Coconut Lagoon

With its tranquil beaches, lush mountains, and incredibly delicious cuisine, Kerala, located in southwestern India, is often called paradise on earth. It’s a place where traditional dishes are born of a unique geography and enhanced with spices such as mustard seeds, curry leaves, and coconut milk. In fact, it’s one of India’s most exciting culinary regions.

Coconut Lagoon by Joe Thottungal, a collection of 80 easy-to-make recipes designed for home cooks. The cookbook features authentic regional dishes such as mango pickle, dosa, Malabar parathas, biryani, Thrissur-style fish, and banana fritters, as well as more widely known Indian recipes that are loved around the world, such as chai, butter chicken, and poori. You’ll even find traditional vegetarian dishes that are served at the Onam sadya, the annual harvest festival.

Handy sections on ingredients and equipment as well as basic how-tos teach home cooks how to navigate the cuisine with confidence. Moreover, the book offers a list of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian recipes, making it an ideal reference for those with special dietary requirements. Coconut Lagoon is a delicious tribute to family, food, and home, Kerala style.