AninsightfulexplorationintothebountyofbothfamiliarandnewMiddleEasterningredientsplus90modernandtraditionaldishesinwhichtousethem,fromtheauthorofMasteringSpiceandTheSpiceCompanion“Getreadytogoonatransformativeculturaljourneythatbeginsinyourkitchen.“--CarlaHall,bestsellingauthorofCarlaHall’sSoulFoodAFOODNETWORKANDWIREDBESTCOOKBOOKOFTHEYEARGrowinguponakibbutzinnorthernIsrael,spicemasterLiorLevSercarzhaslonghadanaffinityforlocalingredientsandproduce.Afterbecomingachefandthendevotinghiscreativityandcareertosourcingandblendingspices,herecognizedtheintensivelabor,skill,andcraftsmanshipthatgoesintothedevelopmentofMiddleEasternpantrystaples,fromolivestosilan(datemolasses),andtahinitosujuk(afermentedanddriedsausage).Inthiscookbookandculinaryresource,hehomesinontheeverydayingredientsusedthroughoutthisvastregion,includingTurkey,Tunisia,Yemen,Iran,Iraq,Israel,Armenia,Jordan,andmore,asheoffersanhomagetothepantrystaplesthatdefineMiddleEasterncuisine.Lioroffersanin-depthlookattheproduction,history,culturalresonance,andstorageofeachpantryitem,thensharesanarrayofmouthwateringrecipescraftedforhomekitchens.DishesrangefromaheartyVerjusandLambStewtosnackyKibbehwithPineNuts,RoastedVegetableswithEgyptianDukkah,tangyIraqiambamangosauce,asweet-syrupy-cheesykunafe,andacreamyTurkishricepudding.Thisbookisforhomecookswhocravenotonlyrecipesbutalsooriginstoriesthatlendculturalrelevanceandinsightintooneoftheworld’smostancientandbelovedcuisines.
