A Taste of Turkish Cuisine

The traditional dishes featured in A Taste of Turkish Cuisine make use of a variety of beans, grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and, of course, yogurt, one of Turkey's most important contributions to international cuisine. Simple yet rich in flavors, Turkish cuisine resounds of its varied influences, which range from Chinese and Mongolian to Persian and Greek. A history of Turkey's culinary traditions accompanies the 187 recipes, as well as glossaries of commonly used ingredients and Turkish cooking terms.

"In Turkey we talk about individuals with `tasty hands,'" writes Nur lkin. "This implies that they have wonderful recipes and are excellent cooks. I hope you will find that I have `tasty hands' and I hope you will acquire some `tasty hands' by preparing my recipes."

Customer Reviews:

Thoroughly disappointing

By Dave Essel - March 14, 2005

This book was a disappointment from start to finish. Written by a non-professional (the author is the wife of a senior Turkish diplomat as is repeatedly impressed upon the reader and furthermore needed the assistance of a co-author to get the project completed), what we have here is more a vanity publication than anything else. The recipes show a lack of feeling of genuineness and demonstrate unpleasant presumption and lack of respect both for the cuisine and for the reader. Killer example: in the explanation of terms, tahini is explained and then the suggestion made that a cup of tahini may be replaced by 2/3 cup of peanut butter mixed with 1/3 cup of oil. This revolting (and culturally and ethnically wrong) advice sets the tone for this sad excuse for a cookery book. My recommendation for the real thing: get The Sultan's Kitchen by Ozcan Ozan, a professional restaurateur.

Must have cookbook

By Y. Ilkin - March 5, 2011

My family is Turkish and many of the foods found in Turkish cookbooks are disappointing because of their misinterpretation of the countries cooking. This cookbook has real Turkish recipes, with proper use of ingredients such as the spices, nuts, and oils. It's easy to follow and dishes turned out very much like my mum's, even on the very first try. Highly recommended for even the amateur chef.

If you love bland food

By Mad about Music - November 20, 2011

A huge disappointment. The recipes contain virtually no spices, and herbs are only occasionally used, and then only as a garnish. I have traveled in Turkey and loved the food, and I find it hard to believe that a cuisine so varied and interesting on the ground can be reduced to such consummately boring recipes. An example: the recipe for Lamb Shanks And Rice a la Ankara calls for lamb, rice, butter, salt and black pepper. That's it. Guess they don't have seasonings in Ankara. Or the rest of Turkey.... read more