Sami Tamimi: Boustany

There's a particular kind of magic that happens when you cook from a place of memory and longing - when a recipe isn't just instructions, but a bridge to somewhere you've been, or somewhere you've always wanted to go. Boustany is that kind of cookbook. Sami Tamimi, co-author of the beloved Ottolenghi series and a chef whose cooking has shaped how the world thinks about Middle Eastern food, turns his attention to the recipes that have shaped him: the vibrant, generous, deeply personal dishes of his Palestinian heritage.

This isn't a book about trends or fusion. It's about the food that feeds families, that marks celebrations, that carries stories across generations. From slow-simmered stews fragrant with cinnamon and allspice to bright, herb-packed salads and tender, spice-rubbed meats, every recipe here is an invitation to cook with intention, to savour the process, and to gather people around your table.

What this book brings to your kitchen:

- Recipes rooted in tradition, written for today - authentic flavours adapted for modern home cooks, with clear techniques and accessible ingredients
- A masterclass in layering flavour - learn how to build depth with spices, herbs, citrus, and time, creating dishes that taste like they've been simmering for hours (even when they haven't)
- Confidence with Middle Eastern cooking - demystify ingredients like sumac, za'atar, pomegranate molasses, and tahini, and discover how to use them beyond the obvious
- Food that brings people together - generous, shareable dishes designed for the way Kiwis love to eat: relaxed, flavourful, and made for passing around

Whether you're already a fan of Sami's work or you're just beginning to explore the bold, aromatic world of Palestinian cooking, Boustany offers something rare: recipes that feel like a gift, a story, and a delicious meal all at once. This is cooking that rewards curiosity, celebrates fresh produce, and turns an ordinary weeknight into something worth remembering.

Hardcover. Beautifully photographed. A cookbook that earns its place on your counter, not your shelf.