Nistisima by Georgina Hayden

orking on a food magazine, fasting isn’t something that has ever been at the forefront of my thinking, but it is at the centre of the belief system for many religions as a demonstration of commitment to their faith. People from Orthodox faith, for example, can spend up to 200 days a year fasting – or eating in a restricted way. It is explores in her book. However, she is keen to point out, ‘This is not a religious or diet book. I am not here to tell you how to pray, how to live your life or even how to eat – this book is for everyone. Perhaps you happen to be Orthodox and are looking for recipes to try while fasting, or maybe you are adopting a plant-based diet and need inspiration. It could be that you see the recipes and stories of your relatives here and you want to feel that connection with home. Or you simply want to eat more vegetables.’ Whether you fast or not, there are so many delicious recipes to enjoy: ful medames (creamy spiced fava beans); moutzentra (lentils and rice); fatayer muhammara (smoky red pepper and walnut flatbreads); and, of course, hummus.