A Place at the Table publishes on August 11, 2020 from Clarion/HMH Books.

Welcome, readers and eaters.

While there was only room to print one recipe in the back of A Place at the Table, my co-author Saadia Faruqi and I didn’t want to disappoint potential chefs.

Scroll down to find three printable recipe cards featuring foods from the book. (Cards designed by Mary Zadroga of Steel Toe Creative.) As always, make sure an adult is supervising when you work in the kitchen.

Our middle grade story takes place at an after school cooking club. The chapters alternate between two sixth graders. We first meet Pakistani American Sara Hameed, who is *not* happy when her mom takes over the after school cooking club at Poplar Springs MS. In contrast, Elizabeth Shainmark, a Jewish and half-British girl, hopes learning to cook will help a difficult situation at home. The other kids in the class would rather make mac and cheese or strawberry jam than the South Asian food Mrs. Hammed introduces them to.

In the opening scene, the class makes a wonderful rice and potato dish, called Tahari Rice. Although I made all of the dishes in the book for research, this is one that my family has put on regular rotation.

I chew slowly, savoring the flavors … How can such simple ingredients make my tongue feel like it’s dancing with warmth and smoke? — Elizabeth, Chapter 2

Click to enlarge and print the recipe card for Tahari Rice!

Want to start simple? Khagina is as easy as it gets — scrambled eggs with potato, vegetables, and South Asian spices. Sara whips up this hearty snack for Elizabeth and her younger brother.

“If you had cilantro and cumin, you could make this even yummier,” I say, scraping the scrambled potato-egg mixture onto  plate. — Sara, Chapter 19

Click to enlarge and print the recipe card for Khagina!

It was important to me to include one Jewish recipe in A Place at the Table. When most people think of the Hanukkah, they think of latkes (which, to be honest, are delicious!) But many families celebrate this winter festival with another fried food, donuts. Jelly donuts known as sufganiyot are traditional.

The donuts in this recipe are fried in very hot oil. Adult help is a MUST for this step. In the book, Elizabeth’s grandmother, known as Bubbe, does the frying. You can follow along with me, as I make the donuts in this video!

I can’t wait for Sara to meet Bubbe. I can’t wait for her to taste my favorite Hanukkah treat, sufganiyot — Bubbe makes the jelly-filled donuts from scratch. — Elizabeth, Chapter 26

Click to enlarge and print the recipe card for Sufganiyot!