Complete Arab Cookery

(Hardback)

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Incorporating the history, traditions, and techniques of these countries Arto der Haroutunian has assembled an unparalleled breadth of recipes representing the whole gamut of Arab cooking. The basis of society in Arabia, especially in the south, was agriculture cereals, aromatics and spices were produced and exported via the caravan routes which passed from Syria through Arabia to the Yemen. Thus Arab dishes are subtle, varied and exotic. The basic diet largely comprised, and still does, dates, rice, milk, goat or lamb meat and coffee. The patchwork of peoples and countries that form this medley comprise dishes from Egypt some of the oldest recipes in the world such as melokhia, the famous soup of the Pharaohs. From Syria an enormous range of vegetable salads. From Lebanon sun-ripened fruits. From Iraq date, hazelnut, mushroom and fig recipes. From Armenia and Kurdistan the cracked wheat burghul dishes. From Cappadocia the exotic flavours of sesame and tahini. From the Caucasus the vast array of kebabs. From Assyria and Armenia classic stuffed vegetable dishes mahsi, and from Persia yogurt dishes, fabulous rice dishes, sherbets and sweet and sour dishes.

Author Bio

Arto der Haroutunian was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1940 and grew up in the Levant, but came to England with his parents as a child and remained there for most of his life. He studied architecture at Manchester University and established a career designing restaurants, clubs, and hotels. In 1970, in partnership with his brother, he opened the first Armenian restaurant in Manchester which eventually became a successful chain of six restaurants and two hotels. Given his passion for cooking it was a natural progression that he began to write cookery books as they combined his love of food with his great interest in the history and culture of the region. It was his belief that the rich culinary tradition of the Middle East is the main source of many of our Western cuisines and his books were intended as an introduction to that tradition. He died in 1987 at the untimely age of 47. He is survived by his wife and son who still live in Manchester. As well as his passion for cooking, Arto der Haroutunian was a painter of international reputation who exhibited all over the world.