A Middle Eastern Pantry: Essential Ingredients for Classic and Contemporary Recipes

Chef, author, and spice blender Sercarz (Mastering Spice) returns to his roots with a handbook to the building blocks of Middle Eastern cuisine. Each chapter highlights a pantry staple with history, production, and agricultural details, followed by companion recipes. Readers who don’t have access to Sercarz’s La Boîte spice atelier in New York City will learn how to create their own spice blends, pastes, pickles, and condiments. He also highlights how to use a wide variety of other ingredients from dried fruit to grains. The lush photography pairs well with a simple yet functional and appealing layout. Recipes vary from traditional to creative and modern and do well highlighting the star ingredient. Regions from across the Middle East are represented, and Sercarz’s attention to detail and thorough research are evident in recipe introductions. Vignettes of local producers also make this book informative and a pleasure to read. Recommended for foodies who love recipe origins and history.