Third Culture Cooking: Classic Recipes for a New Generation by Zaynab Issa

    • Categories: Appetizers / starters; Snacks; Indian; Gluten-free; Vegetarian; Vegan
    • Ingredients: russet potatoes; black mustard seeds; yellow onions; bird's eye chiles; garlic; curry leaves; lemon juice; turmeric; Kashmiri chile powder; chickpea flour; vegetable oil
    • Accompaniments: Green chutney
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Notes about this book

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Notes about Recipes in this book

  • Chevro chips

    • Rubyclaire29 on January 12, 2026

      Made this for a party. All my guests were raving at how unique the flavor was. Unlike any chip situation I’ve had before! The curry leaves transform! Make this for a party!

    • CookinCam on February 21, 2026

      Made as described. It was addicting and surprised my friends and family with how good it was. I added a pinch more salt and sugar. I may add additional citric acid next time.

    • aubdog on February 21, 2026

      Sooooo good. Definitely something fun to bring to parties. Will stain your fingers! Freeze extra curry leaves.

  • Coconutty corn

    • elisa_m95b99 on February 09, 2026

      This was really yummy - next time I might reduce the liquid ( or increase the corn) because it was a bit too brothy

    • CookinCam on February 21, 2026

      I was pleasantly suprised with how low effort and flavorful this was. It was a big hit at a dinner party served room temperature. I felt as though it needed a bit more salt than suggested

    • IdleExpatter on May 18, 2026

      I swear, Zaynab just doesn't miss. This is so unbelievably easy ("dump some stuff in a pot; heat") and brings huge ROI. Super tasty; the sauce gets all velvety and luscious; crazy simple to scale up. What a winner. Totally going into the rotation.

  • Coronation chicken pastries

    • rachael_18bc7s on April 24, 2026

      The chicken salad was good but it got lost in the pastry. Will make it next time to have as a sandwich or on crackers

  • Cucumber and chutney sandwiches

    • CookinCam on February 21, 2026

      Cilantro chutney was ADDICTIVE. I ended up dipping everything in it. I love a cucumber/citrus/cream cheese sandwich and this was next level. This could be amazing for a tea party. I used sourdough bread and wish I used regular white bread. Will make again! I wish I took a pic of pre-assembled sandwiches

  • Fruity fattoush

  • Gyoza with garlicky labneh and chili butter

    • lpfledderer on September 21, 2025

      This was delicious and so easy to make! Highly recommend!

    • janetjanetjanet on January 18, 2026

      The hype is real. you can use the worst dumplings bc the chili butter + labneh/yogurt combo is incredible. Used Greek yogurt, walnuts, no herbs, frozen kale. Low lift high reward. This is worth waking up with garlic breath

    • CookinCam on February 21, 2026

      I’m in heaven. There’s no words to describe how good this was. It’s a big hit in group settings! I wouldn’t have thought to bring these flavors together alongside dumplings. I used dumplings from Trader Joe’s! Labneh is worth getting over Greek yogurt

    • jazminlui on April 07, 2026

      Would use less salt in the labneh, otherwise delightful contrast of tastes and textures

    • rachael_18bc7s on April 14, 2026

      Weeknight banger

    • aubdog on May 28, 2026

      Amazing. We sometimes like to do crispy kale instead of wilted. Ana amazing and easy dish!

  • Herby, garlicky pasta salad

    • CookinCam on February 21, 2026

      Easy, made some of the recommended substitutions based on what I had on hand. I would maybe add a touch more salt, vinegar and oil. Lacked that bite from an acid the way the recipe was laid out. I would make it again.

    • rebecca_qjfvam on May 10, 2026

      Letting it meld is key. I tried it warm right away and was not impressed, but the next day it was great. I enjoyed it at room temp or rewarmed, but not cold. I wanted a lil crunch so topped mine with fried shallots. Breadcrumbs or nuts would work too though.

    • simone_lu3llo on June 03, 2026

      An easy and fresh pasta salad, but could use a few more hefty ingredients to feel more well-rounded and filling.

  • Lemony cucumber salad with salted yogurt

    • CookinCam on February 21, 2026

      I was skeptical at first, but this surprised me with how good it was. Also very very easy to whip together. I made this last minute and was a bit on the edge. However it was a big hit at the party I went to!

  • Red, hot tandoori wings

    • gootenbeez on December 17, 2025

      Made just the sauce for some precooked chicken. Absolutely delicious will be keeping this in my back pocket for sure.

  • An iconic chicken pot pie

    • meggan on May 08, 2025

      Easy and delicious

    • melanie_tszu70 on January 06, 2026

      My kids and husband devoured this, and it was easy with a fair amount of veggies.

    • simone_lu3llo on February 17, 2026

      Really good, enjoyed the addition of potatoes.

    • Chelsea_c88 on April 30, 2026

      Good flavors, I opted for white pepper and one additional garlic clove. Her note about pan heat causing the filling to thicken too quickly once you add the flour/water mix was great, because that happened to me, and adding water gradually solved it! The cheese in the filling also did an admirable job thickening. I didn’t taste any cheese per se. It was a great standard type of pot pie! My only note is the chicken felt a tad overcooked by the time i was done with the whole process. Just a teeny amount though. And to be completely fair, i think it was because i used tenders which have no forgiveness - but I dock a star (more like a half!) because she does suggest tenders.

  • Black bean smashed burgers

    • caillahess on February 17, 2026

      Very good, not too much work. Made 10 patties with a 1/4 cup measure.

    • anothersarah on May 13, 2026

      These were great. I messed up, adding the adobo sauce to the patties (read that part carefully) and they were still good, albeit with extra kick. The crispy edges from the pan fry and smash really make it “meaty”. Served with a carrot slaw salad.

  • Calabrian chili chicken with caper raita

    • Rubyclaire29 on January 12, 2026

      This recipe was amazing. I’ve made it a few times. The caper Raita is surely a keeper. Adaptable to carry over to other recipes. I added a heaping of fresh herbs on type. Fried capers would be nice too or a caped oil for finishing! Stunning and you will thank yourself!

    • carla_21dcqe on March 25, 2026

      Might be a tad salty but overall really great!

    • friendlytoast on May 14, 2026

      I really liked the chicken and cucumbers but the raita was just ok; would have preferred something closer to tzatziki, I think.

  • Cumin fried rice

    • rachael_18bc7s on April 10, 2026

      Insanely good - added lots of pickled onions and some mirin to the sauce

  • Gochujang sesame noodles

    • hirsheys on August 12, 2025

      Very easy and tasty. The basil really adds a lot - do not skip.

    • Rachel_ on December 22, 2025

      Was a bit over my spice threshold so will dial down the gochujang next time

  • Lemony, herby shrimpies

    • john_0dr7c7 on February 07, 2026

      Good, but not great. Prefer traditional scampi

  • Red curry orzotto with mushrooms and peas

    • eclairea on August 11, 2025

      This was sooooo tasty! Followed the recipe exactly, and added shrimp as optionally recommended in the head note. Topped with some cilantro leaves, additional fish sauce because I like salt and funk, and cilantro leaves and freshly squeezed lime for freshness. Will be making this again for sure!

    • Aubr3yy on March 15, 2026

      This was soooo good! I made two substitutions throughout the recipe but I regret nothing lol. My grocery store didn't carry shiitake mushrooms so I used a mushroom medley and a pack of oyster mushrooms. Next, they didn't have any red curry paste so I ended up using Patak's Mild Curry Sauce and hoped for the best. I was worried about how it was going to turn out because my orzo took ten minutes longer to cook and for the sauce to thicken up. I'm glad I stayed with it and it came together! I loved the addition of the fish sauce and the peas, this is really simple and will definitely become part of the regular rotation of foods at my house!

    • jessica_8s3n6x on June 02, 2026

      Very good but need to be careful about which paste is used for spice level.

  • Rishma's pilau

    • franchimou on April 23, 2026

      delicious, filling, comforting, and flavorful. easy but a little time consuming.

  • Roasted eggplant sandwich

    • rglo820 on February 08, 2026

      Really tasty. Had it once hot and once cold and preferred it cold. The optional pomegranate molasses really rounded out the flavor profile. Some feta or another tangy cheese would not go amiss.

    • anothersarah on May 22, 2026

      Delicious, easy, portable. Made with acorn squash and green bell peppers. Used artisan rolls instead of baguette but I think the contrasting texture of the baguette would be even better. Tried both balsamic glaze and pom molasses, preferred the tang of the latter.

  • Samosa-spiced burgers

    • rglo820 on February 08, 2026

      Incredible. The burger sauce is one of the most delicious condiments I’ve ever eaten.

  • Shenaz's chicken haleem

    • CookinCam on February 21, 2026

      Wow wow wow wow wow! I made this exactly how suggested. This was so fun to make. I brought in my family to help with the various stages. The final product was unlike anything I’ve had before. This made enough left overs I was able to give everyone their own jar to take home. The heat was spicy but a warm, flavorful, rich bite. I freezed what was left. It’s going to make an amazing dinner on a cold night. No notes, no suggestions, make as described for a party in your mouth

  • Spicy lamb and cumin noodles

    • eclairea on July 13, 2025

      Did not have papardelle, used flat Chinese egg noodles. Added peas for more colour. Not bad, needed more salt, so finish with some flaky salt for crunch! Would try again with papardelle.

    • friendlytoast on May 14, 2026

      This was super easy to make and delicious.

  • Spiced chickpea soup

    • janetjanetjanet on February 09, 2026

      Super creamy, thick, smooth and flavourful. Definitely make the chili oil if you don’t have it on hand. It brings some fat richness to the soup

  • Spiced short ribs and potatoes

    • ally_acreyc on January 15, 2026

      So good over some basmati rice. Potatoes get so tender and flavorful. Topped w lime and cilantro. Subbed jalepeno and yellow onion. Now my preferred short rib recipe.

    • aubdog on March 01, 2026

      So DAMN GOOD. I know the leftovers are going to be even better.

    • LaGa70 on April 24, 2026

      My favorite short rib recipe! It’s perfect.

  • Steak sandwich with date chutney

    • friendlytoast on May 15, 2026

      Reasonably quick enough for a weeknight meal, despite the component parts. Would also be a good make-ahead meal, just warm the onions and steak slightly before assembling (room temp would be fine). I’m looking forward to leftovers for lunch tomorrow. If your dates happen to be super dried out, simmer in the water on low in a small covered pan (as opposed to just pouring hot water and letting them sit), mashing occasionally with a fork until they are soft, then add the remaining ingredients. It only takes a few minutes, and works great when hot water alone will not do the trick. I learned this the hard way but had already mixed everything together, so I just simmered the whole thing until soft and it turned out fine that way, too. Although it was simple enough to make, you could use a purchased date-tamarind chutney to cut down on prep time a bit..

    • rebecca_qjfvam on June 04, 2026

      My chutney turned out thin. I would drain at least 1/2 the water from the dates next time, and add more back in as needed instead of tossing it all into the food processor from the jump.

  • Sungold and saffron spaghetti

    • eclairea on August 01, 2025

      Great flavours, came together quickly! Made half the recipe since I only had one pint of sungolds, but it halved nicely.

    • CookinCam on February 14, 2026

      Made exactly as written. I was surprised the flavors were so bright! When I served myself seconds I added more salt and Aleppo(red) chili flakes. It was so creamy although I have a cheese addiction I was not tempted to add cheese. Adding bit more salt and a pinch of heat sent this over the moon for me. I will be making it again!

    • rachel_q1lg6q on March 03, 2026

      Delicious and so easy! Will add more ginger next time - I only had jarred paste.

    • Potawatomus on June 12, 2026

      This is great!

  • Tandoori tacos

    • rachael_18bc7s on April 24, 2026

      These were just okay for me. I love a steak taco but likely wouldn’t come back to this recipe.

  • Thai-style crispy salmon and rice

    • rachel_q1lg6q on June 03, 2026

      Super flavorful and easy to make, especially with microwave rice. The dressing was delicious!

  • A great tuna melt

    • friendlytoast on May 14, 2026

      This recipe lives up to its name-it is a pretty great sandwich. Anyone who even sort of likes tuna melts (I’m sort on the fence about them) will likely really like this sandwich.

  • Tortellini en preserved lemon brodo

    • rachel_q1lg6q on February 03, 2026

      Delicious and simple. Although not enough broth for the tortellini

    • elisa_m95b99 on February 09, 2026

      I’ve cooked this a few times now ! It’s so yummy and pretty easy to pull together .

    • rebecca_qjfvam on May 09, 2026

      Easy and delicious I almost always have cilantro chicken mini wontons in the freezer and don’t always have tortellini, so I usually go with the wonton sub. I like adding ginger with the garlic when doing so.

  • Weeknight daal

    • molly_net027 on March 24, 2026

      Easy, flavorful and comforting. I added pepper flakes and topped with yogurt. A great weeknight meal.

  • White sauce

    • gootenbeez on December 17, 2025

      Delicious simple sauce. Would be good on just about everything.

  • Baklava granola

    • jessncanfield on April 23, 2026

      Made with almonds & pistachios. Would do the zest of at least 3 oranges next time and up the cinnamon.

    • IdleExpatter on March 07, 2026

      Quite good. The egg white definitely does make this extra crispy granola, which I enjoy. Spicing is surprisingly subtle.

  • Strawberry delight

    • anothersarah on June 07, 2026

      This was good but very, very rich. I think I would have preferred it without the cream cheese.

    • elisa_m95b99 on February 09, 2026

      I made this with peaches and it was incredible !

  • Banana cake with tahini fudge

    • IdleExpatter on February 25, 2026

      Unbelievably good. The tahini fudge sauce is so luscious, salty-sweet, beautifully well balanced; the cake is moist as can be and so tender. What a killer recipe.

    • lhaddad7 on February 02, 2026

      I probably did something wrong, but it took double the amount of time in the oven, and I was worried I’d messed it up. It is SO delicious though! I’d definitely make again.

    • simone_lu3llo on June 03, 2026

      While most of what went wrong was user error, it could have been avoided if certain parts of the recipe were more specific. Bake time took longer than recipe suggested and it still ended up sinking in the middle somehow. Taste was good, but recipe execution could have been smoother.

  • Mall cinnamon rolls

    • IdleExpatter on March 07, 2026

      These are simply exceptional. I'm always mildly disappointed by cinnamon rolls: not these ones. So soft. So flavorful. So luscious. They are the best homemade cinnamon rolls I've ever eaten, by a mile, and maybe the best cinnamon rolls I've ever eaten, period. I'm a little annoyed at myself for not getting a picture of them after they were frosted, but I guess I'll just have to make another batch...

    • janetjanetjanet on June 17, 2026

      Been looking for THE cinnamon roll recipe and this is it! I don’t need to try other recipes now thanks!

  • Date and dark chocolate cookies

    • IdleExpatter on March 07, 2026

      My new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. The dates are an inspired addition.

    • sourpatch on March 20, 2026

      Amazing. 72h dough rest is a must for the flavors to come together.

    • Rachel_ on May 03, 2026

      Used a different kind of dates because I didn’t think to check which one specifically I needed, but it all turned out good! Chilled between 5 and 6 hours. Love the depth the tahini brought.

    • melanie_tszu70 on January 26, 2026

      These were a bit too sweet for me but good

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  • ISBN 10 1419770071
  • ISBN 13 9781419770074
  • Linked ISBNs
  • Published Apr 01 2025
  • Format Hardcover
  • Page Count 272
  • Language English
  • Countries United States
  • Publisher Abrams

Publishers Text

The food that author Zaynab Issa cooks—inspired by her East African and South Asian roots, the American suburban delights she grew up eating, and her international travels—is packed with unique and flavorful riffs. The traditional foods of Zaynab’s family are reflected here—from her grandmother’s Baklava to her sister-in-law’s Biryani—as are her affectionate homages to the chain restaurants we love: Fluffy cinnamon rolls that rival Cinnabon’s, Baskin Robbins–inspired almond fudge squares, and an artichoke dip that recalls TGiF delights that will make you want to stay in. The mix of ingredients and styles, influences and techniques is spectacularly, distinctly, uniquely American: perfect for curious, modern cooks hungry for exciting food. These are bold flavors and new classics for the next generation of cooks.

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