Crowd-friendly dishes that nurture and nourish are at the core of fitness professional Zehra Allibhai's first cookbook, Bismillah, Let's Eat! Fresh and Vibrant Recipes from My Family to Yours. "Bismillah" means "I begin in the name of God" and is recited before meals by Muslims, which Allibhai notes is "similar to the practice of saying grace." The book opens with a delectable repertoire of chutneys and pickles before providing tasty mealtime options and healthy snacks galore. Allibhai's recipes joyfully merge her Indian Kenyan family's heritage with her Canadian roots to create dishes that will be comfortingly familiar to some readers and delightfully novel to others.
Allibhai's culinary focus is on the joy of eating well, and she adapts favorite recipes to fit with a healthy lifestyle and expands the depth of dishes through flavor-boosting ingredients such as ginger paste. Vivid color photographs and thoughtful cooking tips abound, including a handy meal plan for those who observe Ramadan, the month Muslims dedicate to fasting, "spiritual growth, prayer, and reflection."
Bountiful breakfast options include coffee-infused overnight oats, a satisfying potato curry with eggs, and a masala omelet. Allibhai shares creations such as butter chicken pizza and palak tofu alongside traditional recipes for dhokra (a light and savory Indian sponge cake), sauces for meat and vegetarian dishes whipped up in a blender, and treats such as "healthy-ish mango kulfi."
"Promise me you won't worry about perfection. Trust me. It's the least important part of cooking," Allibhai insists. She is an inspiring writer who will encourage readers to prepare the best fuel for their bodies and develop a healthy gratitude for their blessings. --Shahina Piyarali