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Chicken tikka masala, lamb korma, and maybe a prawn curry if you're feeling adventurous – it's easy to think that your favourite takeaway dish is all there is when it comes to Indian cuisine. But with such an enormous variety of cultures, climates and ingredients across the subcontinent, there's far more to enjoy.

As well as delving into some of the delicious options out there, Mridula Baljekar‏'s new book, Regional Cooking Of India (Aquamarine, £19.99), breaks the stereotype that Indian food is unhealthy or always packed with chillies, as she explores the different cooking styles and recipes across the country.

'Brightly coloured vegetables in richly flavoured sauces; tender meat, poultry and fish; nutty-flavoured beans and lentils; and of course, an incredible array of spices epitomise an exciting cuisine that warms the body and soothes the spirit,' she says.

'Besides offering fabulous flavours Indian cooking is extremely healthy, with the emphasis being firmly on freshness. Some popular ingredients are even believed to have medicinal properties.'

The country's history means that there's a whole melting pot of influences, still affecting what goes into recipes and the way they're cooked today, with Arabs, English, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish all playing their part.

'The north continues to be dominated by Mughal cuisine, while the east has tribal and Anglo-Indian styles,' she explains. 'In the south, Syrian Jews and French traders passed on their cooking techniques, and western India came under the influence of the Portuguese and the Persians or Parsis.

'The result is a rich, colourful and multi-dimensional cuisine with a repertoire of recipes that is virtually unmatched anywhere else in the world.'

Her book looks at the way everything from local festivals to rainfall and temperature has affected the local dishes around India, as well as listing some of the essential spices, ingredients and utensils you'll need to create authentic dishes at home.

From lighter summery fish curries to noodle soups, vegetarian dishes and breads as well as more unusual beef, liver and duck curries recipes, there's something to suit every appetite.