Zaynab Issa
Associate Food Editor
Zaynab Issa is an associate food editor at Bon Appétit. After working on a self-published zine that formalized her family’s East-African Indian recipes, she began freelancing at Buzzfeed and contributing culturally rooted recipes and stories to Bon Appétit and Food52. She’s an avid baker and carb lover. Her approach to recipe development keeps the home cook front of mind, prioritizing ease and flexibility. Zaynab grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Baruch College with a B.A. in Journalism and Marketing. She currently lives in New York and enjoys creating video content for TikTok, scouring thrift stores for platters and purses, and exploring New York’s restaurant scene in her free time.
Black Bean Smash Burger
Our genius solution for a black bean burger that’s not at all gummy: Treat it like a smash burger, griddle until crispy, and devour with lots of chipotle mayo.
Cheesy Cornbread With Tomatoes
This highly portable cornbread filled with salty, creamy feta is an ideal companion to any BBQ, potluck, picnic, or other summertime gathering.
Lemony Pasta Salad With Crisped Capers
A bright and punchy side that’s as good enjoyed right away, after a few hours, or even chilled.
Seared Halloumi Cheese and Nectarine Salad
It’s all about the flavor and textural contrast between the salty, seared Halloumi cheese and sweet, juicy nectarines in this peak summer side.
Blistered Corn and Scallion Salad
A delightful corn salad whose components can be prepared and chilled ahead of time so that all thats left to do is assemble and enjoy.
Chaat-Style Potato Salad
Expect an explosion of flavor in this potato salad inspired by the sweet-salty Indian snack.
Cucumber Caesar With Spicy Breadcrumbs
A refreshing take on a Caesar salad, complete with a lighter dressing and a kicky crunch.
Som-Tam-Style Chicken Salad
This dish marries the key spicy-sour elements of classic Thai green papaya salad with zesty grilled chicken and the best of summer produce.
Pan-Fried Pizza With Peaches and Burrata
Forget cranking up the oven—these adorable little pizzas take only six minutes to cook on the stove.
Curried Tomato Sandwich
Sandwich your summer tomato bounty between mayo-slathered slices of fried bread sizzled in curry powder.
Any-Berry Lemon Ricotta Cake
This is our quintessential summer dessert: rich ricotta cake swirled through with jammy berries in every bite.
Sweet and Sticky Grilled Chicken
This quick-cooking grilled half chicken recipe has a tangy bbq-like glaze made from marmalade, mustard, and sherry vinegar.
5 Ways One Chef Stops Food Scraps From Turning Into Food Waste
Chef Ismail Samad shares his tips and recipes for turning scraps into sustenance.
Nutty Umami Noodles With Scallion Brown Butter and Snow Peas
Brown butter and savory oyster sauce make a flavor duo so beautiful we're wondering what took us so long to combine them.
How I Host Iftar Without Freaking Out
My tips—and my menu plan—for breaking the fast without the stress.
Saffron Milk Cake
Sponge cake takes a bath in sweet saffron-infused milk, emerges sunshine-yellow and ready to feed a crowd.
