Reviewed by Gayle Williams
Zena Kamgaing’s Dinner Time invites cooks into the vibrant, “big, bold flavours” of her Nigerian‑Cameroonian heritage. The collection showcases Kamgaing’s deep affection for food and her instinctive command of flavour, offering dishes that are both accessible and richly satisfying. Her recipes are designed to welcome cooks of all experience levels, proving that simple techniques can yield exceptionally tasty results.
The book opens with a thoughtful introduction that reflects Kamgaing’s deep love of food and her guiding philosophy that “big flavour food doesn’t have to be complicated.” She follows this with a helpful glossary covering key ingredients from Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisines, along with a comprehensive list of Global Pantry Staples that equips cooks to approach her recipes with confidence.
The book is clearly structured into five chapters—Fifteen Minutes, Thirty Minutes, Forty‑Five Minutes, Sixty Minutes or More, and Sweet Treats—making it easy for cooks to choose recipes that suit their schedule. The Fifteen Minutes chapter delivers exactly what it promises: quick, flavour‑forward dishes designed for those moments when you need something satisfying in a hurry, perhaps after a long day. True to Kamgaing’s belief that “great food doesn’t have to take forever,” this section features recipes such as Creamy Tomato and Harissa Pasta, Steamed Garlic Prawns and Noodles, and Speedy Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas, each offering maximum flavour with minimal fuss.
From the Thirty Minutes chapter, readers can enjoy an appealing selection of uncomplicated yet flavour‑packed dishes, including Sticky Gochujang Sausages, Sichuan Steak Frites—featuring her use of “numbing Sichuan peppercorns”—and a fragrant one‑pan Thai Curry Salmon with Coconut Rice.
For those with a little more time, the Forty‑Five Minutes and Sixty Minutes or More chapters offer heartier, crowd‑pleasing options. Standouts include Mum’s Nigerian Chicken Stew, Saucy Pork Adobo and Gochujang Hot Honey Chicken Katsu, each designed to impress friends and family alike. These examples are merely a glimpse of what Dinner Time has to offer. Every recipe is a powerhouse of flavour, delivering vibrant, satisfying sensations for the palate.
Also noteworthy is the beautiful photography by Yuki Sugiura, which perfectly complements the recipes. Each dish is accompanied by a full‑colour photograph, and many are so enticing they set your appetite stirring before you’ve even glanced at the ingredients list. Sugiura’s keen eye for colour, texture and composition creates images that are as much a feast for the eyes as the recipes are for the palate.
And did I try any of the recipes? Absolutely. As a lifelong lover of spice, I couldn’t wait to dive in and find something that would delight my family. The two dishes I chose certainly nudged me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way.
From the Fifteen Minutes chapter, I made the Gochujang Pork Lettuce Wraps. This was a small adventure in itself, as I had never heard of gochujang—the Korean chilli paste I assumed would be difficult to track down. Imagine my surprise when I found it sitting neatly in the Asian section of my local Woolworths. True to Kamgaing’s promise, the dish came together in fifteen minutes, and I served it with extra salad and coconut rice for a complete meal. The leftover pork made a sensational jaffle the next day, proving the recipe’s versatility as well as its flavour.
From the Sixty Minutes or More chapter, I chose the One‑Pan Crispy Roast Chicken with Lemon Garlic Potatoes. While not as spicy as some of the other dishes, it was wonderfully full of flavour, with tender, juicy meat and perfectly crisp skin. I also learned how to spatchcock a chicken—something I had never attempted before. It wasn’t the most elegant effort, but it certainly didn’t affect the taste. I served the dish with extra vegetables, and it was an instant hit at the table. I’ve already marked several more recipes to try, and I can’t wait to dive back in.
This cookbook reflects Zena Kamgaing’s infectious enthusiasm for the food she creates. For anyone who loves spice or simply enjoys bold, expressive flavours, Dinner Time will be a standout addition to your collection.
Dinner Time
by Zena Kamgaing
(2026)
Bloomsbury Publishing
Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-5266-9364-8
$44.99; 224pp