIHMKOv5R8&hl=en&ei=-wn3TJy6Io-nrAfIuq3vDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Curries & Bugles: A Memoir & Cookbook of the British Raj by Jennifer Brennan. Has some amazing recipes and very enjoyable to read. It really weaves the recipes into some history, culture and personal memories.

I'm with prettyPeas on A Taste of India. The most authentic book of Indian cooking I've ever seen, with good, regional recipes and a nice section on ingredients, with photos (thinks like the different types of dal). She even tells you the proper way to cook rice!

luv Madhur Jaffrey's Invitation to Indian Cooking. like Yamuna Devi. anxious to check out other authors mentioned above. am fortunate to be able to learn from my friend Purnima.

More celebrities Ammini Ramachandran http://www.peppertrail.com/ , http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvariamparambil/4664806421/
Maya Kaima http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060192577/qid=1108755407/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-1863238-7799208 , http://www.nimmypaul.com/images/img_004.jpg
Suvir Saran http://www.suvir.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvariamparambil/4665183571/

I agree with askann Ruta kahati book also very good for Indian recipes http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvariamparambil/5031134237/

Oh! I just recommended Five Spices Five Dishes by Ruta Kahate on another thread. This is one I use all the time (versus my other ways that I read and get intimidated by). Many of these are things you can do on a weeknight.

I have all the books you all said but my personal experience with Indian cooking Julie Sahni's Classic Indian Cooking is very very informative

I agree that Madhur Jaffrey's Indian cookbooks are one of the best references for Indian Cooking. My personal favorite is A Taste of India because it gives a describes the different regions of India, along with the traditional foods, recipes and pictures.

Besides the classic book by Julie Sahni, I like Madhur Jaffrey's books, too.

pauljoseph, you are on it man!

If the answer is that pierino I definitely suggest our best friend Julie Sahni's Classic Indian Cooking

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvariamparambil/4665183561/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0688037216

The "best" new book might be "Anjum's New Indian" (Wiley)...

campagnes I will try to answer soon.

I'd love to see some suggestions, too - LOVE Indian food but haven't had much experience preparing it - but not sure I'm understanding your reply, pauljoseph... ?

answer can send by Post your postal address Please