A Taste of Turkish Cuisine [Hardcover]

Nur Ilkin (Author), Sheilah Kaufman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002

The traditional dishes featured in A Taste of Turkish Cuisine make use of a variety of beans, grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and, of course, yogurt, one of Turkey's most important contributions to international cuisine. Simple yet rich in flavors, Turkish cuisine resounds of its varied influences, which range from Chinese and Mongolian to Persian and Greek. A history of Turkey's culinary traditions accompanies the 187 recipes, as well as glossaries of commonly used ingredients and Turkish cooking terms.

"In Turkey we talk about individuals with `tasty hands,'" writes Nur lkin. "This implies that they have wonderful recipes and are excellent cooks. I hope you will find that I have `tasty hands' and I hope you will acquire some `tasty hands' by preparing my recipes."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nur Ilkin, wife of the former Ambassador of Turkey to the United States, learned the secrets of Turkish cooking from her grandmother, but really began to cook once she had to entertain guests of the Turkish embassy. She and her husband are now back in Turkey, where she works with the Executive Committee of Turkey's Foreign Ministry Wives Association.

Sheilah Kaufman is a traveling cooking instructor, food writer, lecturer, and author of 24 cookbooks, including Sephardic Israeli Cuisine (Hippocrene Books, 2002) and Simply Irresistible: Easy, Elegant, Fearless, Fussless Cooking. She is the online food editor for Jewish Women International and is a contributing food editor for Cape Gazette and Washington Jewish Week. Sheilah is also an active member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and Les Dames d'Escoffier International.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781809487
• ISBN-13: 978-0781809481
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > Turkish

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly disappointing, March 14, 2005

By 

Dave Essel (on the web) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Taste of Turkish Cuisine (Hardcover)

This book was a disappointment from start to finish. Written by a non-professional (the author is the wife of a senior Turkish diplomat as is repeatedly impressed upon the reader and furthermore needed the assistance of a co-author to get the project completed), what we have here is more a vanity publication than anything else. The recipes show a lack of feeling of genuineness and demonstrate unpleasant presumption and lack of respect both for the cuisine and for the reader. Killer example: in the explanation of terms, tahini is explained and then the suggestion made that a cup of tahini may be replaced by 2/3 cup of peanut butter mixed with 1/3 cup of oil. This revolting (and culturally and ethnically wrong) advice sets the tone for this sad excuse for a cookery book. My recommendation for the real thing: get The Sultan's Kitchen by Ozcan Ozan, a professional restaurateur.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have cookbook, March 5, 2011

By 

Y. Ilkin (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Taste of Turkish Cuisine (Hardcover)

My family is Turkish and many of the foods found in Turkish cookbooks are disappointing because of their misinterpretation of the countries cooking. This cookbook has real Turkish recipes, with proper use of ingredients such as the spices, nuts, and oils. It's easy to follow and dishes turned out very much like my mum's, even on the very first try. Highly recommended for even the amateur chef.

1.0 out of 5 stars If you love bland food, November 20, 2011

By 

Mad about Music (Munith MI) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Taste of Turkish Cuisine (Hardcover)

A huge disappointment. The recipes contain virtually no spices, and herbs are only occasionally used, and then only as a garnish. I have traveled in Turkey and loved the food, and I find it hard to believe that a cuisine so varied and interesting on the ground can be reduced to such consummately boring recipes. An example: the recipe for Lamb Shanks And Rice a la Ankara calls for lamb, rice, butter, salt and black pepper. That's it. Guess they don't have seasonings in Ankara. Or the rest of Turkey....