A good meal should delight the mouth, nourish the body, and bring harmony to the soul.  It should also seduce the eye. For the Indian food outlined here, all these are possible. (from Chapter 1: Yoga and Food)

{HISTORY

This vintage 1968 yoga-centered vegetarian cookbook is a marvel in history and recipes. Written by Yogi Vithaldas (1911-1989) who was one of the mid-century forerunners responsible for bringing yoga to the United States, The Yogi Cook Book is a blend of authentic age-old Indian recipes made accessible for modern mid-century vegetarian diets.

At the time Yogi Vithaldas wrote this cookbook he was living in New York City, so he understood the urban American lifestyle and its misconceptions with Indian food and the yoga lifestyle - that the food was too spicy and the yoga teachings too cosmic.  He wanted to dispel these notions by showcasing good quality, healthy, delicious and attractive food from his homeland that would "happily nourish the body and court the soul." In a wonderfully engaging voice, he carries readers (and eaters) through his land of enticing, exotic cuisine via simple steps easily executable by all skill-level of home cook. 

Here you will find an interesting array of recipes balanced by fats, proteins, and carbohydrates that run the gamut from beverages to desserts, entrees to sauces. A sampling of recipes includes pulao and asparagus, ginger chutney, bean sprouts and raisins, creamy rasgulla, banana curry, garlic pakora and stuffed parathas.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1968 First Edition

- Original dust jacket 

- a special section on parties - how to throw them, what to serve, suggested menus etc.

- Indian food glossary 

- 13 chapters, 137 pages

{CONDITION}

The interior pages are very clean and in good shape. There is some very light foxing on the spine. The dust jacket is chippy on the front corner, spine and top edge. All pages are intact and the spine is tight. The yellow cover-boards are clean and bright. 

{SIZE}

Measures 5.5" inches (width)  x 8.5" inches (length)  x .5" inches (depth) 

{WHY YOU NEED IT} 

Because there are 11 different curry recipes and 20 different chutney recipes! Also, this is a great (non-intimidating) introduction for new cooks to Indian food as well as an inspiration station for more experienced cooks. And the down-to-earth way this Yogi writes about food is so affable and engaging, you'll wish he was still around to invite over to dinner! 

The Yogi Cook Book by Yogi Vithaldas and Susan Roberts. Published in 1968 by Bell Publishing Company, New York. First Edition. 138 pages.