Cookbook Author Shares Aunty Pinky's Fish and Rice Recipe

A special fish and rice recipe that delighted dinner guests in a Durban hillside home is now spreading joy in kitchens around the world.

Fehmz, author of "Damn Good Food," recently shared Aunty Pinky's fish and rice recipe, a dish she remembers from childhood visits to family friends in Westville. The recipe comes from Pinky Vawda, whose daughter Ashenka later shared the family favorite with Fehmz.

The memory stayed with Fehmz for years. She recalls visiting the Vawda home as a child, where Uncle Yagen owned a cosmetics store and nightclub, and their house featured a saltwater pool and playroom that seemed like paradise to young visitors.

But it was Aunty Pinky's cooking that left the deepest impression. Her fish breyani became legendary among those lucky enough to taste it, combining fragrant spices with tender fish and perfectly cooked basmati rice.

The recipe layers baked fish with seasoned rice, fried potatoes, and fresh coriander. It calls for warming spices like cinnamon, cumin, and fennel, plus ghee for richness and fresh lemon for brightness.

Thanks to Fehmz's cookbook and social media following, the recipe has traveled far beyond that hillside home. Now anyone can recreate Aunty Pinky's signature dish in their own kitchen, bringing the flavors of Durban hospitality to dinner tables everywhere.

The Ripple Effect

This recipe represents more than just good food. It shows how generosity multiplies when people share what they love. Ashenka shared her mother's recipe with Fehmz, who shared it in her book, and now countless families can create their own memories around this dish.

Home cooks are already adding their own touches while honoring the original, creating new stories to pass down. The recipe connects generations and cultures through the universal language of a lovingly prepared meal.

One childhood memory of exceptional hospitality has become an invitation for thousands to experience that same warmth.