I’m always excited about the prospect of a new Sabrina book: her recipes are a formula for instant uplight. Her gift is to make what once would have been considered ‘exotic’ accessible. But more than that, what she brings to the page is her warmth, brio and sheer greedy enthusiasm for bright and bold flavours, and her understanding that food is there not just to excite, but also to comfort. Bazaar is her fourth book and brings all of that to the table, but this time she brings her attention, and the flavours of Persian food, to meatless cooking. As the subtitle accurately says, this is a book of “vibrant vegetarian recipes”.
I have brought for you a recipe that has been giving me succour since I got my hands on an early copy of the book, a herby rice and lentil soup, although there were so many more recipes I wanted to bring to your attention. Let me give you a quick taster: Roasted Peppers and Pomegranate Vinaigrette (and since I’ve just made this, I’m showing you a picture of it, too!); Aubergines in Tomato and Tamarind Sauce; Harissa Black Bean Ragout; Baklava Buns. This is a book that’s not going to make it out of my kitchen to my bookshelves for a good long time!
Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian and Plant-Based Recipes by Sabrina Ghayour is published by Mitchell Beazley on the 4th of April 2019. £26.00, www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Image Credit: Kris Kirkham