Loading ...Tabkha: Recipes from Under the Rubble
By: Lama Obeid / Arab America Contributing Writer
In recent years, more Palestinian cookbooks have been written and published in English, sharing the richness of the cuisine with the world. Mona Zahed, from Gaza, has made the latest addition to this collection with her debut cookbook Tabkha: Recipes from Under the Rubble, featuring 20 recipes from Palestine. The book was published by Slingshot Books on behalf of Coffees for Gaza.
The title is quite literal, as Zahed wrote this cookbook during the genocide in Gaza while she was displaced from her home and living in a tent with her husband and four children. While writing the recipes for Tabkha, she was also cooking meals for her own family in a makeshift kitchen, using whatever she could from the limited canned food available.
Before the genocide in Gaza, Zahed ran a home-based food catering business called Rosemary, using her own recipes to make Palestinian delicacies such as Dawali (stuffed grape leaves) and Mahwi (savory pastries). These are among the recipes she shares in Tabkha, as her business came to a complete halt after October 7, causing her to lose her source of income. With her husband’s pharmacy reduced to rubble and her family displaced eight times already, Zahed faced immense uncertainty and worry for their future.
Zahed initially turned to crowdfunding, as thousands in Gaza did when their livelihoods were destroyed. She later connected online with Akko, a Japanese chef who suggested she compile her recipes into a booklet that could be marketed and sold to raise funds. With the help of her sister and brother-in-law, Zahed translated 15 recipes into English, and Akko sold the booklets in Japan and Germany.
Coffees for Gaza, an initiative that helps raise funds for families in Gaza by asking people to donate the price of a cup of coffee, suggested that Zahed expand the recipe booklet into a full cookbook, which they would publish with Slingshot Books. Zahed gladly accepted the idea, adding more recipes along with a section on culture and food in Palestine. She included a variety of recipes that are suitable for vegetarians, as well as a few that are vegan, as she wanted everyone to be able to enjoy the dishes in her book.
Twenty-one artists contributed to Tabkha, illustrating each recipe with vibrant and creative artwork.
Zahed encapsulates the spirit of steadfast Palestinian women who refuse to give up, continuing to resist by creating something beautiful amidst the rubble and dust. Their resilience shines brightly, offering hope to the Palestinian cause.
You can order Mona Zahed’s book Tabkha: Recipes from Under the Rubble from Coffees for Gaza here.
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