roti shoti n.

1. Bread etc.
2. A meal centred on roti; ordinary food eaten routinely, comprising one or more accompaniments
3. Food in general; habitual nourishment; the everyday conditions of domestic cooking
   Cf. formed by rhyming reduplication, a common feature of colloquial South Asian speech, used to generalise or soften reference

With recipes from around the world at our fingertips, have we lost some of the heart that once shaped our everyday cooking?

How to Eat with Your Hands invites readers to rediscover the joy of building a personal, everyday cuisine — one rooted not in perfection, but in memory, resourcefulness, and tradition. Drawing on the Punjabi dishes that have sustained his family across generations, Khalil Akhtar weaves together recipes, practical kitchen wisdom, and personal stories to explore the enduring connections between food, culture, and home.

A familiar voice to CBC audiences for more than twenty years, Khalil has shared his passion for food as the creator and host of The Main Ingredient, through his nationally syndicated food column, and in cooking classes that celebrate the pleasures of home cooking.

More than a cookbook or a collection of essays, How to Eat with Your Hands is a thoughtful reflection on the meals that shape us in which he encourages readers to discover the knowledge that may already be present in their own kitchens.