Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

Journalist

Biography

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is a prominent political and social commentator, journalist, author and an Orwell Prize and National Press Awards winner. Her most recent book, Exotic England, tells the story of a nation that has always been diverse and hybrid. A regular columnist for the i and feature writer for the Sunday Times Magazine, her new book Ladies Who Punch is out in September.

Apricots on the Nile

Collette Rossant

A deeply touching food memoir of a Jewish child’s childhood in Cairo. It is also an invaluable record of Jews in Egypt, most now gone.

Cooking with My Indian Mother-in-Law

Simon Daley

This is the food of my community, Shia Ismaili Muslims from East Africa. It is delicate and fragrant and alas passing away as younger generations are too busy to spend that much time and love making dishes that connect us to our past.

The Good Housekeeping Cookery Book

Good Housekeeping Institute

My old one from 1976 fell part. It’s a bible. The recent one contains calories. Very important as you get older.

Masala: Indian Cooking for Modern Living

Mallika Basu

Modern, simple and ( almost) healthy Indian food with great shortcuts. It looks beautiful too.

Feast: Food that Celebrates Life

Nigella Lawson

She writes so evocatively about food rituals and their importance in the lives of all humans. And most recipes are demystified.

Mamajee's Kitchen: Indian Cooking From Three Continents

Lella S. Umedaly and Muneera Spence

Leila was the mother of my dearest friends Nzeera and Muneera. She was a force of nature. She moved from South Africa to East Africa then to Canada, carrying her recipes with her.

Tender at the Bone

Ruth Reichl

A beautiful, sometimes sad, often happy tales of food and family, by the American foodie and restaurant critic

Beautiful Baking

Jane Asher

In fact, all Jane Asher’s many books on creative cakes — she was there long before the Great British Bakeoff. I used to make amazing cakes for my kids inspired by her ideas.

The Handmade Loaf

Dan Lepard

I make my own bread every week. This is the book that got me into one of life’s deepest pleasures. Pity those no carb fanatics. They know not what they miss.

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What's playing in Yasmin's kitchen?

I dance to Motown, listen to 70’s stars when I am cooking.

Listen to Yasmin's playlist