The Turkish Cookbook Review

The Turkish Cookbook: A Celebration of a Remarkable Culinary Heritage

In this week we are back with a cookbook dedicated to the remarkable culinary heritage of Turkey. In The Turkish Cookbook review, we’ll explore one of the most incredible collections of authentic Turkish recipes off all time.

The Turkish Cookbook is the first of its kind to so thoroughly showcase the diversity of authentic Turkish cuisine. From grilled meats, salads, and gloriously sweet pastries to home-cooking family staples such as dips, pilafs, and stews, this book celebrates the country´s remarkable European and Asian culinary heritage.

It includes an introduction showcasing the culinary cultural history of the country, with insightful headnotes, stunning photography of finished dishes and atmospheric images. Evoking the beauty and diversity of the Turkish landscape, environment, markets, and people.

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The Incredible Work of Musa Dagdeviren

Musa Dagdeviren is the most acclaimed chef in Turkey and the author of The Turkish Cookbook. He runs three successful restaurants in the heart of Istanbul, and a foundation devoted to rediscovering Turkish culinary heritage. In this latest offering, Musa shares the culturally rich foods of his homeland, with dishes deeply rooted in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern traditions.

The Turkish Cookbook is a staggering collection of more than 550 delicious recipes. Here you will find recipes from little-known regional dishes like Lamb and Apricot Stew, to those that are globally recognized, like Chicken Kebabs, Tahini Halva, or Pistachio Baklava.

But more than just recipes, this book will show you different ways to use ingredients like meats, poultry, and fish. It also emphasizes the use of vegetables and whole grains in a plethora of hearty and home-cooked family staples. And besides all this, the book spends time exploring the country’s dynamic cultural heritage, with an introduction dedicated to he vast culinary history of Turkey.

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What We Think About This Book

Luckily this year we had the opportunity to travel throughout Turkey to get to know the gastronomic traditions of this country. We had the privilege to try a lot of different foods and drinks. But the best part of this trip is that we get to know traditions, people, and landscapes of one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world.

The Turkish Cookbook is just like our trip! In this book, you will embark on a journey throughout Turkey without leaving the comfort of your kitchen. We already tried some of the recipes in this book, and we can tell you that they are pretty authentic. They are easy to make with straight forward instructions. Alongside each recipe, you will find useful icons indicating vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, as well as recipes with five ingredients or fewer.

The photographs were the only thing disappointing in this book. Some photos are just boring to watch, without the whoo factor that we’re used to seeing in other Phaidon Books. Besides this, we would love to see more photos of the final dishes. In some cases, especially when you don’t know the recipe, a photo would be useful.

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At The End of The Turkish Cookbook Review

The Turkish Cookbook is the perfect companion for anyone wishing to master truly authentic, home-cooked Turkish cuisine. This cookbook is Musa Dagdeviren showcase of the most cherished and nostalgic recipes from the cultural landscape of Turkey. Although we would love to see more photographs of the final dishes, this book has so much to offer, that it should be mandatory in all kitchens around the world.