Saffron in the Souks: Vibrant recipes from the heart of Lebanon Kindle Edition

This book follows the author as he moves around Lebanon cooking recipes with locals. There are many of the standards but also recipes I haven't seen before including new riffs own old standards. The recipes typical of the middle east do differ slightly in Lebanon where a tart edge seems to be popular - think lemon juice and pomegranate sauce.

I've browsed the first couple of sections of both of this author's books that I bought (Orange Blossom & Honey: Magical Moroccan recipes from the souks to the Sahara and Saffron in the Souks) and I don't know how much of any of his recipes I would be willing to try, aside from maybe some simple salads. These books were written for a British audience and everything is geared to the metric system. Plus, he has a breezy style about him that suggests he is more a travel writer than a cook. I'm not sure I trust these recipes, and don't want to make things that aren't going to work. I'm especially suspicious of some of his filled breads and pastries, and flatbreads. In my experience, ethnic filled breads and pastries and flatbreads are some of the hardest things to make if you didn't grow up watching your mother make them and learning at her knee. Yet he just breezes through these recipes as though they were no big deal. I'm doubtful. If I were still within the refund period, I would ask for my money back on these books. I'm leaving the same review for both, as my impression of both of them is the same.

Great easy to follow recipes.. amazing background information about the area .. reading this book and looking at the pictures make you want to visit Lebanon so badly

great purchase

Can’t wait to try the recipes

I have several Lebanese cook books and this is by far the most beautiful!! I also have a Lebanese mother who is an amazing cook so my expectations were already quite high. This book is just gorgeous! The recipes look very easy to follow and in some cases with a special twist. I was very happy to see that some old recipes are featured in the book, ones that remind me of my childhood in Lebanon, recipes that, since moving abroad, we do not cook anymore. Well done for such a masterpiece! I can't wait to start cooking....!

Another excellent cookbook from John Gregory Smith. Engaging writing and incredible photos. Just cooked my first meal - a whole collection of the meze recipes. My family thought it was the best dinner they had ever eaten (and I cook for them all the time!).

Absolutely stunning Lebanese cookbook . Gorgeous recipes & beautiful photographs . I spent 3 months in Beruit and it’s like all of my favourite dishes are in one book . I can’t recommemd Saffron in the souks highly enough . It will be a pleasure to start cooking from it . I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do ❤️

This is the first recipe book I bought from this extremely talented cook! So enamoured by loving almost every recipe - which is really rare - by the end of the week I had bought two more of his recipe books. Each delivers in terms of flavour and the book is a delight. There is no recipe that is a “filler”....each one is created perfectly. Well done 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

I have hundreds of cookbooks and I can confidently say that this book is full of great recipes that actually work. The book has beautiful pictures as well. The king chicken shawarma was easy and devoured by my kids in record time, prefering to fill up their bellies with more chicken than saving space for ice cream. And they requested I make it again soon too. All his books have been great but this one has become a family favorite in a very short time. I am going to get the kindle version as well because I want to make sure I have access to the recipes while shopping for groceries.