Keep Calm and Cook On with Julia Turshen

On Food as Conversation with Yasmin Khan

Episode Summary

Award-winning cookbook author and former human rights campaigner Yasmin Khan sits down with Julia to talk about her new book, Zaitoun, and the logistics of a career transition, the importance of rest, the way food can be an entry point to conversation, and why we have to hold onto hope.

Episode Notes

Award-winning cookbook author and former human rights campaigner Yasmin Khan sits down with Julia to talk about her new book, Zaitoun, and the logistics of a career transition, the importance of rest, the way food can be an entry point to conversation, and why we have to hold onto hope.

Yasmin's first book, The Saffron Tales, includes recipes and stories from the Persian Kitchen. It’s a very personal book as Yasmin grew up between Iran, where her mother is from, and England. The Saffron Tales won tons of awards and opened the door for her newest book, Zaitoun, which came out in the UK a few months ago and just was published in the US. Zaitoun is all about Palestinean cooking. In only a week since publication, it’s been celebrated in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post and more.

There are also answers to listeners' questions (including an answer from the wonderful baker Cheryl Day) and shoutouts to Jewish Voice for Peace and Be the Match (#TeamElise).