A Fistful of Lentils

There seems to be a trend of authors exploring the cuisine and traditions of their culture in cookbooks and it is a trend I absolutely love! There is nothing quite like reading a family story of why and how a certain recipe is important in a family and the significance of it to an author - even if we may never meet.Abadi's book is a timely arrival in our home since I plan on using it as part of our Passover Seder meal planning. Combined with Bene Israel recipes from India, Syrian recipes from this book and other recipes from Jewish communities around the world, I hope to create a truly multicultural Seder that emphasizes the variety of what is Jewish cuisine.The recipes are mild and flavorful. Syrian cooking tends to focus on the sweet rather than the spicy so if you are looking for food with a kick, this may be a surprise. I have already tried a few recipes and they are delicious. The instructions are clear and the flavors are a wonderful.The book includes menus for major holidays and events (including a bridal shower and a 'meet your suitor' tea party!). I am going to have so much fun with this cookbook!

These recipes sound amazing! I just got the book a few days ago and haven’t cooked from it yet. I’m having too much fun reading it! Everything sounds so delicious!

I first checked this book out from our local library and fell in love with. Knew we wanted to have it as a permanent part of our cookbooks. My husband is from Syria, though not Jewish or from Aleppo, he was familiar with most of the dishes and delighted with the previously unfamiliar ones. (He emphasized how well-respected and trustworthy the Jews are in Syria, and how they have had a good relationship with the Muslim majority. He could not remember ever hearing of a negative incident regarding a Jewish family.) We have made several things from this book and find them to be delicious, easy to prepare, and love that she is so easy to read. Her family photos are a neat bonus, though I wish she could have included some photos of the prepared recipes. This is a keeper!

My wife and I often use recipes from this book to make our Sabbath meals. Last week we made several dishes from the book, including a stew and a rice-based dish, and we are still enjoying the leftovers several days later. They are delicious! All of the recipes have turned out well, with the possible exception of the M'jedrah, though I suspect that the difficulties I had with that recipe were due more to my own shortcomings as an amateur cook than with any flaws in the recipe itself. I should add that my wife and I are vegetarians, and that the book is great for vegetarians and vegans. Highly recommended.

This recipe collection is full of history as well as useful cultural information and comparisons. I've been reading it nightly like a novel because it's so interesting. Makes up for the lack of photos. I have tried several of the recipes and intend to work my way through a broad representation of the rest. The clear instructions are easy for the beginner, and there are more advanced recipes for the accomplished cook. This book will not get lost or forgotten on the shelf!

I love the stories within this cookbook. My fiancee is from Aleppo and even tho he is not jewish he was suprised i was able to talk to him about different foods and aspects of the culture that he did not know i knew.

This book not only contains delicious straightforward recipes, it gives a glimpse into the life of a young Syrian Jewish woman. the anecdotes accompanying many of the recipes are interesting and appealing. The book is a delight

These recipes brought me right back to the Syrian-Jewish community I grew up apart of. I've already made several of the recipes and really enjoyed the stories that came along side it.

This is a nice collection of recipes, many of which will already be familiar to lovers of Middle Eastern food, but also many distinctive dishes which may be unfamiliar. It lacks photography though (except for black and white photographs of the author's family members). For that reason I much prefer to look through my copy of  Aromas of Aleppo: The Legendary Cuisine of Syrian Jews  which is much more beautifully presented. Aromas of Aleppo: The Legendary Cuisine of Syrian Jews

Classic. This is the most comprehensive book I have found on lentils and recipes which are from the pulses . Only way it could be made any better would be to provide the perspective of lentils of the world, which would have probably added only about 200 pages at most or fewer if the recipe notes referred to the variations to the recipes incorporated by other cultures.