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Mary Anne Mohanraj Featured in Local TV

A Feast of Serendib

Mary Anne Mohanraj did a cooking segment from her cookbook, A Feast of Serendib which was featured on local TV on August 16, 2020! You don’t want to miss out on the kale sambol recipe!

Mary Anne is a clinical associate professor in the English Department at UIC and an affiliate faculty in the Global Asian Studies Program.

From Publisher’s Weekly:

Mohanraj (Bodies in Motion), a literature professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago, introduces readers to the comforting cuisine of Sri Lanka in this illuminating collection of more than 100 recipes. Waves of immigration from China, England, the Netherlands, and Portugal influenced the unique cuisine of Sri Lanka, Mohanraj writes, as evidenced by such dishes as Chinese rolls (a take on classic egg rolls in the form of stuffed crepes that are breaded and fried); fish cutlets (a culinary cousin of Dutch bitterballen fried croquettes); and English tea sandwiches (filled here with beets, spinach, and carrots). With Sri Lanka’s proximity to India, curry figures heavily, with options for chicken, lamb, cuttlefish, or mackerel. A number of poriyal dishes, consisting of sautéed vegetables with a featured ingredient, such as asparagus or brussels sprouts, showcase a Tamil influence. Throughout, Mohanraj does a superb job of combining easily sourced ingredients with clear, instructive guidance and menu recommendations for all manner of events, including a Royal Feast for over 200 people. This is a terrific survey of an overlooked cuisine.

A Feast of Serendib is available in hardcover and Kindle editions on Amazon, and in hardcover, trade paperback, and eBook at our Serendib Kitchen Shop.