The Iraqi Cookbook
SynopsisPlot
The true richness of Iraqi culture has been hidden for many years, overshadowed by political conflict and war. Yet amid the destruction, Iraq’s culture―and not least its cuisine―has remained intact. The Iraqi Cookbook, the first of its kind to be published in North America, is full of authentic recipes that have been handed down through the generations, developed and enriched over time, and infused with cultures of different eras. The result is a rich mixture of history, health, culture, and storytelling. Throughout the book, Lamees Ibrahim emphasizes only those ingredients available to a Western reader, gives useful tips, and suggests appropriate alternatives where necessary. The detailed, easy-to-follow recipes are adorned with specially commissioned photography throughout, making The Iraqi Cookbook a feast for both the eyes and the diwan. In short, in this book of masterly recipes, and beautiful photographs, Lamees Ibrahim serves up a vision of Iraq and its cuisine that stays with you long after you've left the kitchen.
Story
About this book
The Iraqi Cookbook gathers recipes that Lamees Ibrahim traces to the household cooking of Iraq, where dishes have been handed down through generations and reshaped over time. It was published as the first Iraqi cookbook to appear in North America, and it sets its recipes beside commissioned photographs and short notes on the history and culture surrounding the food.
Iraqi cooking belongs to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates, the region long called Mesopotamia, where grain farming, date palms, and long-distance trade in spices shaped daily meals. Ibrahim's collection carries influences absorbed across different eras of Iraqi history, and she places brief storytelling and cultural notes next to the cooking so each dish sits within the life of a family table.
The recipes are written in detailed steps for cooks who may be meeting Iraqi food for the first time. Ibrahim names ingredients that are available to readers in Western shops, suggests alternatives when something is difficult to source, and adds practical tips along the way. The book also acknowledges that Iraq's cultural life has often been overshadowed by decades of conflict and war.
