Customer Reviews

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

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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!

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!