The Spice Collector’s Cookbook: Collected Family Recipes from Gujarat to Genoa

Looking for super easy, crowd-pleasing recipes with flavour influences from around the world? Vina Patel’s favourite hobby is travelling to find her family’s next favourite dish, and in this book she shares her best 80 tried-and-tested recipes from her adventures.

The Spice Collector’s Cookbook compiles 80 original recipes from around the world, perfected by the author as she adds her native Indian flavour, flair and perfectionism. This is the cookbook to break you out of your usual cooking habits and introduce you to bold new flavours and ideas. There are authentic regional recipes, and fusion concoctions that break all the rules - all in the name of flavour!

Traveling is Vina Patel’s favourite hobby. She has been fortunate enough to discover over 34 countries - and counting! - and she loves trying new, authentic cuisines in every place. If her family end up liking something, she’ll come home, master the recipe, but make it healthier, easier, and faster to make while retaining its delicious, unique taste. While embarking on this personal culinary journey that spans many, many years, Vina not only realized the true essence of her own (traditionally Gujarati) cooking skills, but she discovered and perfected cuisines from all over the globe. This cookbook brings together those lessons.

• From Mexico try Shrimp Tacos, Salmon with Chipotle Sauce or Indian-Style Fusion Pinto Beans
• From India enjoy Gujarati Wedding Dahl, Jewelled Eggplant Chaat or Quick Butter Paneer
• Inspired by Italy, whip up The One and Only Creamy Pasta Sauce, Shaved Zucchini Pasta with Pine Nuts or Lemon Butter Sauce
• Discover the flavours of Thailand with Papaya Salad, Basil Chicken with Chilli Garlic or fusion Green Ravioli in Green Curry

Vina Patel grew up in Gujarat, watching her grandmother and mother cook a variety of exotic and exciting vegetarian food. After moving to Northern California from India, she was dismayed by the western world’s use of processed food and frozen, pre-packaged foods. Vina was determined to bring Gujarati food to the world’s kitchens. Silicon Valley, where she lives, has a large community of Indian immigrants and Vina became somewhat of a cooking sensation in social circles and community gatherings for those craving their home cuisine. To this day, she regularly hosts Diwali celebrations, dinner parties, and cooking lessons. In 2021, she published her first Gujarati cook book, From Gujarat with Love, published by HarperCollins. This is her second cookbook.