The Mediterranean Dish: 120 Bold and Healthy Recipes Youll Make on Repeat: A Mediterranean Cookbook by Suzy Karadsheh

The Mediterranean Dish: 120 Bold and Healthy Recipes Youll Make on Repeat: A Mediterranean Cookbook Reviews

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  Judy

  This is a great cookbook with lots of great recipes. I rate cookbooks by whether I want to try out the recipes or not. In this case practically all of them had me wanting to give them a try. I'm looking forward to seeing if they are as good as they sound.
• 
  Samantha M.

  Admittedly, there is a lot about Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food that mystifies me. Being a Southern California native, and having a lot of the spices and ingredients of this exotic and tantalizing food region at my fingertips with the selection of Middle Eastern markets in my area, I was excited to stumble upon The Mediterranean Dish to help guide me through the process of bringing these delightful scents to my home kitchen. So many of the choices in the book are things I would go for in takeout, because I thought they would be too complex to execute on my own. Am really glad to see that Suzy Karadsheh has made these recipes approachable and fun to make. I’ve received a free copy from Clarkson Potter in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
  First of all, she introduces herself and leads through the pantry, which is a huge help. She even takes time to explain what a “pinch” or a “dash” truly equates to, especially depending on which type and grind of salt you may have on hand. She gives permission to play with what grabs your particular taste, and that freedom for wiggle-room means a lot. The recipe I had the most fun with was “Anytime Falafel” (p. 106) because I am huge fan and this turned out amazing, and I totally recommend her suggestion of replacing a couple pieces of falafel in scrambled eggs (like you’d place tater tots, etc)… SO good! Because I am a baker (formerly by trade), I wanted to whip up her “Orange-Cardamom Olive Oil Cake” (p.268). It is such a robust addition to evening after-dinner coffee, that is naturally sweet with or without the dusting of confectioners sugar. Very simple for a beginning baker, too. This is a great book to continue exploring the flavors of her home region, for varying ranges of skill in the kitchen.
• 
  Ashani

  This book is a gem! I love reading about Egypt. But I haven't really had read much about its beautiful cuisine, than its famous pyramids and rich history. Suzy is voice is lyrical in her memories from Egypt and I'm so glad the western hemisphere has a place to her cuisine with this beautiful book! I love all the juicy salad recipes and specially one recipe that caught my mind is "Cheater's hawawshi pies". I want to make them soon (PS: And all the meaty dishes from that chapter!). I would pair hawahshi pies with orange and olive oil cake from chapter "After Dinner and in between". If there's anyone out there that loves middle eastern cuisine, this book is a must to have in your collection!
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  Thank you so much for Clarkson Potter for the free book, for I have published this free and unbiased review in exchange.
• 
  Reading Fool

  The author, Suzy Karadsheh, grew up in Egypt and now lives in America (in Atlanta). She is the creator of The Mediterranean Dish website, which I have always enjoyed, so I was excited about this publication. I always appreciate the introduction of any ethnic cookbook because it often gives me a primer on the culture's diet, spices and herbs, and influences. This one did not disappoint and was very educational. The recipes here are easy to understand and follow, and the photos are gorgeous. I have tried a few recipes, all successfully (my friends and family enjoyed them and had seconds!). One standout was Sheet Pan Smoky Chicken, Chickpeas, and Carrots - so good that I prepared it for my husband and myself, loved it, then cooked it for company soon after. They loved it, too. I even made the Orange-Cardamom-Olive Oil Cake for dessert. Also a winner. These are very user-friendly recipes that a home cook at any level will appreciate. I've received a free copy from Clarkson Potter in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
• 
  Jodi

  The author gained credibility to me when she said you need to de-skin your chickpeas before making hummus. I figured out that myself but never have seen that echoed anywhere. It makes a huge difference to texture and flavor (the skins are bitter).
  
  Otherwise, every recipe I have tried has been a huge success. The savory feta and the kofta and potatoes are my favorites so far. I've followed true to recipe. Recipes are easy to follow and the seasoning / spice amounts and cook time have been spot on. There are a handful of unusual ingredients if you aren't used to Mediterranean cooking (harrissa paste, a couple spices) but they are easy to find if you are in a city or order online, and they are not featured in every recipe so you can do without. Most recipes are accompanied by beautiful photos (true to the dish) and are accessible to a home cook.
  
  The one negative is for a healthy cookbook, she doesn't have the calories / nutrient breakdown per serving. I've done them myself and have always been impressed so would have been a nice feature.
• 
  Lene Kretschz

  An excellent cookbook and a must-have for any readers of Suzy Karadsheh's food blog, The Mediterranean Dish. This beautifully produced, colourful, and well-organized cookbook is full of appealing recipes that range from traditional (Matbucha, Fasolia, Makhlouta) to transformative (Tomato Peach Panzanella Salad, Za'atar Sweet Potato and Chickpea Breakfast Hash, Lemony Dukkah-Crusted Sea Bass with Smashed Peas), nearly all of which are healthy and relatively light, emphasizing fresh ingredients and bright flavours. A helpful pantry guide and thorough index make using the cookbook very easy and Karadsheh's chatty, approachable writing style make it a pleasure to read. I'm really glad I preordered this and it's going to sit nicely alongside my beloved Claudia Roden cookbooks.
• 
  Gina Zappa

  I want to eat everything in this book immediately! Like, why am I not eating all of these things right this minute? It's not right. I need to go home and meal prep some of the Spanakopita Egg Muffins (pg. 115) today, and I'm super excited about trying the Easy Preserved Lemons (pg. 285) since I've been wanting to make those for a while now. This was a great book and went straight into the Amazon cart once I was done looking at my copy from my library.
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  T

  I love Suzy’s website so I was thrilled to discover she FINALLY published a cookbook. I was also thrilled to get my hands on a copy of said cookbook from my library and I will be purchasing a copy of my own. Suzy’s recipes are usually winners - and Mediterranean cuisine is my favorite to both cook and eat.
• 
  Stephanie

  It’s full of nice recipes and most have an accompanying photo. If you’re looking for shawarma wrap or gyro recipes, you’ll be a bit disappointed. I’m looking forward to making the hummus, falafel, fresh pita, a few appetizers and several of the vegetarian/vegan recipes.
• 
  Brindi Michele

  I really could live on a Mediterranean diet. YUM-O.
  
  My favorite recipe is by far anything with tomatoes, but in this cookbook the lemon cheesecake looks simply mouth-wateringly tart and perfect.
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  Mary C

  I can't even keep count of the wonderful recipes I have made by this woman and out of this wonderful cookbook.
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  Cheryl

  Some great recipes we want to try!
• 
  Cris

  Nice photos that show off the recipes well. The recipes themselves have a reasonable number of ingredients and straightforward instructions.
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  Tameeka

  Made the chicken shawarma and hummus - yum. Definitely more that I want to try.
• 
  Debbie

  Lots of lovely photos, though none of the dishes inspired me.