I travelled east to Thailand, and on to Japan, where the katsu curry bears little resemblance to anything I’ve eaten anywhere else.

Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden and crisp on the bottom (test this by sliding a palette knife under the pancake; if it lifts away easily, it’s ready). Boasting a wide range of dishes from India to Thailand to Japan and a host of other countries, this is a celebration of Asian cuisine like no other. Just before serving, grind the remaining tablespoon of sugar, the pistachios and the edible flowers as finely as you can, using a mortar and pestle or an electric spice grinder.

Tuck that end of parchment over that edge of the cake and begin to loosely roll the sponge from one short end to the other, rolling the baking parchment with it. I like to use soba noodles made from buckwheat and wheat, as they are easier to handle, but you could use 100% buckwheat soba if you prefer. And with 120 recipes crammed inside, Meera introduces you to dishes from every corner of the East and South Asia whilst placing vegetables at the heart of them all.

To finish, there’s a chapter of luscious puddings like salted peanut and jaggery kulfi alongside carrot halwa and pistachio cake. Often referred to as BIR (British Indian Restaurant) style cooking, more and more people are discovering that this style of cooking is easy to replicate at home, providing both enjoyment and saving lots of money.Whether you are vegetarian, want to eat more vegetables or just want to make great, modern Indian food, this is the book for you. Beautifully produced and bursting with colour and vitality, Meera Sodha’s collection of vegan recipes from the East is the must have cookbook of the summer. A couple more spoonfuls and it’s 2015, I’m in Mumbai, it’s 2am and my husband Hugh has just arrived. If you enjoy vegan cooking, you might also want to read my review of Merchant Gourmet’s Plant-Based Cookbook. To serve, divide the wontons between the plates, drizzle some sauce over each portion, then scatter over some celery leaves.