Customer Reviews

The Arabian Nights Cookbook: From Lamb Kebabs to Baba Ghanouj, Delicious Homestyle Arabian Cooking

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
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I happened to be in a bookstore after a dr.apt and of course had to check out the cookbook section. I picked this book up and glanced through it...and KNEW that I had to have it!!! The title is kind of silly...but the contents of the book are EXCELLENT!! I have been to many different restaurants throughout my dance career..thus eating quite a sampling of Middle Eastern cooking. This book is REALLY the authentic recipes of a home cook in the Arabic region. I couldn't get home fast enough to order it! I am about half way through it...and am dying to try some of the recipes!! There is no shortage of Middle Eastern cookbooks out there(I know...I think that I have most of them!)...but this book is happily a change from the sometimes "Americanized" recipes. It is hardcore... for sure!! So..I shall be off next week to pick up supplies from my Arabic store and will be testing recipes for the grand opening of my dance studio!! I make a MEAN baklava, but would like my friends to try some more diverse Middle Eastern food!! I used to cater at lots of dance events...so I know my way around some of the more challenging recipes. But this book is VERY easy to follow!! So ....buy this book! What more can I say..I LOVE it!!!! You won't be disappointed!!!

As a cookbook for those who want to cook as modern day Arabs cook, this book would be perfect. The title alludes to Arabian Nights, so hopefully readers would realize that recipes are not going to be those of more that 100 years ago.
The recipes themselves are typical of the area, but most do contain the spices of mint or coriander or cumin. The print is not very big, but there are pictures for most of the recipes. Included are basics, such as crunchy pickled garlic and homemade plain yogurt, appetizers and snacks, salads, soups, chicken, meats, seafood, vegetarian, breads, rice and side dishes, desserts and drinks.

There is a brief but interesting segment on the diversity of modern Arab Gulf cooking, Arab hospitality and the geography. The equipment, tools and ingredients needed are shown and described. There is a resource guide to find them which has the addresses, phone numbers and web sites. There is also help in some photographic diagrams showing how to stuff and roll a grape leaves, for example.
The recipes are not that hard and would give a cook many different dishes to prepare.

Love the book. Color pictures throughout the book. Contained alot of yummy recipes. Ingredients can be found in most US grocery. Looking forward to cooking healthy middle eastern food.

I was thumbing through a lot of Middle Eastern Cookbooks, and I'm so glad I found this one! It has pictures with most of the dishes so you have something to expect when you get a final product, and it has helpful hints for many of the recipes. It has all the basic how-to's for Middle Eastern dishes. It's a great resource for beginners. Every single dish I've made so far from this book has been delicious. It tastes like actual Middle-Eastern food, not as if I attempted to make something and it came out as a mystery dish.

I love the name "The Arabian Nights Cookbook". Have already tried one of the recipes and look forward to creating more. So appreciative that what is offered are not-complicated yet really have an exotic quality. Also like the wide variety of vegetarian, fresh selections. Thank you for a beautiful book.