Bahari: Recipes From an Omani Kitchen and Beyond

by Dina Macki

WINNER OF THE JANE GRIGSON TRUST AWARD 2023

ONE OF THE EVENING STANDARDS BEST COOKBOOKS OF 2024

With honesty and curiosity, British-born Omani-Zanzibari chef Dina Macki explores the unique foodscape of Oman, in the first Omani cookbook to be written by an Omani chef.

Bahari, meaning "ocean" in Swahili, is a culinary exploration of the rich flavours and history of Omani cuisine, a food culture shaped by boundless coastlines and complex maritime history, with origins and influences spanning Pakistan, Iran, India, the Swahili coast, and Portugal.

In this distinctive cookbook, Dina Macki travels across Oman and Zanzibar, unearthing regional delicacies and recreating the food of her heritage. With more than 90 recipes for meat, fish, and vegetables, homemade breads and dips, desserts and drinks, Macki invites us into her kitchen, showing us how to create exquisite Omani dishes at home. Tapping into the stories behind the recipes and ingredients, Macki brings a fresh perspective in nuanced essays and identity exploring how food connects us to our past and our communities.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food

466 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2024

Reviews

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recipes are wonderful and full of flavour, but what really made me fall in love with this book further were the stories behind each, and Dina's beautiful introduction to Oman, its rich history and its culture. I really connected with this cookbook and read the whole thing like it was a novel! Excited to work my way through all the recipes.

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا]

So... this book brought tears to my eyes... it's so warm, sunny, nostalgic, and full of that sense of searching for our home and origins. It's delicious not just in food but with the story of every part of Oman and Zanzibar.