Sharjah:UK-based cook and author Kausar Raja brought a taste of Pakistani cuisine to the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026), preparing crispy chicken pakoras with green chutney during a live demonstration at Cookery Corner.
According to Sharjah 24, Raja, known online as KausCooks, explained the tradition behind her choice of dish, noting that pakoras are typically made with vegetables but are also popular with chicken in Pakistan, especially during Ramadan. During her demonstration, Raja combined bite-sized chicken pieces with onions, fresh coriander, green chilies, ginger, and garlic, coating them in a batter of chickpea flour, cornflour, and various aromatic spices before frying them to a golden crisp.
Raja's recipes draw on the food she grew up eating, adapting familiar South Asian flavors into accessible meals for home cooks. Her debut cookbook, "Spice Tonight Easy Meals with a South Asian Twist," features a variety of recipes inspired by family cooking traditions. Expressing admiration for the event's scale and atmosphere, Raja shared her excitement about participating in SIBF for the first time.
The 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority, runs from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah, under the theme ‘Made of Stories’. It features 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, showcasing more than 1.7 million titles and includes 1,500 cultural, creative, and artistic events.