What do you think?
Rate this book
Ayla: A Feast of Nepali Dishes from Terai, Hills and Himalayas
Celebrate the vibrant flavours of Nepal with this unique range of recipes from The Professionals finalist, Santosh Shah.
The rich and diverse flavours of Nepal have often been overshadowed by the noise of cuisines from neighbouring countries, India and China. Popular chef and The Professionals finalist, Santosh Shah, is here to set the record straight and put Nepali cuisine firmly on the map with his first cookbook, Ayla.
Featuring 60 flavoursome recipes, home cooks can experience Nepali and Himalayan cuisine in their own kitchens, with dishes inspired by the produce of Nepal's rivers and mountains. Alongside Santosh's own stories from the country, he shares the history of certain foods, from zingy chutneys and traditional chicken momos to mouthwatering wild mushroom soup.
Whether you are a cooking novice or an advanced chef looking to experiment with new flavours, Ayla offers plenty of recipe ideas and inspiration to fill your plate. With easy-to-follow recipes, stunning imagery and Santosh's culinary wisdom, you will begin an adventure from your own kitchen. So sharpen your kitchen skills and experience a taste of Nepal.
The rich and diverse flavours of Nepal have often been overshadowed by the noise of cuisines from neighbouring countries, India and China. Popular chef and The Professionals finalist, Santosh Shah, is here to set the record straight and put Nepali cuisine firmly on the map with his first cookbook, Ayla.
Featuring 60 flavoursome recipes, home cooks can experience Nepali and Himalayan cuisine in their own kitchens, with dishes inspired by the produce of Nepal's rivers and mountains. Alongside Santosh's own stories from the country, he shares the history of certain foods, from zingy chutneys and traditional chicken momos to mouthwatering wild mushroom soup.
Whether you are a cooking novice or an advanced chef looking to experiment with new flavours, Ayla offers plenty of recipe ideas and inspiration to fill your plate. With easy-to-follow recipes, stunning imagery and Santosh's culinary wisdom, you will begin an adventure from your own kitchen. So sharpen your kitchen skills and experience a taste of Nepal.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published April 26, 2022
18 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 3, 2023
This might be more successful for others, luckily I got this from the library. I thought it was a vegetarian book but it wasn't. There were a few veggie/vegan options. I tried one, a sichwaun hot pot, I love Nepalese food and sichwaun but I really didn't enjoy what I had made, I followed the recipe carefully but it tasted quite bitter and ended up throwing some of it away which I rarely do.
It could be that other recipes work better, and this could be a good book for a meat eater but after this dish I wasn't enthused to try any others.
It could be that other recipes work better, and this could be a good book for a meat eater but after this dish I wasn't enthused to try any others.
March 8, 2023
Expertly presented. The author guides the reader on a journey through the cuisine of Nepal. Each recipe is easy to follow and substitutes for any hard-to-source ingredient are suggested. The photos alone are coffee table book worthy. I gained an understanding of a culture and cuisine of which I was unfamiliar, and the author was encouraging to the home cook reader. I look forward to exploring this cookbook more. One of the best I’ve read in 2023 so far.
April 8, 2025
I would say a unstocked pantry would have difficulty making some of these dishes, that being said. the sauce, spice, and fresh breads are a stand out to me for elevating any dish to a outstanding staple for any household.
December 31, 2023
This is the first cookbook I've had where I do want to eat all the photos! I can honestly say that my mouth was watering and I could almost smell the spices off the page. Santosh Shah says Ayla has many meanings but to him, it means celebrations and this is indeed a celebration - of Nepal, its people, culture and of course, food - all shown through beautiful photography.
There's useful explanations on ingredients and cooking techniques. Some of the ingredients lists seem daunting at first glance but actually many of the spices are ones easily found at most supermarkets and they are used in multiple recipes too. Shah mentions websites where some of the more Nepali specific ingredients can be ordered but you could also just experiment with substituting those with more commonly found ones, which is what I've been doing.
A lot of the recipes list chilli in one form or another. I like spicy food but I've toned some of these down for the family by removing the pith and seeds from chillies and it seems to have gone down well so far with the kids. Again, worth experimenting with amounts of chilli and tasting while cooking! I think this is one of the things the book's inspired me to do, just experiment more.
I'm a newbie to Nepali food and this book has been a lovely experience so far, inspiring me to try new things. Beautifully presented and genuinely mouth-watering. Really look forward to more of it!
There's useful explanations on ingredients and cooking techniques. Some of the ingredients lists seem daunting at first glance but actually many of the spices are ones easily found at most supermarkets and they are used in multiple recipes too. Shah mentions websites where some of the more Nepali specific ingredients can be ordered but you could also just experiment with substituting those with more commonly found ones, which is what I've been doing.
A lot of the recipes list chilli in one form or another. I like spicy food but I've toned some of these down for the family by removing the pith and seeds from chillies and it seems to have gone down well so far with the kids. Again, worth experimenting with amounts of chilli and tasting while cooking! I think this is one of the things the book's inspired me to do, just experiment more.
I'm a newbie to Nepali food and this book has been a lovely experience so far, inspiring me to try new things. Beautifully presented and genuinely mouth-watering. Really look forward to more of it!
August 1, 2022
This was very interesting and I learned a lot about Nepal. It seems like a lot of the recipes called for specialist ingredients.
I would be most likely to make the lentil recipes.
I would be most likely to make the lentil recipes.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews