Arabesque : A Taste of Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon

by RODEN, CLAUDIA

• ISBN13: 9780307264985
• ISBN10: 030726498X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-10-31
• Publisher: Knopf

Summary

In the 1960s Claudia Roden introduced Americans to a new world of tastes in her classicA Book of Middle Eastern Food.Now, in her enchanting new book,Arabesque, she revisits the three countries with the most exciting cuisines todayMorocco, Turkey, and Lebanon. Interweaving history, stories, and her own observations, she gives us 150 of the most delectable recipes: some of them new discoveries, some reworkings of classic dishesall of them made even more accessible and delicious for today's home cook. From Morocco, the most exquisite and refined cuisine of North Africa: couscous dishes; multilayered pies; delicately flavoredtagines; ways of marrying meat, poultry, or fish with fruit to create extraordinary combinations of spicy, savory, and sweet. From Turkey, a highly sophisticated cuisine that dates back to the Ottoman Empire yet reflects many new influences today: a delicious array of kebabs, fillo pies, eggplant dishes in many guises, bulgur and chickpea salads, stuffed grape leaves and peppers, and sweet puddings. From Lebanon, a cuisine of great diversity: a wide variety ofmezze(those tempting appetizers that can make a meal all on their own); dishes featuring sun-drenched Middle Eastern vegetables and dried legumes; and national specialties such askibbeh, meatballs with pine nuts, and lamb shanks with yogurt. Claudia Roden knows this part of the world so intimately that we delight in being in such good hands as she translates the subtle play of flavors and simple cooking techniques to our own home kitchens.

Author Biography

Claudia Roden was born and raised in Cairo. She completed her formal education in Paris and then moved to London to study art. She travels extensively as a food writer. Her previous books include the James Beard Award–winning The Book of Jewish Food and the seminal A Book of Middle Eastern Food, as well as The Good Food of Italy—Region by Region, Everything Tastes Better Outdoors, and Mediterranean Cookery. In Britain Arabesque has won the Andre Simon Memorial Fund Award for Best Food Book, the Glenfiddich Best Food Book Award, and the Gourmand World Media Special Award of the Jury. Ms. Roden lives in London.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 3
Morocco
Introduction	p. 14
Starters and Kemia	p. 39
Main Courses	p. 75
Desserts	p. 123
Turkey
Introduction	p. 140
Starters and Meze	p. 153
Main Courses	p. 187
Desserts	p. 217
Lebanon
Introduction	p. 234
Starters and Mezze	p. 247
Main Courses	p. 287
Desserts	p. 319
Acknowledgments	p. 333
Index	p. 334
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Zucchini Fritters

Ingredients:

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

3 tablespoons vegetable or sunflower oil, plus more for frying

1 pound zucchini, finely chopped

3 eggs

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

black pepper

2 to 3 sprigs of mint, chopped

2 to 3 sprigs of dill, chopped

7 ounces feta cheese, mashed with a fork

Serves 4

Fried onions, feta cheese, and herbs lift what is otherwise a bland vegetable. These little fritters can be served hot or cold. They can be made in advance and reheated.

Fry the onion in 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat until it is soft and lightly colored. Add the zucchini and sauté, stirring, until they, too, are soft.

In a bowl, beat the eggs with the flour until well blended. Add pepper (there is no need of salt because the feta cheese is very salty) and the chopped herbs, and mix well. Fold the mashed feta into the eggs, together with the cooked onions and zucchini.

Film the bottom of a preferably nonstick frying pan with oil and pour in the mixture by the half ladle (or 2 tablespoons) to make a few fritters at a time. Turn each over once, and cook until both sides are browned a little. Drain on paper towels.

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Excerpted from Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon by Claudia Roden
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.