A Fistful of Lentils: Syrian-Jewish Recipes from Grandma Fritzie's Kitchen [Paperback]

Jennifer Felicia Abadi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2007

When Jennifer Felicia Abadi was a child, her mother often pulled down a well-worn homemade black recipe binder from her kitchen shelf and created memorable Syrian-Jewish meals. As an adult, Abadi embarked on a labor of love with her grandmother to record all of her family s rich, mouthwatering Syrian dishes. In A Fistful of Lentils, Abadi shares with you more than 125 Syrian-Jewish recipes, as well as an intimate look at Syrian-Jewish culture through warm family anecdotes and little-known stories. Recipes include Meh'shi Sfeehah b'Dja'jeh (Stuffed Baby Eggplants with Roasted Chicken), Rishtah b'Tahineh (Egg Noodles with Lentils and Sesame Butter, Kibbeh m'Kamuneh b'Bandoorah (Meatballs in Tomato-Cumin Sauce, Lah meh Zetoon b'Limoneh (Lamb with Lemon and Olives), Ijeh b'Batatah (Potato Omelets), Leban m'Naa'na (Yogurt-Mint Dressing), Masapan (Almond Candies), and Knaffeh (Shredded Phyllo-Ricotta Pie). It all adds up to the best-kept secret in Middle Eastern cuisine, now yours to enjoy!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Abadi takes the reader on a culinary journey that includes her family s photographs and an overview of the history of Syrian-Jewish culture. Along the way, you learn about the aromas of the kitchen and its allspice, cumin, mint, lemon, tamarind, and rose water. --The Boston Globe

For Syrian Jewish women, cooking is an art form, shared among neighbors and families but closely guarded from outsiders. Luckily, Abadi offers these secrets in her book. --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Jennifer Felicia Abadi's recipes have appeared in the Daily News and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. She hosts monthly food tastings and teaches cooking courses centered around Jewish and other Middle Eastern cuisines. She also assists others in writing and preserving their own family recipes. A Fistful of Lentils is the first book she has authored.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press (December 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558322191
• ISBN-13: 978-1558322196
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #369,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Middle Eastern
  • #77 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Special Diet > Kosher

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a treasure!, September 28, 2009

By 

W. Adkins (Tulsa, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Fistful of Lentils: Syrian-Jewish Recipes from Grandma Fritzie's Kitchen (Paperback)

I first checked this book out from our local library and fell in love with. Knew we wanted to have it as a permanent part of our cookbooks. My husband is from Syria, though not Jewish or from Aleppo, he was familiar with most of the dishes and delighted with the previously unfamiliar ones. (He emphasized how well-respected and trustworthy the Jews are in Syria, and how they have had a good relationship with the Muslim majority. He could not remember ever hearing of a negative incident regarding a Jewish family.)
We have made several things from this book and find them to be delicious, easy to prepare, and love that she is so easy to read. Her family photos are a neat bonus, though I wish she could have included some photos of the prepared recipes. This is a keeper!

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A cookbook to take to bed with you, March 12, 2009

By 

A. K. P. Wilde (Madrid, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Fistful of Lentils: Syrian-Jewish Recipes from Grandma Fritzie's Kitchen (Paperback)

Fistful of Lentils is so much more than a cookbook. The introduction is beautifully written and gives a lot of information on the history of the Jews in Syria. I would compare this cookbook to the feeling you get when you watch the movie Moonstruck - in Moonstruck you feel part of Rose's family in that Italian-American kitchen as she frys up the egg on the bread, and with Fistful, you feel like you are also part of the quick-witted Grandma Fritzie's kitchen. The recipes are easy-to-read and illustrations are provided when needed. I have incorporated many of the recipes into my Mediterranean tapas parties. My Spanish family loves the twists! I can't stop looking at this book, and I own lots of cookbooks. This is the kind of food I wish we could see on the Food Network!