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Discovering Umami in Indian Cuisine is a new coffee table book curated by Chef Ajay Chopra that sheds light on a flavour that has been long present in Indian kitchens but rarely spoken about. Often described as the ‘fifth taste’, the book centers around umami and explores how this deep, savoury taste quietly supports many of India’s most loved dishes.


It gives readers an opportunity to look at their favorite Indian dishes from a new lens through curated recipes and stories. Whether it’s the rich taste of slow cooked curries or dals to everyday comfort food, it shows how ingredients and cooking techniques can come together to create a sense of depth. Instead of making umami sound like an unfamiliar concept, the book showcases that umami has always been there but was simple unnamed.


What’s interesting about the book is the fusion of culinary tradition with a modern approach to understanding taste. Chef Ajay Chopra also offers his insights regarding global dishes through an Indian perspective, showcasing how thoughtful selection and preparation methods can enhance taste.


In this exploration of taste, the book sheds light upon monosodium glutamate (MSG), which naturally has umami. MSG is shown as a flavour enhancer that amplifies the savoury notes present in ingredients just like natural glutamates that are found in mushrooms, cheese, fermented products and tomatoes. It positions MSG as a tool chefs can use for balance and depth in dishes while maintaining the integrity of traditional recipes.


The book also features inputs from renowned chefs like Shipra Khanna, Guntas Sethi, Altmash Patel, Michael Swamy, and Nooresh Kably. They each offer their own take on how umami continues to shape modern Indian cooking .


Discovering Umami in Indian Cuisine is more than a traditional cookbook that gives a visually rich exploration of flavour and a conversation about taste - one that bridges culinary heritage, experimentation, and the evolving ways we understand food today.


For more details or to obtain a copy of the coffee table book, reach out to @discovermsg.