From Tagine to Masala [Paperback]

Mike Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2004

"From Tagine to Masala" is a gastronomic journey along the Arabian Trade Routes and includes recipes from the UAE, Oman and Bahrain. Author Mike Harrison has lived and worked in the Middle East for many years and has, with the help of internationally renowned chefs, collected and refined hundreds of recipes with a regional flavour.

In "From Tagine to Masala", Mike has narrowed his selection to just 50 delicious dishes. Starting with refreshing Moroccan Thé à la menthe and closing with delectable Spice Island Spice Cake, Mike adds to each recipe by including a personal anecdote. Included in this unique cookery book is an essential illustrated guide to the spices and herbs used in Middle Eastern cooking making the recipes accessible to even the novice chef.

"From Tagine to Masala" is Mike’s first book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Harrison is a member of that itinerant tribe of nomadic English language specialists, who spends his life wandering from country to country. He has worked for different private and state institutions in around 17 different countries, including Tunisia, Senegal, Iraq, Turkey, Tajikistan, Bahrain and is currently back in the United Arab Emirates, where he hopes to stay for a long time. He has worked as teacher trainer, language consultant, and university lecturer for such diverse organisations as the British Council, the Omani Ministry of Education, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the Albanian Ministry of Defence! One common thread in these meanderings – apart from brief interludes in Ireland and Latvia – has been a deliberate choice to live and work within the periphery of the Islamic world.

Since settling back in the Gulf region, Mike has written about and photographed food for a number of regional newspapers and magazines. This first book of his is the culmination of more than 20 years of gathering recipes from across the Arabian trade routes and the broader Islamic region: From Morocco to Indonesia, and from Turkey to Zanzibar.

Product Details

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: Zodiac Publishing (November 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904566561
• ISBN-13: 978-1904566564
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,458,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tasty Journey Through the Spice Routes, April 21, 2005

By 

Jennifer A. Wickes "Food Writer" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: From Tagine to Masala (Paperback)

Travel on a gastronomic journey through the Middle East and learn about the wonders of Arabian cuisine in this great little cookbook by Mike Harrison.

Mike Harrison is an English Language teacher who has been living in the Middle East for years. He has traveled all over sampling the cuisines, and even consulting local chefs and restaurants for tips on how to recreate the delicious meals he had sampled on his adventures. This is his first book.

There are wonderful color photos showing the delicious recipes, and the scenic views of the Middle East. Both were wonderfully photographed, especially at a time when some citizens are intimidated by this area with the current political situation.

The recipes are easy-to-read and easy-to-prepare. I would say that a novice cook is capable of preparing these meals. Mike Harrison even helps explain certain spices and techniques utilized with the cuisines of this area.

There are over 50 recipes in this book. The chapters in this cookbook are: soups, salads, appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Some of the delicious recipes you can find in this book are: Arabian Lentil Soup; Moroccan Carrot, Date and Orange Salad; Iranian Eggplant Puree; Beef Tenderloin with Tamarind Sauce and Spice Island Spice Cake.

Whether you are into Arabian food or are an armchair traveller, check out this book.