The Legendary Cuisine of Persia

Book excerpt: Recipes from one of the oldest civilizations in the world, plus color photos and “fascinating historical tidbits” (Library Journal). Winner of the Glenfiddich Award Known today as Iran, Persia is known for one of the oldest and greatest cuisines of the world. It is refined, sophisticated, subtle yet distinctive, elegant and varied. Fruits, nuts, herbs, and spices are combined with rice, fish, and meat in combinations whose ancient influence can be found in the cooking of the Middle East, Spain, and India. Persian cuisine is perfectly suited to today’s style of eating—many of the dishes are vegetarian, and the marriage of sweet and savory, such as grains and pulses stewed with fruit and spices, make for unforgettable meals. The sweetmeats and pastries are especially mouthwatering. Written by an Englishwoman who married an Iranian and lived in the country for a quarter century—learning about Persian cooking from her mother-in-law and other friends and relatives—this cookbook takes us on a culinary adventure. It also illustrates the diversity of food as represented by its many different religions ̶ Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian ̶ while explaining the customs and traditions which make up the exotic and colorful threads in a cuisine which spans more than three thousand years. “In addition to loads of background text covering history and geography, each recipe has its own introduction that places it in cultural and culinary context . . . One showstopper recipe sure to be a hit at a dinner party, the giant meatball from Tabriz hides as a surprise within it a whole chicken . . . An important volume in any international cookery collection.” —Booklist