We’ve always been fans of Richa Hingle’s Vegan Richa blog. Anyone who’s tried to cook Indian knows it can be a challenge to master, and her vegan recipes make it seem totally doable. (Her non-Indian dishes, like these Pinto Bean Broccoli Lentil Burgers, are also spot-on.) She always includes plenty of options for those who are gluten-free, have food allergies, or who avoid soy or oils, which is a big bonus for vegans and non-vegans alike.

Personally, I’m kind of in love with Indian food and I’m nearly always disappointed when I try to wing it. So Richa’s new book, Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook, was a godsend when it arrived. It’s great for aspiring Indian cooks; it’s divided into handy categories like Lentils and Beans, Dry Vegetable Curries, and One-Pot Meals, and includes an informative primer on the spices, grains and flours of Indian cooking. In order to minimize specialty-store shopping, Richa gives a basic Indian-cooking shopping list divided into “must have,” “good to have,” and “nice to have” ingredients—most of which can be found at your supermarket. For a lot of people, one of the biggest barriers to exploring any world cuisine is specialty ingredients, so this shopping list was super helpful.

The Kidney Bean Curry (which tastes like an Indian version of chili), Gluten-Free Chia Flatbreads and Pistachio Spoon Fudge were all excellent, as was this Mango Tofu Curry recipe, which she has been kind enough to share with Oh My Veggies Readers!

Richa’s notes on this recipe:

Mangoes are abundant in India, where they are always juicy and sweet. In the United States, mangoes can be a bit tart. For desserts or curries like this one, I prefer mango pulp or puree in canned or bottled form. You can use a ripe mango, if you prefer, but be sure to puree it well before using. This is a simple recipe but the resulting dish is very alluring with its sweet and spicy sauce.