Following the Silk Roads: Anna Ansari on Identity, Trade, and the Flavors That Connect Us

This week on Not From Concentrate, Catherine Smart talks with cookbook author and food writer Anna Ansari, whose new book, Silk Roads, explores the rich, interconnected cuisines stretching from East Asia to the Middle East.Anna’s path to food writing was anything but linear. She started as an international trade and customs attorney in New York before moving to the UK and finding her way into recipe testing, food writing, and cookbook authorship. In this conversation, she shares how her background in law, her Iranian-American identity, and her global perspective all shaped the book.Catherine and Anna unpack the idea of the “Silk Roads” — not as one single route, but as a vast network of trade, migration, and cultural exchange that still influences how we cook and eat today.They also talk about growing up between cultures, why curiosity matters more than getting it “right” when exploring new cuisines, and the unexpected entry points into Central Asian and Middle Eastern cooking. Anna shares how markets can unlock a deeper understanding of food and culture, plus the recipes to start with, including a simple, crowd-pleasing Uzbek plov.For listeners interested in ADHD cooking, this episode is a reminder that unfamiliar ingredients and cuisines do not have to feel intimidating. Curiosity, repetition, and a willingness to begin imperfectly can make the kitchen feel more open, creative, and fun.This food podcast conversation also explores ADHD creativity: how a nonlinear career, cultural identity, research, travel, and everyday cooking can all become part of one creative practice.In this episode:What the Silk Roads actually are, and why the plural mattersGrowing up between cultures, and how that shows up in the kitchenWhy curiosity matters more than getting it “right” when exploring new cuisinesUnexpected entry points into Central Asian and Middle Eastern cookingHow markets can unlock a deeper understanding of food and cultureThe recipes to start with, including a simple Uzbek plovADHD cooking, ADHD creativity, and calming chaos in the kitchenWhether you’re a cookbook collector, a curious home cook, or someone who has ever felt intimidated by unfamiliar ingredients, this episode is an invitation to dig in with curiosity, playfulness, and zero pressure to be perfect.Catherinesmart.comTune in to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.Not From Concentrate team:Catherine Smart, Host/Executive ProducerKevin O’Connell, Audio and Video ProductionAllie Miller, Associate ProducerNot From Concentrate is a food podcast for busy brains from host Catherine Smart — a cook, writer, mom, and creative entrepreneur with ADHD.Tune in for conversations with chefs, authors, creators, and food lovers about sparking creativity, calming chaos, and finding joy in (and out) of the kitchen + subscribe to the Not From Concentrate newsletter on Substack