This book is at once an exploration, a celebration, and a little-known tale of unity. It presents 150 delicious vegetarian dishes that together trace a fascinating story of culinary linkage. As renowned cookbook writer and teacher Najmieh Batmanglij explains, all have their origins along the ancient network of trade routes known as the Silk Road, stretching from China in the east to the Mediterranean in the west. On this highway moved not just trade goods but also ideas, customs, tastes and such basics of life as cooking ingredients. The result was the connecting and enrichment of dozens of cuisines. In 'Silk Road Cooking: A Vegetarian Journey', Najmieh Batmanglij recounts that process and brings it into the modern kitchen in the form of recipes that are venturesome and yet within reach of any cook. They are intended for vegetarian, partial-vegetarian and non-vegetarian alike -- anyone who is looking for balanced, unusual and exceptionally tasty dishes. The book offers a wealth of information derived from the author's extensive research and her travels along the Silk Road during the past 25 years. She complements the recipes with stories, pictures, histories of ingredients, and words of wisdom from her favourite poets and writers of the region. Introduction: A Travellers Tale; The Era of Caravans; New Foods -- East & West; Toward a Silk Road Cuisine; Salads, Eggs Rice Fruit & Vegetable Braises Pasta, Pizza & Bread Pastries, Desserts & Candies Teas, Coffee & Sherbets Preserves, Pickles & Spices Silk Road Glossary & Resources Credits & Acknowledgements Index.

"Kudos for Dahlia's beautiful Silk Road Vegetarian cookbook. Its food and lore are vibrant, evocative, and colorful, as are the pictures of the dishes and family gatherings. Each dish is as simple and wholesome as it is delicious. The book spans several cultures and cuisines while always remaining straightforward and within reach. All this and perfectly vegetarian and gluten-free. All I can say is WOW! You'll be eating your veggies, I guarantee it!--Levana Kirschenbaum (www.levanacooks.com), celebrity chef and author of The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen and Levana Cooks Dairy Free!"

NEW IN PAPERBACK The vegetarian cuisine of the Middle East and North Africa is a treasure chest of pungent herbs and spices, aromatic stews and soups, chewy falafels and breads, couscous, stuffed grape leaves, greens and vegetables, hummus, pizzas, pies, omelets, pastries and sweets, smooth yogurt drinks, and strong coffees. Originally the food of peasants too poor for meat, vegetarian cooking in the Middle East developed over thousands of years into a culinary art form influenced both by trade and invasion. It is as rich and varied in its history as it is in flavor—culinary historians estimate the Arab kitchen has over 40,000 dishes! Now noted food writer Habeeb Salloum has culled 330 savory jewels from this never-ending storehouse to create Classic Vegetarian Cooking from the Middle East—a rich, healthful, and economical introduction to flavors and aromas that have stood the test of time.

This book is at once an exploration, a celebration, and a little-known tale of unity. It presents 150 delicious vegetarian dishes that together trace a fascinating story of culinary linkage. As renowned cookbook writer and teacher Najmieh Batmanglij explains, all have their origins along the ancient network of trade routes known as the Silk Road, stretching from China in the east to the Mediterranean in the west. On this highway moved not just trade goods but also ideas, customs, tastes and such basics of life as cooking ingredients. The result was the connecting and enrichment of dozens of cuisines. In Silk Road Cooking: A Vegetarian Journey, Najmieh Batmanglij recounts that process and brings it into the modern kitchen in the form of recipes that are venturesome and yet within reach of any cook. They are intended for vegetarian, partial-vegetarian and non-vegetarian alike - anyone who is looking for balanced, unusual and exceptionally tasty dishes. The book offers a wealth of information derived from the author's extensive research and her travels along the Silk Road during the past 30 years. She complements the recipes with stories, pictures, histories of ingredients, and words of wisdom from her favorite poets and writers of the region. The scope of her culinary journey of discovery is vast - from Xian in China, to Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan, to Isfahan in Iran, to Istanbul in Turkey, and to the westernmost terminus of the ancient trade routes in Italy. Her recipes - all of them personal favorites - include such exotic yet simple fare as Sichuan Crispy Cucumber Pickles; Afghan Boulani, a savory pastry stuffed with garlic chives; Persian Pomegranate and Walnut Salad; Kermani Pistachio and Saffron Polow with Rose Petals; Chinese Hot and Sour Tofu Noodle Soup; Turkish Almond and Rice Flour Pudding; Uzbek Candied Quince with Walnuts; and Sicilian Sour Cherry Crostata. Fortunately, all the ingredients for these recipes can be obtained at local supermarkets and farmers' markets. In recent years America has become a kind of modern Silk Road, where wonderful ingredients from all over the world are available to everyone. Najmieh Batmanglij's cookbook, Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies was mentioned as "One of the most exciting cookbooks I've seen in a while" by Yotam Ottolenghi in the Guardian, and her From Persia to Napa: Wine at the Persian Table won the Gourmand Cookbook Award for the world's best wine history book of 2007. She has spent the past 33 years traveling, teaching cooking, and adapting authentic Persian and Silk Road recipes to tastes and techniques in the West. She is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier and has taught and lectured throughout the United States. She currently lives in Washington, DC, where she consults with restaurants around the world and teaches master classes in Persian and Silk Road cooking. Her most recent book is Happy Nowruz: Cooking with Children to Celebrate the Persian New Year.

"The Grande Dame of Iranian Cooking" Esteemed American chef. Award-winning cookbook author. Persian cooking instructor. Iranian immigrant. Storyteller. Mother of two acclaimed sons - Zal, a filmmaker; Rostam, a musician. Born in the middle of the 20th century in Tehran, Iran. Lives in Washington, DC and Los Angeles. Consults with restaurants around the world. Member of Les Dames d'Escoffier.

Vegetarian recipes from the Southwest's favorite restaurants

Master chef Najmieh Batmanglij distills one of the worlds oldest and most influential cuisines to capture its unique flavours in recipes adapted to suit our busy lives. Najmiehs fans have been making meals from her Food of Life for over 30 years. For "Joon" she has simplified 75 of her favourite dishes and shows how, with the right ingredients and a few basic tools and techniques, authentic Persian food can easily be prepared at home. The recipes in this book -- each accompanied by a photograph of the finished dish -- come straight from Najmiehs kitchen and include not only the classics of Persian cooking, but also some soon-to-be favourites, such as quinoa or kale cooked Persian-style. You will discover delicious side dishes, from cooling, yogurt-based salads and tasty dips and spreads, to more sustaining platters of grains, beans and fresh herbs; tasty "kukus" -- frittata-style omelettes filled with vegetables and herbs; spice-infused fish; mouth-watering meatballs and kebabs served on flat breads with tangy sauces; every kind of rice -- including the incomparable polow topped with various sweet and sour braises; not to mention, delightfully aromatic cakes and cookies to round off meals or enjoy as a snack in between.