Silver Digest June/July 2020

Page 42

LEISURE

THE BEGINNING: INDIAN RECIPES FROM MY HOME

A new cookbook by creative entrepreneur and Instagram food personality Naqiyah Mayat brings together local Indian culture and food memories in 240 pages of Indian family cooking at its best.

T

he narrative of South

later the shared experiences of

understanding and an overlap of

Africa’s Indian cuisine is

cooking for my children.”

food and culture, there are vast

set to get spiced up with

As a self-styled food

differences when it comes to

the release of Naqiyah Mayat’s new

personality, entrepreneur and

spices and methods of cooking,”

cookbook, The Beginning: Indian

mother of four, Naqiyah has

Naqiyah explains. “Growing up, my

Recipes from my Home, a glorious

taken the vivid memories from

mum used dry masala spice; but

walk through the modern kitchens

her Hindu upbringing and

Mohamed was raised on freshly

of South African Indian culture –

interwoven them with the fabric of

ground wet masala. So, when we

combining the spices, memories

her husband’s Muslim faith. The

got married, I discovered a way that

and traditions of both Hindu and

result: a tapestry of over 80 recipes

we could meet in the middle.”

Muslim kitchens.

that reflect a convergence of the

“For me, food has a magical

Naqiyah is an avid strategiser

two rich and diverse cultures.

when it comes to food – spending

way to connect and unify us. It’s

Mutton dhal gohst, red masala

at least 45 minutes each Sunday

the invisible thread that connects

chicken, crab curry, parata, roti,

morning planning a week’s worth

us all,” says Naqiyah. “From the

samoosas and masala tea are just

of meals and listing grocery

start, I wanted to publish a book

some of the delights to be found

items that need to be purchased

that harnessed the power of my

between the covers of this culinary

alongside it. Her book also gives

food memories – from growing up

treasure trove.

practical advice on meal planning

in a Hindu household, to the new

“Although my husband and

for your family, and special

discoveries that I had made when I

I come from a central point of

occasions: from menus and pre-

married into a Muslim family; and

‘being Indian’ and there is an

planning to tablescapes and décor.

42

SILVER DIGEST // WINTER 2020


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