The Saffron Tales: Recipes from the Persian Kitchen
Winner of the M.F.K Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing from Les Dames d'EscoffierNew York Times Best Cookbooks of the YearWall Street Journal Best Cookbooks of the YearBBC Food Programme Best Cookbooks of the Year
Armed with little more than a notebook and a bottle of pomegranate molasses, and fueled by memories of her family's farm in the lush seaside province of Gilan, British-Iranian cook Yasmin Khan traversed Iran in search of the most delicious recipes for this Persian cookbook.
Her quest took her from the snowy mountains of Tabriz to the cosmopolitan cafés of Tehran and the pomegranate orchards of Isfahan, where she was welcomed into the homes of artists, farmers, electricians, and teachers. Through her travels, she gained a unique insight into the culinary secrets of the Persian kitchen, and the lives of ordinary Iranians today.
In The Saffron Tales, Yasmin weaves together a tapestry of stories from Iranian home kitchens with exclusive photography and fragrant, modern recipes that are rooted in the rich tradition of Persian cooking. All fully accessible for the home cook, Yasmin's recipes range from the inimitable fesenjoon (chicken with walnuts and pomegranates) to kofte berenji (lamb meatballs stuffed with prunes and barberries) and ghalyieh maygoo (shrimp, coriander, and tamarind stew). She also offers a wealth of vegetarian dishes, including tahcheen (baked saffron and eggplant rice) and domaj (mixed herb, flatbread, and feta salad), as well as sumptuous desserts such as rose and almond cake, and sour cherry and dark chocolate cookies.
With stunning photography from all corners of Iran and gorgeous recipe images, this lavish cookbook rejoices in the land, life, flavors, and food of an enigmatic and beautiful country.
Author
Yasmin Khan is a best-selling author, broadcaster and human rights campaigner who is passionate about sharing people's stories through food. Her work sits on the intersection between food, travel and politics and her critically acclaimed books The Saffron Tales, Zaitoun and Ripe Figs share everyday stories of beauty and connection from places more commonly associated with conflict. Prior to her writing career, Khan was a human rights campaigner for a decade, running national and international campaigns for NGOS and grassroots groups on poverty and human rights.
Review
"Yasmin Khan has lived and traveled widely in Iran, and The Saffron Tales . . . reflects traditions she knows intimately. But she has the rare gift of being able to translate her personal heritage into recipes even newcomers will be able to pull off." - The New York Times Book Review
"Yasmin Khan traversed Iran in search of the country's most delicious recipes, adding her own modern twist to each dish." - The Independent
"One of the more engrossing cookbooks I read this year . . . Nations speak and, in some cases, survive through their culinary traditions. This book is an incomparable and important examination of Iranian society through its kitchens and cuisine." - Jessica Koslow, The Wall Street Journal
"Of all the books I read for this roundup, [The Saffron Tales] had the most recipes I wanted to try. The combination of simple and unusual gets me every time. An omelette with dates and cinnamon was a delight. Olives marinated with walnuts and pomegranates were cocktail-hour crack." - The Wall Street Journal
"[Khan’s] food is a sensitive balance of tradition with modern tweaks." - Los Angeles Times
"Yasmin celebrates the rich history of Persian food with accessible recipes and enticing photographs. Fan of Ottolenghi? You’ll love this!" - Good Housekeeping
"A truly impressive culinary compendium showcasing and celebrating the cuisine of Iran . . . enjoyable . . . inspiring . . . The Saffron Tales is strongly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections." - Midwest Book Review
"This is so much more than a compilation of recipes, gorgeous though they themselves are. This is a book that tells a story, both cultural and personal, and her voice is as engaging as her food." - Nigella Lawson
"Yasmin’s recipes are a mouthwatering showcase of a beautiful country." - Yotam Ottolenghi
"Not just a great cookbook but a book full of stories--a love letter to Iran and its people." - Diana Henry
"Yasmin Khan draws on her vast experience as a storyteller, cook, human rights activist, itinerant traveler and writer to create a moving, empathetic, hugely knowledgeable and utterly delicious book."
- Anthony Bourdain on ZAITOUN