It's not often that the word incandescent is used to describe a cookbook, but one look through JoyFull will reveal why it's the perfect description for this one. JoyFull: Cook Effortlessly, Eat Freely, Live Radiantly, the debut by self-taught cook and nutritionist Radhi Devlukia-Shetty, reflects the effervescent personality of its author while delivering more than 125 delicious and nourishing plant-based recipes.
"What you eat--along with your daily habits and the thoughts you think--has the ability to completely transform every aspect of your health," Devlukia-Shetty writes. JoyFull is her love letter to these Ayurvedic principles. Each recipe is chosen to promote mindful and harmonious practices around food. Devlukia-Shetty also generously shares her own self-care routines for wellness.
The chapters in JoyFull are organized to promote a lifestyle that "honors and supports the 24-hour cycle of our bodies," starting with lighter morning meals; followed by heavier midday meals; and, finally, dishes near the end of the cookbook to "suit a body preparing for rest." The recipes--for main dishes, snacks, drinks, and sweet treats--are simultaneously nuanced, playful, and comforting. Tempting options include an Iced Matcha Tahini Latte, Chai Oatmeal, One-Pot Lemony Spaghetti, and Baklava Cheesecake.
Pulling from her Indian heritage, Devlukia-Shetty includes recipes that have been passed down through her family as well as those from places she's traveled to, making this a truly personal collection. Vibrant, beautiful photographs of family and food fill this cookbook and add to the immersive, evocative experience. --Grace Rajendran, freelance reviewer