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The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook: Classic Recipes Made Easy
Learn the basics of Middle Eastern cooking with 100 simple, authentic recipes
Fresh herbs and spices, creamy yogurt, savory skewered meats, and flaky baklava—Middle Eastern cuisine is famous for its vibrant flavors. Now, you can recreate iconic dishes in your own kitchen with The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook . Packed with 100 classic recipes made simple, this complete Middle East cookbook gives you a true taste of one of the world's most influential culinary regions.
Try your hand at delectable dishes like Tabbouleh, Lebanese Chicken Fatteh, Spiced Beef Tagine, and homemade Pita Bread with Hummus. All of the ingredients in this Middle East cookbook are easily found in your neighborhood grocery store, yet they stay true to the authentic flavors and textures of each traditional meal. Let's eat!
This well-designed Middle East cookbook
Create vibrant, flavorful meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert with this beautiful Middle East cookbook.
Fresh herbs and spices, creamy yogurt, savory skewered meats, and flaky baklava—Middle Eastern cuisine is famous for its vibrant flavors. Now, you can recreate iconic dishes in your own kitchen with The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook . Packed with 100 classic recipes made simple, this complete Middle East cookbook gives you a true taste of one of the world's most influential culinary regions.
Try your hand at delectable dishes like Tabbouleh, Lebanese Chicken Fatteh, Spiced Beef Tagine, and homemade Pita Bread with Hummus. All of the ingredients in this Middle East cookbook are easily found in your neighborhood grocery store, yet they stay true to the authentic flavors and textures of each traditional meal. Let's eat!
This well-designed Middle East cookbook
Create vibrant, flavorful meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert with this beautiful Middle East cookbook.
174 pages, Paperback
Published May 19, 2020
38 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 9, 2020
I have literally no experience with Middle Eastern food. There are no Middle Eastern restaurants nearby and I've not had the privilege to befriend many people from that part of the world to be able to share food with them. That being said, I'm using this book not as a regular addition to my daily cuisine (because I don't have any of the ingredients!) but as more of a textbook to learn how to make these dishes.
I am disappointed at the lack of pictures, but this publisher rarely includes many pictures in their textbook. In this case, I'm not sure what the recipes are supposed to look like when executed correctly. You can always Google them, but when it comes to new dishes, I like to shop with my eyes.
I like the way the recipes are written with lots of notes about substitutions or alterations.
I'll be tinkering with this one.
arc received from the publisher for review
I am disappointed at the lack of pictures, but this publisher rarely includes many pictures in their textbook. In this case, I'm not sure what the recipes are supposed to look like when executed correctly. You can always Google them, but when it comes to new dishes, I like to shop with my eyes.
I like the way the recipes are written with lots of notes about substitutions or alterations.
I'll be tinkering with this one.
arc received from the publisher for review
May 15, 2020
Besides recipes, The Middle Eastern Cookbook also features a section about the different regions of the Middle East and explained the difference in cuisines which I found really interesting. I learned a lot about Middle Eastern dishes beyond hummus and baklava- most of the food in here looked delicious though it would've been nice if they'd included more pictures to give people a better idea of what some of the dishes looked like and to give me food porn to drool over.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Media publishers for providing a free ARC
*Thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Media publishers for providing a free ARC
May 31, 2020
NetGalley ARC.
I read this cookbook all the way through in one sitting. My husband and I are huge Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food fans (we had Greek meatball & cucumber subs with tzatziki and Tabbouleh for supper tonight!) and I was thrilled to find this on NetGalley a couple of weeks ago! It's just a fun coincidence that I chose to read it on a day where I was making it for supper. Obviously reading it in one sitting I have not made any of the recipes yet but I will be making some in the following weeks and I'm excited! And I already had chicken Shawarma on the menu for next week that I've been making for about a year. And my brother-in-law makes a mean Shakshuka! I've made it once as well and I'm excited to try the recipe in this cookbook! Will add to my review as I've made some of the recipes and see if this review gets bumped up to 5 stars!
I read this cookbook all the way through in one sitting. My husband and I are huge Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food fans (we had Greek meatball & cucumber subs with tzatziki and Tabbouleh for supper tonight!) and I was thrilled to find this on NetGalley a couple of weeks ago! It's just a fun coincidence that I chose to read it on a day where I was making it for supper. Obviously reading it in one sitting I have not made any of the recipes yet but I will be making some in the following weeks and I'm excited! And I already had chicken Shawarma on the menu for next week that I've been making for about a year. And my brother-in-law makes a mean Shakshuka! I've made it once as well and I'm excited to try the recipe in this cookbook! Will add to my review as I've made some of the recipes and see if this review gets bumped up to 5 stars!
May 17, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this cookbook by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
First Impressions:
Like other cookbooks published by Rockridge Press, The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook has delicious looking cover art and a handful of mouth-watering, full color images throughout the book. This does not bother me as much as I'm sure it would bother a more visual person, but definitely does make the cookbook feel a little lacking compared to others in my cookbook stash.
The recipes included all sound delicious and while many were familiar to me from experiencing food at local Mediterranean, Kebab and Shwarma restaurants, there were quite a few new to me recipes and techniques. It seemed to have a well rounded offering of recipes for meat eaters and vegetarians alike.
The Read Through:
The first chapter of this cookbook, like others from this publisher, includes a section that gives an overview of the region of the world from which the recipes are pulled, including a breakdown of which spices, herbs and primary ingredients are popularly used in dishes from that region. It is a fascinating glimpse into other cultures and very helpful in explaining less familiar ingredients in a very accessible way.
The recipes are grouped based on type of item, spreads and snacks, sides and salads, soups and stews, breakfasts, main courses, desserts, and then sauces and spice blends. The flow is very nice. The recipes are well written and easy to follow.
The Test Drive:
We made a few recipes from the cookbook to test everything out - 5 stars for clarity in instruction and for amazing taste! Our favorites included falafel, the Roasted Red pepper dip, and the Middle Eastern Carrot salad. All of the recipes were easy to follow, measurements were clear, and the estimated prep and cook times were pretty spot on.
The final verdict: 5 stars and I would definitely recommend this cookbook to anyone looking to make delicious Middle Eastern cuisine at home! It is on a short list of Father's Day gift ideas for my foodie dad and definitely an idea I'll hold on to for other food-loving friends and family members for the holidays this year!
First Impressions:
Like other cookbooks published by Rockridge Press, The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook has delicious looking cover art and a handful of mouth-watering, full color images throughout the book. This does not bother me as much as I'm sure it would bother a more visual person, but definitely does make the cookbook feel a little lacking compared to others in my cookbook stash.
The recipes included all sound delicious and while many were familiar to me from experiencing food at local Mediterranean, Kebab and Shwarma restaurants, there were quite a few new to me recipes and techniques. It seemed to have a well rounded offering of recipes for meat eaters and vegetarians alike.
The Read Through:
The first chapter of this cookbook, like others from this publisher, includes a section that gives an overview of the region of the world from which the recipes are pulled, including a breakdown of which spices, herbs and primary ingredients are popularly used in dishes from that region. It is a fascinating glimpse into other cultures and very helpful in explaining less familiar ingredients in a very accessible way.
The recipes are grouped based on type of item, spreads and snacks, sides and salads, soups and stews, breakfasts, main courses, desserts, and then sauces and spice blends. The flow is very nice. The recipes are well written and easy to follow.
The Test Drive:
We made a few recipes from the cookbook to test everything out - 5 stars for clarity in instruction and for amazing taste! Our favorites included falafel, the Roasted Red pepper dip, and the Middle Eastern Carrot salad. All of the recipes were easy to follow, measurements were clear, and the estimated prep and cook times were pretty spot on.
The final verdict: 5 stars and I would definitely recommend this cookbook to anyone looking to make delicious Middle Eastern cuisine at home! It is on a short list of Father's Day gift ideas for my foodie dad and definitely an idea I'll hold on to for other food-loving friends and family members for the holidays this year!
May 14, 2020
I was given an opportunity via the publisher to read The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook: Classic Recipes Made Easy. I voluntarily chose to review this cookbook and my opinion is freely given.
Author Michelle Anderson explains the Middle East regions, as each have their own language, culture, and history, but the cuisines can overlap. The cookbook then goes through the typical ingredients common to each region and how the popular Mediterranean diet can be, in part, traced back to some of the countries highlighted in this book. There is an all important spice list, as a cuisine such as Middle Eastern is nothing without its unique flavor profiles. After a list of pantry staples and a tutorial on how to cook dried chickpeas, a staple in the cuisine, the recipes begin. Each recipe that is unique to a region has the name of that area listed.
Spreads and Snacks: Pita Bread; Hummus; Lebanese Flatbread (Manakeesh)
Sides and Salads: Tabbouleh; Rice Mejadra; Skillet Potatoes (Batata Harra); Israeli Couscous
Soups and Stews: Persian Creamy Barley Soup (Soup-e Jo); Vegetable Harira Soup
Breakfast: Eggs in Tomato Sauce (Shakshuka); Moroccan Pancakes (Baghrir)
Main Courses: Koshari (Legumes, Grains, Pasta, and Fried Onions in a Tomato Sauce); Fish Harrah (Spicy Fish); Lamb Tangine; Chicken Kabsa (Rice and Chicken Dish); Chicken Shawarma
Desserts: Baklava; Date-Filled Cookies (Maamoul); Sesame Candies (Halvah)
Sauces and Spice Blends: Tahini Sauce; Middle Eastern Spice Blend; Harissa; Red Chili Pepper Paste (Shatta); Za'atar
Overall, The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook: Classic Recipes Made Easy is well laid out and has some great recipes. As this type of cuisine may be unfamiliar to some, more photographs of the finished dishes would have been nice. That being said, this is a good collection of recipes and one that I would recommend to others who wish to try Middle Eastern cuisine.
Author Michelle Anderson explains the Middle East regions, as each have their own language, culture, and history, but the cuisines can overlap. The cookbook then goes through the typical ingredients common to each region and how the popular Mediterranean diet can be, in part, traced back to some of the countries highlighted in this book. There is an all important spice list, as a cuisine such as Middle Eastern is nothing without its unique flavor profiles. After a list of pantry staples and a tutorial on how to cook dried chickpeas, a staple in the cuisine, the recipes begin. Each recipe that is unique to a region has the name of that area listed.
Spreads and Snacks: Pita Bread; Hummus; Lebanese Flatbread (Manakeesh)
Sides and Salads: Tabbouleh; Rice Mejadra; Skillet Potatoes (Batata Harra); Israeli Couscous
Soups and Stews: Persian Creamy Barley Soup (Soup-e Jo); Vegetable Harira Soup
Breakfast: Eggs in Tomato Sauce (Shakshuka); Moroccan Pancakes (Baghrir)
Main Courses: Koshari (Legumes, Grains, Pasta, and Fried Onions in a Tomato Sauce); Fish Harrah (Spicy Fish); Lamb Tangine; Chicken Kabsa (Rice and Chicken Dish); Chicken Shawarma
Desserts: Baklava; Date-Filled Cookies (Maamoul); Sesame Candies (Halvah)
Sauces and Spice Blends: Tahini Sauce; Middle Eastern Spice Blend; Harissa; Red Chili Pepper Paste (Shatta); Za'atar
Overall, The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook: Classic Recipes Made Easy is well laid out and has some great recipes. As this type of cuisine may be unfamiliar to some, more photographs of the finished dishes would have been nice. That being said, this is a good collection of recipes and one that I would recommend to others who wish to try Middle Eastern cuisine.
May 6, 2020
Of all the cookbooks I have reviewed, I was most excited about this one. I told my husband right away that this is the cookbook our next meal for our dinner group would come from. I am really looking forward to testing out these recipes in preparation for that meal. The author has brought decades of personal and professional experience in cooking Middle Eastern foods to the creation of this cookbook. While respecting the ingredients and preparations of the original dishes, she has striven to create recipes that do not take days to make and to use ingredients that are available in North America. There is way more information than I could take in during the first read of Chapter One: the culinary regions of the Middle East, the main ingredients preferred by these regions, particulars about the spices and which are better toasted and how to do that in order to get the best flavors, along with other helpful information. I was thrilled with the number of vegetarian recipes, and excited about the melding of flavors and textures. The only thing I would change about this cookbook would be to include more pictures. I would love to see what the finished products are supposed to look like as a way of checking on my own efforts. Most importantly my family, friends, and myself will be able to judge by the tastes that I create. The clear directions given for each recipe along with special tips make me feel very confident that I will be successful in creating many restaurant quality meals with this cookbook.
I am very grateful to have received a copy of The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook from RockRidge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.
I am very grateful to have received a copy of The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook from RockRidge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.
May 28, 2020
I have really enjoyed this cookbook. I have been cooking many Middle Eastern recipes for a few years now but, I have never had a cookbook that is as diverse with the countries. The cookbook has some information breaking down foods you would find in certain countries. Some of them intertwine but they all have a few unique ones to their region.
There is a pretty impressive section about the spices in that region with an overview of the flavor and what it is traditionally used in. All the spices are pretty common now and can be found at your grocery store or you might be surprised that you already have many in your collection. The book has a list of common pantry items used throughout.
I love the Chickpea Check up section! I could have used this a few years ago. Like all cookbooks from this publisher you have each recipe labeled-for this particular cookbook the labels are: Quick and Easy, Vegetarian, and One-Pot.
Several recipes you’d expect like Pita Bread, Hummus, Falafel, Israeli Couscous, Baklava and much more. It has a version of the Ras El Hanout which is a favorite spice of mine. There are many varieties for this spice and this one is very good.
The chapters: The Middle of Everywhere, Spreads and Snacks, Sides and Salads, Soups and Stews, Breakfast, Main Courses, Desserts, and Sauces and Spice Blends.
There is a good variety of recipes that are made simple to add into your menu. You could easily substitute the canned ingredients for fresh.
Overall I really like this cookbook and look forward to trying a few new ones soon.
I received a copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.
There is a pretty impressive section about the spices in that region with an overview of the flavor and what it is traditionally used in. All the spices are pretty common now and can be found at your grocery store or you might be surprised that you already have many in your collection. The book has a list of common pantry items used throughout.
I love the Chickpea Check up section! I could have used this a few years ago. Like all cookbooks from this publisher you have each recipe labeled-for this particular cookbook the labels are: Quick and Easy, Vegetarian, and One-Pot.
Several recipes you’d expect like Pita Bread, Hummus, Falafel, Israeli Couscous, Baklava and much more. It has a version of the Ras El Hanout which is a favorite spice of mine. There are many varieties for this spice and this one is very good.
The chapters: The Middle of Everywhere, Spreads and Snacks, Sides and Salads, Soups and Stews, Breakfast, Main Courses, Desserts, and Sauces and Spice Blends.
There is a good variety of recipes that are made simple to add into your menu. You could easily substitute the canned ingredients for fresh.
Overall I really like this cookbook and look forward to trying a few new ones soon.
I received a copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.
June 10, 2020
Have you wanted to cook Middle Eastern recipes that you have had in your favorite restaurant? The Essential Middle Eastern Cookbook has classic recipes made easy.
The introduction gives the reader all the information about the different cultures of the Middle East and the foods that are for that region. There are also a few pages about the spices that are important to the regions. You get information about pantry staples such as rice, bulgur, chickpeas, couscous, dried fruits etc.
The chapters include:
Spreads and snacks: Pita Bread, Serbian Roasted Eggplant Pepper Spread and Hummus
Sides and salads: Tabbouleh, Turkish Bulgur Salad, Rice Mejadra
Soups and stews: Middle Eastern Lamb Stew, Freekeh Soup, Vegetable Harira Soup
Breakfast: Turkish Eggs, Fava Bean Stew, Moroccan Pancakes
Main course: Potato Pancakes, Crunchy Baked Saffron Rice, Fried Fish, Lamb Kofte
Desserts: Baklava, Lebanese Rice Pudding, Turkish Delight, Bread Pudding
Sauces and Spice Blends: Tahini Sauce, Crispy Fried Onions, Zaatar, Harissa
So have any of the recipes piqued your interest? I found a lot of them to sound interesting.
This is a perfect cookbook for you if the recipes look good to you!
The introduction gives the reader all the information about the different cultures of the Middle East and the foods that are for that region. There are also a few pages about the spices that are important to the regions. You get information about pantry staples such as rice, bulgur, chickpeas, couscous, dried fruits etc.
The chapters include:
Spreads and snacks: Pita Bread, Serbian Roasted Eggplant Pepper Spread and Hummus
Sides and salads: Tabbouleh, Turkish Bulgur Salad, Rice Mejadra
Soups and stews: Middle Eastern Lamb Stew, Freekeh Soup, Vegetable Harira Soup
Breakfast: Turkish Eggs, Fava Bean Stew, Moroccan Pancakes
Main course: Potato Pancakes, Crunchy Baked Saffron Rice, Fried Fish, Lamb Kofte
Desserts: Baklava, Lebanese Rice Pudding, Turkish Delight, Bread Pudding
Sauces and Spice Blends: Tahini Sauce, Crispy Fried Onions, Zaatar, Harissa
So have any of the recipes piqued your interest? I found a lot of them to sound interesting.
This is a perfect cookbook for you if the recipes look good to you!
May 29, 2020
I have always thought middle eastern cooking would be too hard for me as I am not a great or accomplished cook even though I love cookbooks and I am always trying out new recipes. I just have a short attention span and get distracted easily. Anyway, this cookbook really does have recipes even I can do and they taste good too. The color photos help so I know what my end goal is and if I "nailed it!" I like soup before my main entree and the Creamy Barley Soup recipe, the Lentil Tomato Soup, and the Fareekah Soup recipe, which were all delicious. This book also has tangine recipes I want to try as I have never made one and of course then there are the desserts. The date cookies we're good though mine were not pretty and I think I am going to try the baklava. All in all, this was a successful cookbook for me and I enjoy using it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book and stretch my cooking skills with this cookbook in exchange for a review.
May 23, 2020
I appreciated the broad overview at the beginning of this book, covering the sub-regions of the Middle East and the particular foods that are associated with each, as well as a listing of the spices and pantry staples needed to make the recipes. Steps were clearly taken in recipe construction and ingredients to make this accessible to the average home chef. Many of these recipes are dishes I have enjoyed in restaurants but never thought of attempting at home. I'm in cumin heaven here! So far my overall favorite is the shakshuka but I also really liked the potato pancakes. I don't know if I'll be brave enough to try the baklava - either it won't turn out, or it WILL, and I'm not sure which of those is worse. Knowing I could have delicious baklava at any time...well, that seems dangerous. Thanks to the publisher for a NetGalley, my opinions are my own.
May 12, 2020
I was so excited to read this book when I first saw it available! I love trying different cuisines and I have tried a few Lebanese street food before and they're so good! I really want to try some of these recipes! There are some recipes that I have never seen before and I wish there were photos so we could see how the dish would look like. I had to search some recipe names on Google and read through the Ingredients list to see which ones I would try to make at home. This book is great, clear, well organized. I just wish there were more photos. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
May 22, 2020
4.5 stars. This book taught me a lot about Middle Eastern cooking!
I really enjoyed all of the information provided about different regions and foods. The recipes are very accessible and I like the tips on variations. I can't wait to try them out once I can go to the grocery store again! I wish there were some more pictures, but a bit of familiarity with the cuisine mostly makes up for that.
Thanks to Callisto Media and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed all of the information provided about different regions and foods. The recipes are very accessible and I like the tips on variations. I can't wait to try them out once I can go to the grocery store again! I wish there were some more pictures, but a bit of familiarity with the cuisine mostly makes up for that.
Thanks to Callisto Media and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2020
I received a complimentary copy.
Authentic and it might be hard to use if you are not familiar with the ingredients but fun to learn.
Authentic and it might be hard to use if you are not familiar with the ingredients but fun to learn.
September 12, 2024
This is a fantastic cookbook! It presents an approachable yet detailed overview of the Middle East -- its countries, culinary regions, and ingredients each are known for.
A lot of "normal" ingredients are used throughout, which I really appreciated; it can be frustrating when a cookbook calls for an ingredient you can only get from certain retailers not within a 50-mile radius of home (or your internet connection). I'm ready to get cracking on a number of these recipes, especially the desserts -- holy cow. Where do I even start?
I would love for it to have more pictures, as those are primarily limited to the beginning of each section. But, a minor item compared to the many perks of this cookbook. Recommended!
I received a copy of the book from Callisto Publishers. All opinions are my own.
A lot of "normal" ingredients are used throughout, which I really appreciated; it can be frustrating when a cookbook calls for an ingredient you can only get from certain retailers not within a 50-mile radius of home (or your internet connection). I'm ready to get cracking on a number of these recipes, especially the desserts -- holy cow. Where do I even start?
I would love for it to have more pictures, as those are primarily limited to the beginning of each section. But, a minor item compared to the many perks of this cookbook. Recommended!
I received a copy of the book from Callisto Publishers. All opinions are my own.
October 7, 2023
Recipes are easy to follow
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews