AS SEEN ON SATURDAY KITCHEN AND SUNDAY BRUNCH

ONE OF THE EVENING STANDARD'S 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.

Review

"A thoughtful, beautifully photographed book that will be enjoyed as much as a cover-to-cover read as a cookbook." -- Mark Diacono ― Delicious Magazine

"Well, I didn’t know that what my library sorely needed was a book on the food of Oman but, having studied and savoured Bahari, I am now the wiser and realise that my cookbook collection would be inadequate without it." -- Nigella Lawson ― Nigella.com

About the Author

Dina Macki is a chef, recipe developer, food writer, and presenter. She has garnered over 36k followers on Instagram and works with British and global brands across socials and TV to present and develop recipes, including Waitrose, Tesco's, Cuisinart, Middle East Eye, and Vita Coco. She has written for gal-dem magazine, Pit magazine, BBC Good Food magazine. She has also worked for The Anglo-Omani Society which has deepened her knowledge of Oman's history, and given her access to an incredible global network.