It's hard to find a really good cookbook for preparing authentic classic meals from India, but after years of searching, I have finally come to the conclusion of my favorite one.
So, I'd like to recommend this book to you with a caveat, I am coming over for dinner if you plan to make any of the great dishes inside: "Flavors of India - Classic Dishes and New Discoveries" by Madhur Jaffrey; Published by Carol Southern Books, New York, NY (Division of Crown Publishing) also available from Random House and BBC Books; 1995.
This awesome cookbook has been translated into 14 languages.
And it has sold millions of copies in some 43 countries.
I believe it is one of the best cook books of Indian Cuisine I've ever read, and as a lover of authentic food from India, I own my fair share of such cook books.
First, I recommend that the cook who'll be using this book to make expert dishes learn about all the special ingredients, and you'll find no less than 20-pages of special ingredients, I use about 15 and have them in my pantry for Indian dishes.
Also, once you learn the techniques and buy a couple of pieces of kitchen equipment items, (discussed in the book) you'll be able to prepare classic dishes and with almost unlimited variations of such meals as Kerala, Goa, Punjab, Gujarat, and there are great sections inside on Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
If you are a serious chef or just a wannabe amateur like me, you'll love it.
It's awesome.