Feast from the Mideast: 250 Sun-Drenched Dishes from the Lands of the Bible

by Faye Levy

From the Fertile Crescent, where agriculture began, to the extravagant tables of Ottoman emperors, the Mideast boasts a surpassingly rich culinary heritage. In Faye Levy's Feast from the Mideast, the acclaimed food journalist and cookbook author brings 250 time-honored recipes into the twenty-first-century American kitchen. Accessible and authentic dishes, helpful shopping tips, and Faye Levy's trademark user-friendly approach make this book a must-have introduction to a vibrant international cuisine. For almost three decades, Faye Levy has shopped, cooked, and dined her way through the Mideast, and her enthusiasm for this flavorful, unfussy cuisine will inspire you to make these ancient culinary traditions your own. Featuring the bold flavors and simple, healthy techniques of more than ten countries, this collection has dishes for every occasion, from dinner-party feasts to quick and healthy weekday meals. Faye Levy's repertoire of fresh, mouthwatering specialties will add excitement and boldness to any meal, whether it's a simple sandwich enlivened by a zesty Grilled Eggplant Sesame Dip, or elegant Grilled Lamb Chops spiced up with Garlic Cumin Tomato Salsa. Ms. Levy takes readers beyond hummus and falafel—although she offers stellar recipes for both of these classics. Feast from the Mideast offers a veritable banquet of authentic, tempting dishes and is the ultimate all-in-one guide to the wholesome cuisines of these historic, sun-drenched lands.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faye Levy is an American of Ashkenazi heritage who had classical cooking training in France and married a Yemeni Jew (I believe). She has offered an incredible collection of cookbooks with recipes influenced by all those factors. In this book, she gets a bit more authentic. Recipes follow kashrut for those who observe. I did find the chapter breakdowns a bit confusing but the index is very good so I was never lost for long.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good Middle Eastern cookbook and contains all of the standard recipes and a few that were new to my eyes. However, if you already have The New Book of Middle Eastern Food or The Arab Table: Recipes and Culinary Traditions in your collection, you will probably find, as I did, that this book is redundant, and lacking in scholarship.

Again, this is a great cookbook, but there isn't much new here.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! I love middle eastern food, but it has always been impractical for us to make it. Some of these recipes are rather complicated, but for the most part, it is a practical and beautifully written recipe book with recipes for people who want to eat healthy middle eastern food without any hassle. There is also a lot more information in it than just recipes. We received it for Christmas and are thoroughly enjoying it. I definitely recommend it for people who want to be slightly adventurous without too much difficulty. It helps too that the book itself is lovely!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found recipes I want to try. Loved reading about the ingredients: saffron, rosewater, etc.