Sian’s Kitchen: Caribbean Comfort Food

British restaurateur Anderson offers up 80 bright and satisfying Caribbean dishes in her accessible and appetite-whetting debut. A chapter on 20-minute dishes perfect for weeknight meals includes curry prawns, sweet and sour chicken, and stir-fried vegetables and tofu, proving that quick preparation doesn’t have to mean skimping on flavor. Highlights from the wide array of comfort options include jerk steak, a hearty lamb stew, and spicy chicken fried rice. Traditional dishes including vegan Trinidadian Pelau, St. Lucian salt fish fritters, Jamaican curry snapper fish, and Haitian black bean soup bring a vibrant taste of the islands to any home kitchen. Drinks, such as rum punch and peanut punch, and desserts, including a burnt plantain sundae and jam tarts, will satisfy the sweet tooth. Anderson places a strong emphasis on seasoning, dedicating an entire chapter to the topic, with recipes for jerk seasoning and Jamaican green seasoning and an A–Z listing of spices. This refreshing collection of tasty recipes will appeal to a wide audience. (Aug.)