Turquoise: A Chef's Travels in Turkey (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Lucy Malouf (Author)
Key Phrases: crab stock, spice bazaar, warmed flat bread, Chicken Stock, Middle Eastern, The Fish Doctor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With terrain from rugged mountains to idyllic coastline Turkey has become a sought-after travel destination enjoyed not only for its beauty but its culinary wonders. In Turquoise Greg and Lucy Malouf visit spice markets and soup kitchens enjoy fish sandwiches on the Bosphorus and drink in ancient teahouses. The recipes inspired by their travels capture the enticing flavors that define Turkish cuisine from the ancient ruins of Pergamum to modern day Istanbul. Some are traditional favorites such as Little Kefta Dumplings in Minted Yogurt Sauce while many more—from Roast Chicken with Pine Nut and Barberry Pilav Stuffing to Pistachio Halva Ice Cream—are Greg's own flavored with his years of experience cooking Middle Eastern food. With its hundreds of luscious photographs Turquoise is a chance to share in this unforgettable Turkish journey.

About the Author

Greg and Lucy Malouf live in Melbourne, Australia. The Maloufs have co-authored Saha, Arabesque, and Moorish.

Lisa Cohen and William Meppem are photographers specializing in food.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811866033
• ISBN-13: 978-0811866033
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,347 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > Turkish
  #4 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Turkey
  #7 in	Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Middle Eastern

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Will Not Give You The Blues, July 19, 2009

By	Sacramento Book Review "SacramentoBookReview.com" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

It is rare to find a cookbook so beautiful and captivating that you linger over every page and feel inspired to try each recipe, but//Turquoise,//by Greg and Lucy Malouf, is just such a book. It follows the couple's culinary journey across Turkey and is filled with rich tales and stunning photographs of the people they met, the places they visited and the foods they ate. It also contains a considerable amount of detail describing Turkey's turbulent history and illustrating the vast cultural influences that have helped to create this uniquely diverse country.

Rather than make this a book of just traditional Turkish recipes, the Maloufs set out to also create their own recipes based on the classic flavors, aromas and textures that they experienced while in Turkey. Resulting are innovative and inspired recipes, that carry a strong element of Turkish influence.

Appetizers such as zucchini blossoms filled with cheese and mint or Istanbul style mussels, stuffed with rice, pine nuts and currants are unusual and delicious. Salad recipes, such as one featuring walnuts, green olives, pomegranate seeds, serrano chiles and parsley are refreshing and bursting with flavor and color.

Dumplings and savory pastries are featured prominently in this book in both classic and modern renditions. For example, Manti, which are similar to ravioli and typically filled with lamb and served with a yogurt sauce, emerge in an updated version filled with crab meat and served with saffron broth.

Entree recipes for lamb, beef, poultry and seafood stand out, but there are a number of vegetarian options offered as well. Two delicious versions of Kofte, similar to meatballs and traditionally made with ground lamb, are given: one with spiced pumpkin and another with red lentils and bulgur.

Desserts are fantastic and flavorful ranging from puddings and creams to ice cream and pastries.

Simply put, this book is suitable for amateur and avid cooks, literal and virtual travelers and anyone who appreciates beautiful photography and great stories. Regardless of your interests, this is surely a book that will be opened frequently.

Reviewed by
Andrea Rappaport

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So good you might want to get two!, January 7, 2009

By	A. I. Berg - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The hefty price tag made that it has been on my wish list for a while.
But the book is worth every penny!
It has wonderful travel stories and the most beautiful pictures that take me right back to our holiday in Turkey.
And the recipes are absolutely delicious! There are a few original recipes, but mostly it's Greg Malouf's own recipes which are a modern take on the Turkish kitchen, but put together with the highest respect for it's origins.
The book itself is printed on beautiful paper and has a heavy duty binding.
This book is so good that you might want two.....one for the coffee table and one to get stained in the kitchen.
A delicious book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book!, July 29, 2009

By	Caroline U "Perfectly Imperfect" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a lovely book full of stunning pictures from all around Turkey. It's pretty enough to prominently display on a coffee table or counter, but functional because the recipes are easy to follow and delicious! We just got this book 2 days ago and have already made three recipes (all successful). My only wish would be to see the Turkish name for every recipe (not just a select few). And, my husband (from Turkey) says the recipes are really tasty, but they're adaptations of traditional recipes. So, if you're looking to impress some Turkish friends, be aware you're making "new" versions of traditional foods- and they're quite tasty!!!

Enjoy Turquoise, it makes me want to go back to Turkey every time I open another page... makes me hungry too!