Ashia's Table: Family Recipes from India and beyond

by Ashia Ismail-Singer

Overview

Authentic Indian recipes that are simple and totally doable

Ashia’s Table features well-known traditional Indian dishes alongside a selection of exciting new dishes based on Indian flavors and textures, all of which can be easily made at home.

Ashia Ismail-Singer’s debut cookbook pays homage to her heritage, blending it seamlessly with a modern and authentic take on her native Indian cuisine. Her recipes aren’t just a list of ingredients and measurements: For Ashia, they are memories of childhood, food experiences that have been passed down through generations, and which connect her to her family and homeland. With chutneys and bites for grazing, light lunches, nourishing main dishes, desserts, home baking, and more, this book brings you a collection of recipes inspired by India’s rich food culture, made with ingredients that are easy to find wherever you are.

Ashia’s Table is a beautiful book to be cherished for its delicious recipes, stunning photography, and attractive design.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781623718848
Publisher:	Interlink Publishing Group, Incorporated
Publication date:	12/14/2021
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,086,678
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ashia Ismail-Singer is of Memon heritage, from the Gujarat region of India. She was raised in Malawi and the UK and now lives in New Zealand. One of four sisters, food has always played a big part in her life and she believes it is one of life’s simplest and greatest pleasures. Ashia was taught to cook by her mother, learning the traditional Indian way—without shortcuts. But she has since simplified and adapted recipes, combining influences from other countries she lived in or visited. She is a regular contributor to several food and lifestyle magazines and writes regularly for New Zealand House & Garden. Ashia lives in Auckland with her family, and works as a school nurse. Ashia’s Table is her first cookbook.

Editorial Reviews

11/15/2021

Food writer Ismail-Singer ably proves that “Indian food does not have to be complicated” in this excellent debut packed with simple yet satisfying recipes inspired by her heritage. A descendant of Memon Muslims in western India, she was born in Malawi, Africa, and later emigrated to the U.K. with her family. As a result, many of the dishes on offer—such as roast lamb with chili rub and cilantro chutney, spicy shepherd’s pie (which gives the English favorite a touch of heat with Indian chili powder), and cardamom shortbread cookies—showcase a tantalizing blend of traditions. Isamil-Singer weaves cultural context and family anecdotes (“Growing up, this was a staple on the menu” she recalls of Machi fry, one of her parents’ favorite dishes) with weeknight-friendly adaptations of Indian dishes she grew up eating, including butter chicken (“a simplified version Murgh Makhanim”), crunchy-topped potatoes and chickpeas with tamarind sauce, and burtho (a curried eggplant dip served with bread). Thanks to her straightforward instructions, even those less versed in cooking Indian cuisine will find her recipes—including those for more time-consuming dishes such as chicken biryani and gulab jamun (fried dough balls soaked in syrup)—easy to execute. The result is a heartfelt tribute and solid introduction to Indian cooking. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

A joy to cook from as well as to read, this is a great addition to any cookbook collection ... exquisite photography ... recipes are simple, filled with comfort, and easy to execute ... Fans of Indian cuisine will love the rice dishes, robust chutneys, and many vegetarian options, like pea and paneer curry and mung dhal. Ismail-Singer’s observation that home is wherever family is reflects the beauty of her recipes and her life journey.

Booklist

[A]n an excellent book for those willing to try fusion Indian cuisine.

San Francisco Book Review