Sal- A Feast of Kashmiri Cuisine

The cuisine of Kashmir is an integral part of its culture. For the Kashmiri, whether a Muslim or a Pandit, food is not just to satisfy hunger, it has to be an artistic creation and a feast for all the senses. Dozens of mutton and vegetable dishes of different colour, form, texture, aroma and taste form a harmonious garland around a portion of rice in a large copper platter, intricately engraved with designs of flowers and birds common to Kashmir. This book is a celebration of the rich diversity of the cuisine, and gives authentic recipes for all the dishes of the famed Wazwan- the traditional Muslim feast-as well as Kashmiri Pandit specialities. The only book of its kind, it is an introduction to the Kashmiri food culture with all its particular herbs, spices and condiments that impart a distinctive flavour to the dishes. Here are more than a hundred recipes, which include the different ways of making tea, a favourite drink of the Kashmiris !

Neerja Mattoo taught English language and literature in the Government College for Women, Maulana Azad Road, Srinagar, Kashmir and retired as Principal. She has written several books and papers on Kashmir, its literature and culture. Two books of her translations of Kashmiri short stories into English have been published: "The Stranger Beside Me" (Gulshan Books) and "Contemporary Kashmiri Short Stories" (Sahitya Akademi ). She has participated in National and International seminars and conferences, presenting papers on aspects of Kashmiri and English literature, particularly on the works of women writers. She was awarded a British Council Visitorship to the University of Oxford in 1984. She was also awarded a Senior Fellowship in Literature by the Department of Culture, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development in 1997. Neerja Mattoo is a Kashmiri and lives in Srinagar with her husband. **Contents and Sample Pages**