comprising numerous directions for plain wholesome cookery both oriental and English; with much miscellaneous matter answering for all general purposes of reference connected with household affairs, likely to be immediately required by families, messes, and private individuals, residing at the presidencies or outstations. By the author of "Manual Gardening for Western India".
Bombay, Printed at the "Gentleman's Gazette" Press, 1849
Early curry recipes. The rare first edition of this fascinating cookbook and domestic guide, designed for 'Families and single individuals, residing at the presidencies or the Mofussil [countryside], who may be at times particularly cast on their own resources' (Preface). Published anonymously, Riddell's Indian Domestic Economy was a popular work which ran to eight editions, the last appearing in 1877.
With early recipes for 'thickah khubab' (chicken tikka), 'quoormah' (korma) and 'paupuds' (papadams) — all now beloved staples of the British curry house. Riddell defines the eponymous dish as 'meat, fish, or vegetables being first dressed until tender, to which are added ground spices, chillies and salt, both to the meat and gravy in certain proportions; which are served up dry, or in the gravy; in fact a curry may be made of almost anything, its principal quality depending upon the spices being duly proportioned as to flavour, and the degree of warmth to be given by the chillies and ginger' (pp.304-305).
In addition to recipes, the book contains chapters on small-hold farming, the kitchen garden, and home remedies — apparent cures for baldness include a 'pomatum of hog's lard' blended with 'tincture of cantharidis' (a powerful aphrodisiac) to be applied generously to the head, two 'drachms of pounded sulphate of copper' mixed with brandy, and 'half an ounce of oil of cloves or cinnamon' combined with distilled wine. A section on weights and measures includes a price guide for various commodities and products across the Indian states, as well as useful tables of conversion rates between the different currencies.
Not in the British Library. OCLC lists only four copies in institutional collections, three in North America (UCLA, UPenn, and Texas at El Paso), the other in the British Isles (University of Strathclyde).
First edition; 8vo; presentation inscription in pen to front free endpaper recto, errata leaf and half-title bound after index, new endpapers, spotting throughout particularly affecting first few ff., pp.211-214 tears repaired, paper toned; contemporary half diced roan rebacked preserving original gilt spine, marbled boards, corners and edges worn; xxiv, [4], 506 pp.
Bitting p.567; Simon BG 876; cf.Cagle 1101 & 1102 (third & fourth editions).
With early recipes for 'thickah khubab' (chicken tikka), 'quoormah' (korma) and 'paupuds' (papadams) — all now beloved staples of the British curry house. Riddell defines the eponymous dish as 'meat, fish, or vegetables being first dressed until tender, to which are added ground spices, chillies and salt, both to the meat and gravy in certain proportions; which are served up dry, or in the gravy; in fact a curry may be made of almost anything, its principal quality depending upon the spices being duly proportioned as to flavour, and the degree of warmth to be given by the chillies and ginger' (pp.304-305).
In addition to recipes, the book contains chapters on small-hold farming, the kitchen garden, and home remedies — apparent cures for baldness include a 'pomatum of hog's lard' blended with 'tincture of cantharidis' (a powerful aphrodisiac) to be applied generously to the head, two 'drachms of pounded sulphate of copper' mixed with brandy, and 'half an ounce of oil of cloves or cinnamon' combined with distilled wine. A section on weights and measures includes a price guide for various commodities and products across the Indian states, as well as useful tables of conversion rates between the different currencies.
Not in the British Library. OCLC lists only four copies in institutional collections, three in North America (UCLA, UPenn, and Texas at El Paso), the other in the British Isles (University of Strathclyde).
First edition; 8vo; presentation inscription in pen to front free endpaper recto, errata leaf and half-title bound after index, new endpapers, spotting throughout particularly affecting first few ff., pp.211-214 tears repaired, paper toned; contemporary half diced roan rebacked preserving original gilt spine, marbled boards, corners and edges worn; xxiv, [4], 506 pp.
Bitting p.567; Simon BG 876; cf.Cagle 1101 & 1102 (third & fourth editions).
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