Moti Mahal Cook Book

DETAILS : Author: Monish Gujral Publisher: ‎ Penguin India Publication date: ‎ 17 April 2009 Language: ‎ English Print length: ‎ 168 pages ISBN-10: ‎ 0143065920 ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0143065920 Item Weight: ‎ 200 g ABOUT THE BOOK The Moti Mahal Cookbook: On the Butter Chicken Trail, authored by the celebrated chef and restaurateur Monish Gujral, is an acclaimed culinary text that unveils the secret legacy behind some of the world's most famous Indian dishes. Published by Penguin Random House India, this book serves as both a historical narrative and an authentic kitchen manual. The core philosophy of this work is to preserve and demystify the rich Punjabi-Pathani culinary heritage created by the author's family. It firmly establishes that true gourmet Indian cooking relies on the mastery of tandoori heat, complex marinades, and the perfect balance of residual cooking temperatures rather than an overuse of masking spices. The volume is famously organized to take home cooks and professional chefs on a step-by-step journey through the iconic menu of the legendary Moti Mahal restaurant in Delhi. It reveals the exact formulas for foundational innovations such as Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken), Dal Makhani, and the quintessential makhani gravy—frequently hailed as the "mother of North Indian gravies." Beyond these staple recipes, the book features a diverse directory of succulent tandoori kebabs, Kesari Dum Murg (slow-cooked saffron chicken), cottage cheese delicacies like Malai Paneer Tikka Masala, and authentic Indian breads. By blending precise technical instructions with timeless restaurant favorites, this work bridges the gap between historical restaurant kitchens and contemporary home culinary spaces. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Monish Gujral is an elite Indian food writer, celebrity chef, and the Managing Director of the global restaurant chain Moti Mahal Delux. He is the grandson of the legendary Kundan Lal Gujral, the visionary culinary pioneer who originally invented Tandoori Chicken and Butter Chicken in Peshawar before establishing Moti Mahal in independent Delhi. A graduate of Delhi University and the prestigious Pusa Institute of Hotel Management, Monish has successfully expanded his grandfather’s single iconic eatery into a multi-national franchise spanning over a hundred locations worldwide. Gujral’s writing style is warmly conversational, instructional, and highly pedagogical. He blends rich, nostalgic storytelling with precise, test-kitchen-ready metrics to make advanced tandoor and curry techniques highly accessible. His profound contribution to culinary literature has earned him massive global acclaim, including multiple honors at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, where his books have been celebrated among the finest gastronomic works of the past three decades.