There are the chefs of foreign food channels that shop at picturesque farmers markets for delectable fruits and vegetables; whipping them up into drool worthy creations in shiny pots and pans; dipping into one and then another ceramic bowl for this spice and that sauce.

Then, there are our homegrown Pakistani variety, the cooking oil Apas and their lesser kin; conjuring up novel curries, and filling up the intervals of sautéing and frying with household tips and some spiritual advice.

In recent months, a new entrant has entered the realm of culinary warfare.

In the midst of murder and pillaging, the Islamic State (also known as Daish or ISIS) has gone ahead and launched their very own cookbook. See the Arabic version here.

This recipe compilation is a product of the Islamic State’s Al-Zawra School, whose mission is to educate the wives and daughters and sisters of Islamic State fighters “for the battlefield of jihad.”

Look through: Al Qaeda issues advice magazine for militants

The cookbook notes the importance of being well-versed in the kitchen because the women are going to be engaged in the important task of “cooking for Allah’s soldiers”.

Of course, not every woman with jihadi cooking aspirations can make it out to Raqqa and the territories of the Islamic State, wed a fighter and set herself to the task of cooking for him. For those left behind, or for those who simply want to give a jihadi cooking a shot, the Islamic State has released its very first recipe to anyone who can access the worldwide web.

Easy to make and packed with calories, “Mushy Date Balls” are said to be a favourite of the men of Daish as they raid villages, grab hostages and burn homes.