Sahten: The SkatePal Cookbook

Skateboarding and Palestine may not be an immediate connection for many people, but food ties them together. As this book points out, "Being a physically demanding sport, skateboarders are known for big appetites to keep up their energy levels."

Originally published in 2020, and reissued now, Sahten benefits SkatePal, a UK-based organization which encourages skateboarding as a recreational outlet in Palestine, a country where nearly half the people are under 18.
 
Sahten's title is taken from a common injunction at the start of a meal, literally meaning "two healths," as a wish for a bounty thereof. It's a poignant thought, given the current state of things.

Abundantly illustrated with photos of cooks and markets, skaters, skateparks, and even skateboard artisans, Sahten includes traditional recipes for the likes of shakshuka and falafel, as well as the festive and dramatic chicken dish known as maqlubah, in which huge pots are flipped upside down. There are a few skater innovations as well, such as a help seed tabboula, for when you've rolled your ankle for the fifth time this week.

Recipe contributors include local cooks and restaurateurs, skaters from many countries who are part of SkatePal's efforts, and members of the Palestinian diaspora, including Sami Tamimi.

Vivid and inviting, with an appealing sense of humor and humanity.

Hardcover. Color photographs throughout.