Tarla Dalal
Cookbook author who taught India vegetarian home cooking
- Lived
- 77 yrs
- 1936 – 2013
- Works listed
- 3
- Cookbook, Magazine
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 2007
- Profile views
- 4
- 0 followers
Tarla Dalal was India’s best-selling cookbook author, a cooking teacher and television host whose more than 100 vegetarian cookbooks sold over 10 million copies. In 2007 she became the first Indian woman from the culinary field to receive the Padma Shri.
Biography
Early life
Tarla Dalal was born and raised in Pune. In 1960 she married Nalin Dalal and moved to Bombay, where she began experimenting in her kitchen and teaching friends to cook.
Cooking classes and cookbooks
In 1966 she began giving cooking classes from her home. Their popularity led to her first book, The Pleasures of Vegetarian Cooking (1974), which sold more than 1.5 million copies. She went on to write over 100 cookbooks that together sold more than 10 million copies, translated into languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Dutch and Russian — making her India’s best-selling cookbook author.
Bringing the world to Indian kitchens
Specialising in vegetarian and Gujarati cooking, she was celebrated for creating vegetarian versions of dishes from around the world and introducing pastas, bakes and Chinese and Mexican food to Indian home cooks. Her television programmes included The Tarla Dalal Show and Cook It Up With Tarla Dalal. She ran one of the largest Indian food websites, published the bi-monthly magazine Cooking & More, and started a Total Health cookbook series in 2007. Her range of ready-to-cook mixes was acquired by International Bestfoods in 2000.
Recognition and legacy
She received the Padma Shri in 2007 and the Indian Merchants’ Chamber Woman of the Year award in 2005. Her recipes were estimated to have been tried in some 120 million Indian homes. She died of a heart attack at her home in Mumbai on 6 November 2013. The biographical film Tarla (2023) starred Huma Qureshi.
Influence
Before Dalal, few Indian households had cookbooks written for their own kitchens. Her clear, tested recipes using locally available ingredients helped standardise home cooking for a generation and made her a trusted name across vegetarian households in India and the diaspora. Chefs such as Sanjeev Kapoor have credited her as a pioneer, and her website and recipe archive continue to be used widely.
Timeline
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1936
Born in Poona (Pune), Bombay Presidency
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1960
Marries Nalin Dalal and moves to Bombay
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1966
Begins teaching cooking classes from home
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1974
The Pleasures of Vegetarian Cooking
Sells more than 1.5 million copies.
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2000
Tarla Dalal Mixes acquired by International Bestfoods
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2005
Woman of the Year, Indian Merchants’ Chamber
-
2007
Padma Shri
Also launches the Total Health cookbook series.
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2013
Dies in Mumbai
6 November.
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2023
Biopic Tarla released
Starring Huma Qureshi.
-
2013
Died, aged 77
Notable works
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1974
The Pleasures of Vegetarian Cooking Cookbook
-
—
Cooking & More Magazine
Bi-monthly cooking magazine.
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—
The Tarla Dalal Show Television show
Awards and honours
-
Woman of the Year, Indian Merchants’ Chamber
2005
-
Padma Shri
2007
Did you know?
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1
She is India’s best-selling cookbook author, with over 10 million copies sold.
-
2
Her first book alone sold more than 1.5 million copies.
-
3
She was the first Indian woman from the culinary field to receive the Padma Shri.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Tarla Dalal?
Tarla Dalal was India’s best-selling cookbook author, a cooking teacher and television host whose more than 100 vegetarian cookbooks sold over 10 million copies. In 2007 she became the first Indian woman from the culinary field to receive the Padma Shri.
When did Tarla Dalal die?
Tarla Dalal died on 6 November 2013 at the age of 77.
Where is Tarla Dalal from?
Tarla Dalal was born in Poona (Pune), Bombay Presidency.
What is Tarla Dalal known for?
Tarla Dalal is best known for More than 100 best-selling vegetarian cookbooks; The Tarla Dalal Show.
What awards has Tarla Dalal received?
Notable honours include Woman of the Year, Indian Merchants’ Chamber (2005), Padma Shri (2007).
Who is Tarla Dalal married to?
Spouse: Nalin Dalal (m. 1960; died 2005).
References
- Tarla Dalal — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Tarla Dalal — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Official website. www.tarladalal.com. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Tarla Dalal (Q7686300) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Tarla Dalal.” TrackFame, last updated 27 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/tarla-dalal
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