Mama Nazima's Jewish Iraqi Cuisine (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: paprika teaspoon red pepper flakes, sanitized jars, teaspoon salt teaspoon garlic powder, Jewish Iraqi, Iraqi Jews, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

When the Jews fled Iraq for Israel, they could not take their material possessions, but they did take their culture--and their rich cuisine. With Mongolian, Turkish, and Indian influences, Jewish-Iraqi cuisine is a special blend--and has never before been documented. Rivka Goldman takes the reader through her memories of an ancient land and culture by means of the culinary heritage passed on to her by her mother. This elegant cookbook memoir describes the ways in which the unique sociopolitical history of the Jewish-Iraqi has impacted their foods and the ways in which they are eaten, supplying over 100 healthful family recipes. Refreshing salads, hearty stuffed vegetable and meat dishes, and wholesome dumpling, fish and rice dishes all accompany tales of friendship, loyalty, persecution, escape, exile, and, of course, celebration.

About the Author

Rivka Goldman was born in Basra, Iraq, into a wonderful tradition and a delicious cuisine. As a child, she left Iraq as part of a forced repatriation of Jews and later learned the art of cooking from her mother, a healer who incorporated her work into traditional recipes. Married to an American, Goldman raised three children in the United States, and currently resides in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books; illustrated edition edition (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781811449
• ISBN-13: 978-0781811446
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #602,673 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than 100 healthy family recipes have been compiled, September 8, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

In Mama Nazima's Jewish-Iraqi Cuisine, Rivka Goldman presents her memories of the culinary traditions of an ancient land that saw historical influences from the Mongols, the Turks, and India affect and enhance Iraq's ethnic and traditional cuisine among the Jewish-Iraqi community. More than 100 healthy family recipes have been compiled with dishes ranging from salads, to side dishes, to main entrees, to desserts. Each unique recipe comes accompanied by stories of friendship, loyalty, persecution, escape, exile, and celebration. From Feta Cheese and Onion Salad; Brown Eggs and Vegetables; Sweet-and-Sour Okra with Meat; and Semolina Dumplings with Zucchini; to Quince Stuffed with Meat; Rice and Lentils with Cumin and Garlic; Iraqi Pita Bread; and Candied Almond-Coconut, Mama Nazima's Jewish-Iraqi Cuisine is a superb addition to any personal, family, or community library regional/ethnic cookbook collection.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, January 19, 2008

By	NYC reader (New York) - See all my reviews

It's great to finally see a book that documents Jewish Iraqi cuisine. (The only other one I have come across was "The best of Baghdad cooking, with treats from Teheran" by Daisy Iny but that is no longer in print...)

I made a couple of the recipes in this book. They were easy to follow and came out wonderfully. My ancestry is from Bagdad and the spices used there are a little different from those used in this book. But, I enjoy this book very much. The recognition of our foods and history is much appreciated.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an unbelievable cookbook!, September 20, 2006

By	Katherine Jones "Katherine Jones" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This book is phenomenal. Rivka Goldman's amazing stories combined with her knowledge of middle eastern cuisine is priceless. The food is SO delicious, and so healthy! The stories told throughout this book are beautiful and inspiring. I am so glad my friend recommended this book to me -- it is worth its weight in gold.