Necessary Ingredients for a Good Cookery Book

A good cookery book is much more than a compilation of recipes people would like to try out and taste. Writing a cookery book calls for precision, vision, creativity, great food pictures and knowing the kitchen inside out. This week we shall tell you all you need to know about writing a great cookery book

Theme

Before compiling recipes a writer should zero in on the theme of the cookery book. It could be recipes to suit any occasion (or festival) or kind of food (Chinese, Mexican, Continental, Indian etc). Before you begin be sure of what exactly you would want to pen, find a theme and a strong reason to write the book. For instance the book Nigella Bites: From Family Meals To Elegant Dinners, Easy, Delectable Recipes For Any Occasion talks about making quick yet immoderate recipes, whereas Bake : From Cookies To Casseroles, Fresh From The Oven by Rachel Allen covers almost all the possible recipes you could whip up with baking as a technique.

Accuracy

Once the theme and vision is decided upon, you should begin writing the recipes you have compiled. To avoid overlapping have recipes that are as diverse in terms of technique, ingredients, textures and tastes. While you write down the recipes the measurements should be as precise as possible. Pay attention to detail for instance indicate whether to cook a recipe covered or not or when to turn off the gas. Have a style sheet in place. For e.g., ensure that all across bread crumbs are spelt the right way and not as breadcrumbs. Also check for dangling ingredients (ingredients that tell readers to prepare something and set it aside) is all added to the final product.

More than just recipes

Agreed recipe books are about food, but additional information, trivia, little hints about serving, garnishing, setting up the table is always welcome. To illustrate, Rude Food: The Collected Food Writings Of Vir Sanghvi is a fabulous collection of Sanghvi's essays on food and drink. The book talks of breakfast rituals to desserts, airlines khana to what film stars love to gorge on. Full of culinary secrets and gastronomic tips, the book shares with its readers the key to the perfect the Italian pizza, the easiest way to make risotto, what the nation's fast food of choice is, the truth about your cooking oil, and so much more. Similarly, the book Indian Flavors by food consultant Marut Sikka talks about getting the delicate flavours of Indian foods right. It has many tips on how to get the recipes right.

Pictures

Visuals are a very important part of a good recipe book. From ideas on presenting the recipe to laying it out well to what goes with the dish, pictures should say it all. Around The World In 80 Plates by Rashmi Uday Singh is one such masterpiece. The beautiful illustrations in the book make this one a priced possession.

General Tips

• ·         While writing down the recipes, make sure that all the ingredients should be listed in order of use. Also mention if they should be chopped, minced, melted, before adding to the dish.
   
• ·         Include accurate package sizes and also provide the pan sizes required for going about every recipe.
   
• ·         While short listing recipes chances are that you will end up with a compilation of lots of identical recipes. Refrain from including too many similar recipes and use as many diverse textures and ingredients as possible.
   
• ·         Decide on the chapter headings well in advance – For eg, Appetizers, Soups, Main Course, Vegetables and Sides, Cookies and Squares, Pies and Desserts, etc.

Any author who follows these essential guidelines while writing a cookery book is sure to taste success.