Biting Biting
by Urvashi Roe
£20
In bookshops from September 2022
Urvashi Roe was brought up in a family who loved to snack. Any news of impending visitors would prompt a flurry of activity in the kitchen.Within 30 minutes her mother and aunties would have the ‘biting biting’ prepared – a spread of vegetarian and vegan snacks made with store cupboard ingredients and leftovers.
Her family are originally from Gujarat in India, but Urvashi grew up in Tanzania in East Africa, where she lived until she was a teenager. Their family tradition of ‘biting biting’ takes its roots from classic Gujarati farsan – salty snacks served with tea or as street food – famous throughout the In- dian subcontinent.The recipes evolved to use East African ingredients like cassava, then again as the family moved to the UK.
Biting Biting is a celebration of this delicious family custom, and of the food of the Gujarati diaspo- ra in Africa and in the UK.Take a trip into the world of Gujarati-style snacking and discover savoury bitings such as Reveya (Peanut Stuffed Aubergine) and Fafra (gram flour crispbreads).There is a section of beer snacks like Masala Kaju (Chilli and Cumin spiced Cashew Nuts) or her uncles’ legendary Shak Sandwich (a vegetable curry toasted sandwich), and a full chapter of bhajiya includ- ing everything from the classic Onion Bhajiya to some crazy delicious Kenyan-style Potato Fritters.
Extremely tasty, quick and easy to prepare these snacks will set your tastebuds buzzing. Next time you have guests for tea or you need a little something that’s not quite lunch or dinner, you can simply reach for some Biting Biting inspiration.
