Sumac: Recipes and Stories from Syria

by Anas Atassi, Rania Kataf (Photographer), Jeroen van der Spek (Photographer)

EXPLORING THE CONNECTION OF FOOD AND CULTURE The Syrian kitchen, shaped by influences from neighboring countries, has deep historical roots and evolved to perfection over thousands of years. Sumac is filled with traditional and contemporary Syrian recipes that were inspired by personal stories. The gorgeous photography illustrates how beautiful this country was and still is, and family photographs add depth to the author's history. Each chapter is filled with the author's memories of family celebrations and the country that inspired the book. He tells stories of traditional weekend breakfasts in his grandmother's garden and of the mezze his mother cooked for family gatherings. There are memories of the rich aromatic flavors of the Syrian kitchen where fragrant spices like the lemony and deep red sumac are prized ingredients. In the author's words: "With this book, I hope to build a bridge between Syrian culture and the rest of the world, with food the common denominator. But even more, I hope that Sumac will present a positive image of my country, in spite of all the unfortunate events now taking place in Syria." - Over eighty recipes, inspired by the author's family recipes and his travels - Beautifully photographed by Rania Kataf, who shot Humans of Damascus - For anybody curious about a country so often in the news headlines but so difficult to visit as a tourist

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food and Wine

247 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2021

Reviews

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical recipe book - the cover states that there will be stories and there are many. The author explains the dishes, he explains the seasons they are typically eaten in, he explains family traditions, he explains where certain foods are found, he explains the Syrian family picnic, he said explains Syrian table cloths, he explains the importance of presentation in Syrian dishes, he gives various family members credit for dishes, he inserts beautiful photos of Syria - from all over the country. The food pictures just make your mouth water.

To the author -
From a fellow Syrian, this book made my heart smile - you did a wonderful job at putting this together. From the raw pistachios (fustuq al-halabi) to the family photos - Your book had me at first glance. Shukran Jazeelan. I had been having a very sad Syrian weekend because I was reminded that it was 11 years ago today that I was last in Halab with my family before heading back to Damascus to work before heading to Jordan and never being able to return. So discovering this book was a timely and pleasant surprise.

[E H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first cookbook that has ever BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES, it's really that beautiful. So far, the recipes I've made have all been delicious, authentic, and accessible (as long as you have a well-stocked Middle Eastern pantry - pomegranate molasses and sumac are essential!). The food photography is the most gorgeous I've ever seen, and the pictures of Syria are stunning. The vignettes before each chapter, most about growing up in Syria, were clearly written with so much love. For Anas Atassi, food is the centerpiece of community, of family, of all life's celebrations. I can't wait to make everything in here - I'm a pescatarian and this book is VERY pescatarian-friendly, almost everything is plant-based and if not, easily adaptable.

I've only made a few recipes so far, but I recommend the musabaha and muhammara!

[Zacchaeus Nifong · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a Middle Eastern cookbook, this is the one. The only reason I gave it four stars is because I haven't read a ton of other Middle Eastern cookbooks, but I've read a lot of cookbooks in general. It's amazing how satisfying it is to actually read text from a book rather than getting a recipe from Tasty or AllRecipes online. I would argue that it's better - and easier to cook from a *book.* This isn't something that you can just sit down and read all in one shot. It's a cook book. Put it on your shelf in the home library and pull it when you need it. Most importantly, the recipes in here are authentic and not usually printed or shared. I know because I live in a Middle Eastern home. Highly recommended!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must love garlic.

[Ana Menendez-tuckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook was written from the heart and I could feel the joy of the family as they consumed the meals. I also appreciated the structure of the chapters and pictures. I chose it for our monthly cooking club where several couples select a dish to bring to a dinner. The results of the recipes as written were a mixed bag. Half of them were glorious by just following the recipe, some needed some tweaking to become glorious and one was not edible. For example, the lamb meatballs with cherry sauce stated to use “cherries”. I researched the dish and sour cherries are the signature flavor in this dish. I rehydrated dried sour cherries (with no sugar added) with unsweetened sour cherry juice and substituted half of the water in the actual recipe with 100% cherry juice - the sauce was fantastic. I also cooked everything the night before and the dull meatballs were transformed by the overnight exposure to the cherry gravy. The apricot sauce of the rice pudding was lovely but the pudding itself had too much cornstarch and sweetened condensed milk would have elevated the dish since it was not sweet enough. All that being said, I will be trying more dishes from this book, especially the dips and the fish dishes.

[Laura Al - Jundi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book while I was looking for a gift idea for my foreign friends who are interested in knowing about Syrian culture etc. I wanted something more than just a recipe book, and I found this one.
I enjoyed the personal stories the writer was telling about his own family and I am sure many Syrians would relate to what they would read from the book. aesthetic-wise, it is very well put together, cool design with a variety of pictures. I liked how the writer tried to show us photos from his archive, and the photos of the recipes. Recipes are easy to follow, clear to read and measure etc. In summary, I think this is a very good choice to be given to a person who is interested in knowing more about Syria and Syrian cuisine, also maybe for those who are missing home and want to travel in time. It is a great book to get that feeling from while creating a meal that would take you back to Syria.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful book that gives a great entrance in Syrian cooking and culture. I have rarely used sumac or many of the other Syrian spices and so this book paved the way for a lot of new adventures. Well written and engaging.

[Aasinathena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of recipes !

[Dana Still · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great family stories along with enticing recipes.

[Maha Kossier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect & delicious recipes,
Recommended to buy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

That kind of cookbook that is a joy to read and look at the pictures, as well as cook from.

[Angela Ould Bouya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly gorgeous illustrations. These dishes feel and taste authentic. Love the personal touches and insights.

[Philippe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great cookbook! Cloé est témoin.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything looked so delicious!

[Leentje · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fijntje.