Third Culture Cooking

Third Culture Cooking is American Cooking: Delicious everyday multicultural recipes, borrowing from our parents and their parents’ homes, melding the old with the new and the familiar with the unfamiliar to create bold flavors and new classics for the next generation of cooks.

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.

Her affectionate homages to the chain restaurants we love are reflected here: fluffy cinnamon rolls that rival Cinnabon’s, Baskin Robbins–inspired almond fudge squares, and an artichoke dip that recalls TGI Fridays’ delights that will make you want to stay in.

To complete the collection, Zaynab looked to her primary inspiration, the women who’ve fed her, and meticulously recorded her favorite traditional dishes from each of them.

Beyond the recipes, Zaynab shares her tips on establishing yourself as a confident cook—one who prepares food consciously, hosts with pride, and is never without a well-stocked pantry.

The book includes sections like "Set Yourself Up for Success," which outlines Zaynab’s essential kitchen tools and ingredients, "On Food & Feelings" to guide the reader through cooking based on their mood, and "Host with the Most" featuring suggested menus and Zaynab’s method for executing any organized dinner. Finally, look to "Eating with Your Eyes" for her philosophy on serving beautiful food.

For extravagant entertaining as well as weeknight ease, Third Culture Cooking is a love letter to American home-cooking and the many influences that make it so.

Recipes include:

French Onion Ramen

Samosas Two Ways

Chocolate Cake with Chai Buttercream

Farzana’s Biryani

Thai-Style Crispy Salmon

Steak Sandwich with Date Chutney

Tandoori Tacos

Baklava Granola

Banana Cake with Tahini Fudge

Chicken Kitchri

and many more!