The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa [Hardcover]

Starred Review. Born Ethiopian, raised Swedish, and now one of New York City's top chefs, Samuelsson (Aquavit: And the New Scandinavian Cuisine) has written an exotic yet accessible book that will hasten the coming of the African fusion cookery he envisions. His 204 recipes and 258 color photos are enriched with personal and political history; as in his many condiments and sauces, the balance is right. While he stresses the diversity and bounty of the second-largest continent, he repeatedly describes African cuisine as poor people's cooking, crafted with simple tools and necessarily emphasizing starches, vegetables and big flavors. Whether it's rosemary for Honey Bread or turmeric, ginger and cinnamon in his Vegetable Samosas, herbs and spices are always sauteed in oil or tossed in a hot dry pan, to intensify and mellow. He even proposes toasting the cinnamon for the whipped cream accompanying his Ethiopian Chocolate Rum Cake. The recipe for the cake is typical: the batter is prepared in a single bowl, mixed with a spoon, and bakes up moist and gingerbread-like, with great keeping properties. Toasting the cinnamon takes seconds and is impressive in the complexity it delivers. (Oct.)
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Samuelsson established his reputation as one of the foremost exponents of contemporary Swedish cookery through Aquavit, his celebrated New York City restaurant. Now he travels to wholly new territory by returning to the land of his birth and the glorious traditions of African cooking. From his native Ethiopia he prepares injera, the country's staple fermented flatbread. Moroccan cooking, one of Africa's most sophisticated, contributes harissa, a fiery spice paste that warms many North African dishes. Cassava stuffs shrimp for a satisfying West African meal. Samuelsson substitutes beef for lamb in South Africa's renowned bobotie but takes care to preserve the dish's curry-influenced spicing. Jerk chicken, more generally associated with Jamaica, shows how African eating traditions have spread abroad. He does not flinch at using contemporary ingredients such as arugula and Yukon Gold potatoes to make his recipes attractive. The immensity and diversity of Africa make it difficult to comprehend a continent's varied cooking styles in a single book, but Samuelsson's achievement celebrates a little-known cuisine. Mark Knoblauch
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"His remarkable history gives life to the more than 200 mouth-watering recipes that make this book as much about culture as cuisine. It's a page-turner for curious cooks." (Traditional Home Magazine, April 2007)

"...with sumptuous photographs by Gediyon Kefle that will inspire you to follow Samuelsson on his travels... his recipes are seductive amalgams, designed to lure American cooks into adding less-familiar African flavors—like those found in mango couscous, spiced with jalapeno—to their culinary vocabularies." (New York Times Book Review, December 3, 2006)

"deeply personal mix of recipes and culture from chef/restaurant owner and native African whom Gourmet named 'one of the most innovative chefs in the world.'" (USA Today, November 29, 2006)

"American cooks have explored many parts of the world in their kitches, but one continent is almost entirely missing from our repertoires—Africa (except for its Mediterranean outposts). Marcus Samuelsson may change that single-handely." (San Francisco Chronicle, November 2006)

"Original, intelligent and well-executed. [Samuelsson's] The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa represents a personal culinary odyssey...sweeping photographs of Africa's food, landscape and peoples...the result is a compelling blend of traditional recipes and a kind of personal fusion food." (Los Angeles Times, November 8, 2006)

"…deeply satisfying." (Essense, September 2006)

Born Ethiopian, raised Swedish, and now one of New York City's top chefs, Samuelsson (Aquavit: And the New Scandinavian Cuisine) has written an exotic yet accessible book that will hasten the coming of the African fusion cookery he envisions. His 204 recipes and 258 color photos are enriched with personal and political history; as in his many condiments and sauces, the balance is right. While he stresses the diversity and bounty of the second-largest continent, he repeatedly describes African cuisine as poor people's cooking, crafted with simple tools and necessarily emphasizing starches, vegetables and big flavors. Whether it's rosemary for Honey Bread or turmeric, ginger and cinnamon in his Vegetable Samosas, herbs and spices are always sauteed in oil or tossed in a hot dry pan, to intensify and mellow. He even proposes toasting the cinnamon for the whipped cream accompanying his Ethiopian Chocolate Rum Cake. The recipe for the cake is typical: the batter is prepared in a single bowl, mixed with a spoon, and bakes up moist and gingerbread-like, with great keeping properties. Toasting the cinnamon takes seconds and is impressive in the complexity it delivers. (Oct.) (Publishers Weekly, June 19, 2006)

"For as long as I can remember, I've had Africa on my mind." Award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson may be best known for his innovative take on Scandinavian cuisine at New York's Restaurant Aquavit, but his story begins thousands of miles away, in Africa. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden by adoptive parents, his life transcends national boundaries, and his individual approach to cuisine is a global yet personal one that draws freely from many ethnic and cultural influences.

In The Soul of a New Cuisine, Marcus returns to the land of his birth to explore the continent's rich diversity of cultures and cuisines through recipes and stories from his travels in Africa. Stunning color images by award-winning photographer Gediyon Kifle bring the breadth of the African experience to life, from fishermen at sunset off the coast of Zanzibar to French baguettes loaded onto a bicycle in Senegal.

Marcus shares more than 200 enticing recipes, including his own African-inspired creations and traditional dishes from all parts of Africa. You can delight in spicy stews and Barbequed Snapper from West Africa and the familiar Mediterranean flavors of dishes like Moroccan Lemon-Olive Chicken, or make your way east and south for the irresistible taste combinations of dishes such as Curried Trout with Coconut-Chili Sauce from Kenya and Apple-Squash Fritters from South Africa's Cape Malay. Using ingredients that are readily available in American markets, the recipes are doable as well as delicious.

Of course, one of the keys to authentic African cooking is the use of spice blends and rubs, which elevate simple cooking techniques to an excitingly varied and intense level. Marcus includes his favorites here, with blends that go from sweet to spicy and feature everything from hot chili peppers and peppermint leaves to sesame seeds and ginger.

As he says, Africa is "a state of mind that I hope this book will help you tap into wherever you are." By cooking with a handful of this and a pinch of that, trying new foods and enjoying old ones in a new way, and lingering over meals with family and friends, you will bring the free, relaxed spirit of African cooking to your table and discover for yourself the soul of a "new" cuisine.

"Let us break bread together and celebrate our diversity."
—Desmond Tutu, from the Foreword

"Marcus generously shares his mnandi (the Zulu word for 'delicious') recipes, travels in Africa, and insights on culture and cooking. He is also supporting children across the globe through UNICEF. Thank you!"
—Quincy Jones, film composer, activist, TV producer, and Grammy award winner

"Marcus has produced a beautiful and definitive work that stands apart. A proud example of his heritage, this book captures the soul of African cuisine."
—Alfred Portale, Co-owner and Executive Chef, Gotham Bar and Grill

"The Soul of a New Cuisine will inspire many exhilarating kitchen journeys."
—Matt Lee and Ted Lee, Contributing Editors, Travel + Leisure

"Marcus Samuelsson's exploration of the foods of Africa incites the adventurous diner to imagine what we've missed all these years: an ancient tradition that Samuelsson makes utterly contemporary, accessible, and delicious."
—Thelma Golden, director and Chief Curator, The Studio Museum in Harlem

"The Soul of a New Cuisine is a stunning and lavishly photographed snapshot of African cuisine and culture. It's a delicious journey that drives right through the soul of Africa!"
—Colin Cowie, Founder and President, Colin Cowie Lifestyle

Marcus Samuelsson is Executive Chef and Co-owner of New York's Restaurant Aquavit, AQ Café at Scandinavia House, and Riingo. The youngest chef ever to receive two three-star ratings from the New York Times, he is the star of Discovery Home Channel's Inner Chef television series and the author of Aquavit and the New Scandinavian Cuisine.
A portion of the author's royalties will be donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support UNICEF's lifesaving work for children around the world.

GEDIYON KIFLE is an award-winning photographer who specializes in editorial, food, travel, and music. His photographs have appeared in numerous books and publications, including Gourmet, Elle, Savoy, Food Arts, à la carte, The Washington Post Magazine, Vogue Australia, Homes of Color, and Marcus Samuelsson's En Smakresa: Middagstips.