9 Children’s Books All About South Asian Cuisine

I love a few things in this world and two of my big loves are books and food! We celebrated Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights this week at our library with a storytime, craft, vendors, dancers, and singers – it was a beautiful celebration. And, I must admit, my favorite part is eating delicious Indian cuisine – samosas, snacks, and sweets are so delicious! A few of my colleagues, who celebrate Diwali also brought in even more snacks which made this week exceptionally tasty! Today’s book list, 9 children’s books all about South Asian cuisine, was inspired by these flavors – full of flavor and spice!

This book list took a little more research than others as I tried to make sure that the authors or illustrators are of South Asian descent (for the most part) or that I was highlighting the cuisine in the right way. I originally focused this list on specifically Indian cuisine, but like many foods, it spans much of South Asia as different cultures and countries, families, and friends bring their own backgrounds to the recipes. I think South Asian cuisine just might be on the menu tonight, my mouth is watering!

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9 Children’s Books All About South Asian Cuisine

The ABCs of Indian Cuisine by Zai Tayebaly

From Aloo Gobi to Zeera, this alphabet book delights its readers and encourages children to explore new and yummy flavors by learning about the rich culinary traditions of India.

Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

Anni’s on a mission to YUM!

The café across the street from Anni’s home in Little India makes the best biryani in the world. Fluffy and fragrant, spicy and succulent―Anni could eat it every day. In fact, Anni loves that biryani so much that she’s determined to uncover the secret to the recipe. She has so many questions for Uncle, the grumpy chef and owner of the café. But he isn’t providing any easy clues. So, with some careful planning, Anni sets out on a mission to find out the secret ingredients to this most special dish. Will Anni get the answers she’s looking for…before it’s too late?

Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed

Six-year-old Bilal is excited to help his dad make his favorite food of all-time: daal! The slow-cooked lentil dish from South Asia requires lots of ingredients and a whole lot of waiting. Bilal wants to introduce his friends to daal. They’ve never tried it! As the day goes on, the daal continues to simmer, and more kids join Bilal and his family, waiting to try the tasty dish. And as time passes, Bilal begins to wonder: Will his friends like it as much as he does?

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia, illustrated by Ken Min

Aneel’s grandparents have come to stay, all the way from India. Aneel loves the sweet smell of his grandmother’s incense, and his grandfather, Dada-ji, tells the world’s best stories. When he was a boy, adventurous, energetic Dada-ji had the power of a tiger. Hunh-ji! Yes, sir! He could shake mangoes off trees and wrangle wild cobras. And what gave him his power? Fluffy-puffy hot, hot roti, with a bit of tongue-burning mango pickle. Does Dada-ji still have the power? Aneel wants to find out but first, he has to figure out how to whip up a batch of hot, hot roti Overflowing with family, food, and a tall stack of fun, Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji is sure to warm the heart and tickle the tummy. Hunh-ji! Yes, sir!

Kalamata’s Kitchen by Sarah Thomas, illustrated by Jo Kosmides Edwards

Grown-ups never seemed to notice, but Kalamata’s kitchen table was magical. Under her table, she and Al Dente could transport themselves anywhere….

Tomorrow is Kalamata’s first day at a new school, and she’s nervous! What if the kids aren’t friendly? Or worse, what if they don’t like alligators!? If only Kalamata and Al Dente could go to back to the Indian spice market they visited this summer, then maybe she’d remember how to feel brave when new experiences seem scary.

Luckily for Kalamata, all the magic required for her journey is right in her own kitchen! As Kalamata and her alligator friend, Al Dente, transport themselves to a magical land filled with tasty ingredients, she realizes being brave is exciting! And most importantly, she learns that when we’re nervous about trying new things, food can comfort us and remind us to stay curious, courageous, and compassionate.

Masala Chai, Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Neha Rawat

Aarav loves his grandfather very much, but they’re as different as water and molasses. Where Aarav runs and races, Thatha likes to saunter and stroll. Every day at five o’clock, Thatha makes masala chai for the family, and no matter how much Aarav urges him to hurry, Thatha insists on taking his time. “Masala chai cannot be rushed,” says Thatha. “It must be made carefully.” One day, when Thatha sprains his ankle and must rest on the couch, Aarav eagerly decides he’d like to make the chai himself—after all, what would make his grandfather feel better than a cup of warm, spiced sweetness? But no matter how hard Aarav tries, his rushing causes him to miss some crucial step. Will Aarav be able to slow down and get the recipe right? With charming illustrations by Neha Rawat that are as enticing as the aroma of spiced tea, author Rajani LaRocca invites readers in for a visit with Aarav and his family—and shares her favorite masala chai recipe at the end.

Priya Dream of Marigolds and Masala by Meena Patel

Priya lives in the United States and her family is from India. She feels the magic of the place her family comes from through her Babi Ba’s colorful descriptions of India–from the warm smell of spices to the swish-swish sound of a rustling sari. Together, Priya and Babi Ba make their heritage live on through the traditions that they infuse into their everyday lives.

Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Neela loves cooking with her amma and writing down the recipes in her notebook. It makes her feel closer to her paati who lives far away in India. On Saturdays, Neela and Amma go to the green market and today they are buying tomatoes to make Paati’s famous sauce. But first, Neela needs to learn about all the different kinds of tomatoes they can pick from. And as Neela and Amma cook together, they find a way for Paati to share in both the love and the flavors of the day.

A Very Asian Guide to Indian Food by Julie Ajinkya, illustrated by Aditi Kakade Beaufrand

Learn all about the different combinations of chaat or how to eat with your hands! A Very Asian Guide to Indian Food is a delightful introduction to the world of Indian cuisine for little readers. Each page is an exploration of classic and modern dishes and is packed with engaging and easy-to-understand facts about Indian food culture and history. With vibrant illustrations and Hindi characters alongside English pronunciations, this picture book is a guide for little readers that will leave them hungry and curious to learn more.