Zahav Home: Cooking for Friends and Family

From the popular Philadelphia eatery comes this friendly, hands-on guide to preparing the restaurant's Israeli-inspired food at home.

Writing with his business partner Steve Cook, Chef Michael Solomonov offers food which tips its hat to Middle Eastern favorites and flavors as well as Ashkenazic classics. It also demonstrates familiarity with a wider range of culinary influences.

So among the recipes here you'll find the likes of:

• Both red and green shakshukas; butternut squash baba ganoush; kofte meatballs with pomegranate and sumac
• Romanian eggplant with garlic confit; matzo ball soup; potato kugel
• Avocado salad with peaches; Arabic coffee bbq chicken; cabbage cacio e pepe

The recipe selection emphasizes easy preparation for both weeknight meals and for having people over. Photo sequences help demystify seemingly ambitious tasks like spatchcocking a chicken or braiding challah. It's all part of the book's upbeat effort to encourage home cooking.

Hardcover. Color photographs throughout.