Cooking With Zainab

What kind of content does Cooking With Zainab make?

Cooking With Zainab delivers approachable, high-quality culinary inspiration across Instagram and TikTok, specializing in comforting meals and efficient kitchen hacks. Her content ranges from savory staples like crispy salmon bowls and cheesy chicken karahi to indulgent dessert treats, with a dedicated focus on practical recipes for Ramadan Iftar and suhoor. By pairing clear, step-by-step instructions with a warm and inviting aesthetic, she provides her audience with reliable solutions for both quick weeknight dinners and celebratory feasts.

Are you a brand that’s partnered with Cooking With Zainab?

Verify your partnership

Content categories

Cooking

Food

Lifestyle

Travel

Browse all creators

This juicy harissa roast leg of lamb is my idea of the perfect Easter lunch! #AD

@Sainsburys had everything I needed to pull this together, from the lamb and veg to all the little
extras that make it feel special

Ingredients:
For the lamb:
1 leg of lamb
10 garlic cloves

For the harissa marinade:
2 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp harissa paste
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander

For the glaze:
2 tbsp harissa paste
3 tbsp honey

For the roasting base:
2 large onions
2 carrots
1 garlic bulb, halved
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
A few sprigs of thyme
A few sprigs of rosemary
250ml water

For the roast potatoes:
1kg potatoes, peeled and halved
3 tbsp ghee
3 garlic cloves
2 sprigs rosemary
1 tsp salt

For the honey roasted carrots and parsnips:
8 carrots, peeled and halved
8 parsnips, peeled and halved
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp honey
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

For the gravy:
Pan juices from the roasting tray
200ml whole milk
2 tsp plain flour
1 tsp butter
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Method:
Preheat the oven to 220°C.
Using a small sharp knife, make incisions all over the lamb and stuﬀ each with a garlic clove.
In a small bowl, mix together all of the harissa marinade ingredients, then rub the marinade all
over the lamb.
Add all of the roasting base ingredients to a large roasting tray, pour in the water, then place the
lamb on top.
Turn the oven down to 150°C.
Cover the tray tightly with foil and roast for 3½ to 4 hours, or until the lamb is tender.
Mix together the harissa glaze ingredients. Remove the foil, brush the glaze generously all over
the lamb, then return it to the oven uncovered for 20 minutes, until sticky and slightly caramelised.

(Continued in comments)

15 min crispy salmon and rice bowl

Since we’re all eating our skincare, I’ve been trying to eat more oily fish

Ingredients:
4 salmon fillets
1 tsp vegetable oil
Juice of half a lemon

Spices
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cinnamon

For frying
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Sesame sriracha dressing
4 tbsp mayo
Juice of half a lemon
2 tbsp sriracha
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil

To serve
Cooked rice
Thinly sliced cucumbers
Avocado
Chives
Black sesame seeds

Method:

For the salmon:

Cut the salmon fillets into chunky bite sized pieces and pat them dry.

Add 1 tsp vegetable oil, the lemon juice and all the spices to the salmon and mix well so everything is evenly coated.

Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pan over high heat. Once hot, place the salmon skin side down. Do not overcrowd the pan as this will stop it crisping properly.

Cook without moving for about 2 minutes so the skin crisps up. When it is ready it should release easily. If you feel resistance when trying to flip it, leave it a little longer as it is still cooking.

Flip and cook for about 1 minute on the other side. Searing it quickly on both sides gives you tender, juicy salmon that still falls apart beautifully.

For the dressing:
In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, lemon juice, sriracha and toasted sesame oil until smooth.

To assemble:
Spoon rice into bowls and top with the crispy salmon, sliced cucumbers and avocado. Drizzle over the dressing and finish with chives and black sesame seeds

#easyrecipes #salmon salmonbowl

How to upgrade your halloumi at home

tips:
pat the halloumi really dry before frying or it will splutter

if the sauce gets too thick add more lemon juice, a bit more honey or a splash of water

if you need to eat it later, microwave to reheat and it gets soft again

My pan is from @josephjosephofficial

Ingredients:
3 blocks halloumi
2 tbsp vegetable oil
juice of 1 large lemon
4 tbsp honey
a pinch of chilli flakes
2 sprigs fresh thyme

Method:
Cut the halloumi along the line in the block, then halve again so you get thick pieces.
Soak in hot water for 10 minutes, drain and pat dry.
Fry in vegetable oil until golden on both sides, turn the heat down and add lemon juice, honey and chilli flakes. let it bubble for a minute, finish with fresh thyme and serve warm.

#halloumi #ramadan #ramadanrecipe #easyrecipe

a little make ahead treat for busy days during Ramadan

Keeps in the fridge all week, perfect for latenight cravings or quick suhoor when you’re half asleep.. high protein so less likely to get hangry

The little white tablets are just sweetner btw because I like it quite sweet

Ingredients:
100g chia seeds
250ml decaf coffee
4-6 tbsp honey or sweetener of choice
A big pinch of sea salt
500g skyr or 0% greek yoghurt
1 tbsp cocoa powder

mix everything, chill until thick, dust with cocoa and add fruit or granola if you fancy

#chiapudding #tiramisu #ramadan #ramadanrecipes

Who is Cooking With Zainab’s audience?

Cooking With Zainab's audience is likely comprised of individuals seeking accessible and delicious meal inspiration, particularly those interested in comfort food, quick recipes, and desserts. Their strong engagement rates on both TikTok (5.40% ER) and Instagram (4.57% ER), significantly exceeding platform benchmarks (TikTok ~3.0%, Instagram ~1.5%), indicate a highly receptive and active community. These followers are actively looking for practical cooking solutions, with a potential surge in interest around Ramadan, suggesting a high-quality audience for brands in the food, kitchenware, or lifestyle sectors.

Which creators are similar to Cooking With Zainab?

If you're looking for creators like this, you'll find inspiration for delicious, easy recipes perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.

Masarra

TikTok @simplymasarra · Instagram @simplymasarra

This creator shares recipes for a variety of dishes, often inspired by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Their content includes tutorials for main courses such as chicken wings, shawarma, and doner kebabs, as well as pasta dishes and stews. They also post recipes for desserts, smoothies, and dips. Many of the recipes are presented as being easy to make and suitable for Ramadan iftar and suhoor meals.

Adventure

Cooking

Educational

Kausar Raja

TikTok @kauscooks · Instagram @kauscooks

This creator shares recipes for a variety of dishes. Their content includes recipes for baked goods like cookies and pies, as well as main courses such as lasagne and pies. They also post recipes for snacks and appetisers, including loaded garlic bread and stuffed naans. Many of their recipes are suitable for special occasions like Ramadan and Iftar.

Cooking

Educational

Food

Danielle & Adam

Instagram @girlcooksboybakes

This creator shares recipes and cooking demonstrations, focusing on simple and accessible dishes. They often highlight one-pot meals, slow cooker recipes, and air fryer techniques. Many of their videos feature comfort food classics like ragu, chicken and rice, and jacket potatoes, as well as baked goods such as apple crumble.

Cooking

Family

Food