Classic Turkish Cooking (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Photographer) "Turkey stretches from the southeastern end of Europe to the edges of the Middle East..." (more)
Key Phrases: crushed with salt salt, strong unbleached flour, tablespoons thick yogurt, Black Sea, Middle East, Ottoman Empire (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With clear, detailed instructions, author Ghillie Basan describes the way in which Turkish food is prepared and defines the spices and ingredients that lend it its unique flavors.

This unique collection of traditional dishes from the Anatolian heartlands and classical recipes from the Palace kitchens of the Ottoman sultans includes mouthwatering meze and fresh, light salads; succulent casseroles with dried and fresh fruit; aromatic pilafs dotted with pine nuts; unforgettable vegetable dishes - including a selection of dolmas (stuffed vegetables); and, of course, desserts from sweet and syrupy pastries to refreshing ice creams and sorbets. They are low in fat and high in vegetables, fruits, and grains -- a style of eating perfectly suited to today's health-conscious cook.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (April 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312156170
• ISBN-13: 978-0312156176
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #61,260 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #3 in	Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > Turkish
  #15 in	Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Middle Eastern

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beatifully written and photographed, June 16, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Adana, Turkey) - See all my reviews

Classic Turkish cooking is, in my opinion, the quintessential guide to Turkish cuisine. The writing is descriptive and the sections on Turkish history and culture give the reader tremendous insite in the way in which Turkish cooking has developed over the centuries. The recipes are clear and concise and run the gamut from palace cuisine to village fare. There are recipes for making everything from pickles and cheese, as they are made in most homes throughout Turkey, to the classic imam bayildi and an elegant courgette and apple salad in hazelnut sauce. The recipes are authentic. Jonathon Basar's photographs which grace the pages of this book are artistic and inviting.

I have enjoyed eating Turkish food for the five years that I have worked here and am convinced that no book could cover the subject more thoroughly or present it more beautifully. This is not a reference book it is the kind of book which is read from cover to cover and then read again purely for pleasure.

This book was obviously a work of love.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Cook Book, June 2, 2001

By	Fred M. Blum (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

We returned from Turkey in love with the food, with a suitcase full of Turkish spices and the first thing we did was look for a cookbook. Classic Turkish Cooking had been recommended by a friend while we were in Turkey and the recommendation paid off.

This is a wonderful cookbook. The instructions are well laid out and are easy to follow. There are good expatiations of the dishs, even for a non-Turkish audience. The pictures are helpful in choosing the dishes. We made our first dish a week after we got back for some Middle Eastern friends and it was a success. This is a great cookbook that does justice to a fine cuisine.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From a Turkish cook, February 3, 2004

By A Customer

I am Turkish and (so I am told) a very good cook for 30+ years. I found some recipes in this book (Klasik kofte, salepli dondurma) that I could not find anywhere else and worked wonderfully.

If you are having diificulty finding ingredients, try online sites like penzeys.com or tasteofturkey.com.