Chef Dishes Up International Plant-Based Jewish Cuisine in New Cookbook
Passover without brisket? Matzo ball soup without chicken broth? Bagels without lox? In NOSH: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine (The Collective Book Studio/distributed by Simon and Schuster; ISBN: 978-1685559151; Hardcover), author, chef and dietitian Micah Siva (with a foreword by Adeena Sussman) brings her love for cooking, her commitment to a plant-based, health-supportive way of eating, and her devotion to her Jewish heritage together in a collection of delicious recipes.
Siva’s favorite place as a little girl was in the kitchen with her grandmother, who taught her that family is built by peering through the oven door, watching over a pot of chicken soup, and sitting around the dinner table. Though she cherishes memories of stewing chickens and roasting brisket, Siva’s food ethos and preferences have shifted from the Eastern European “meat and potatoes” staples. Today, she has an avid social media following for creating appealing recipes that rethink Jewish cuisine as healthy for the body, soul, and planet while reinforcing a sense of tradition, comfort, and community.
In NOSH, Siva offers more than 80 plant-forward recipes — divided into sections spanning every course of the meal and occasion. The recipes reflect the culinary influences of the diversity of places where Jewish food has its roots — Africa, India, the Middle East, and Western as well as Eastern Europe — and are all accompanied by mouth-watering photographs and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. Throughout, Siva offers gentle suggestions for going vegetarian or vegan while welcoming omnivores and flexitarians to the table without guilt.
The book includes a food glossary, from Amba to Zhoug; sample holiday and everyday menus; plant-based substitutions for dairy items and eggs; gluten-free and Passover-friendly options; recipes for pantry and fridge essentials, from Simple Applesauce to Sauerkraut, Tahini Sauce to Everything Bagel Spice; fascinating historical and cultural tidbits, helpful hints and ample encouragement throughout. Siva will be doing food demos and book events in Brooklyn, NY a book launch event at GERTIE in Brooklyn on March 5.
Micah Siva is a trained chef, registered dietitian, recipe writer, and food photographer specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. After graduating from the Natural Gourmet Institute of Health & Culinary Arts, she pursued a career in nutrition. She later worked for global brands, media outlets, and publications in food media. She shares Jewish-inspired, plant-forward recipes through her blog, Nosh with Micah. She lives in San Francisco, California, with her husband, Joshua Siva, their newborn baby, and their mini Sheepadoodle, Buckwheat. She and her husband are the coauthors of 1, 2, 3, Nosh With Me, an illustrated children’s book about Jewish foods and their meanings.
NOSH: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine is available from Amazon.com