Whenever we mention the names of dishes like hummus or fattoush, we will immediately think of Lebanese cuisine because mainly traditional dishes in Syria originate from many other world regions, especially after the Islamic era. However, these dishes also make up a part of traditional Syrian cuisine.
Syrian gastronomy reflects the combination of many different culinary styles, giving them an exquisite flavor that makes you want to eat more. To indulge in these delicious flavors, consider these 10 best Syrian cookbooks below that we recommend to make some home recipes.
Our Syria: Recipes from Home
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“Beautifully done cookbook with recipes from our home country. I appreciated the more complicated recipes alongside the simpler street food recipes. The pictures and stories were done perfectly.”- Nannie D.
Syrian cuisine is a cross between spices and sweetness collide and is the meeting point of the best flavors from East and West. Itab and Dina met with Syrian women in the Middle East and Europe to collect recipes from one of the world’s most extensive culinary cultures. They spent a lot of time cooking, learning recipes, and listening to exciting stories here. Many recipes that elicit vibrant images of an ancient culture will be featured in this book:
- Hot Yogurt Soup
- Fresh Thyme and Halloumi Salad
- Lamb and Okra Stew
- Chicken Shawarma Wraps
- Semolina and Coconut Cake
About the author: Itab Azzam was born in Sweida, Syria, and moved to the United Kingdom in 2011. She is an award-winning theatre producer, filmmaker, and the team behind BBC Four’s Syrian School. Itab is one of the producers of the Peabody and BAFTA-winning documentary series Exodus: Our Journey to Europe. Additionally, she has produced independent films, including Antigone of Syria and Queens of Syria. She currently lives in London.
Dina Mousawi is passionate and started her artistic career at the age of 10. She has had the opportunity to take part in national and international tours throughout America, Europe, and the Middle East.
In 2012, after making the film Antigone of Syria, Dina continued to produce and direct the Terrestrial Journey – a theatrical production staged with Syrian women living in Beirut’s refugee camps. She currently lives in London and works at the Complicite theatre company.
Aromas of Aleppo: The Legendary Cuisine of Syrian Jews
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“Found recipes easy to follow. Beautiful photos within a large book deserving coffee table placement.”- Bookaholic
When the Aleppian Jewish community migrated from the old city of Aleppo (Syria) to New York and Latin American cities in the early 20th century, it brought with its vibrant culture and rich cuisine. However, most Syrian recipes exist only in the minds of older generations, not written down. Poopa Dweck has spent much of his life preserving and honoring his community’s centuries-old heritage by recounting history and culture through unique dishes.
Dweck offers over 180 interesting ethnic recipes with captivating illustrations of the Aleppian Jewish community’s unique customs. The irresistible recipes you can find in this book are:
- Bazargan–Tangy Tamarind Bulgur Salad
- Shurbat Addes–Hearty Red Lentil Soup with Garlic and Coriander
- Kibbeh–Stuffed Syrian Meatballs with Ground Rice
- Samak b’Batata–Baked Middle Eastern Whole Fish with Potatoes
- Sambousak–Buttery Cheese–Filled Sesame Pastries
- Eras bi’Ajweh–Date–Filled Crescents
- Chai Na’na–Refreshing Mint Tea
About the author: Poopa Dweck is an Aleppian Jewish culinary expert and author of the Deal Delights cookbook.
She is also an active community leader, regularly giving lectures and cooking demonstrations. Dweck is also a co-founder of the Sephardic Women’s Organization and founder of the Jesse Dweck City Learning Center and Daughters of Sarah. She lives in Deal, New Jersey, with her husband and five children.
The Bread and Salt Between Us: Recipes and Stories from a Syrian Refugee’s Kitchen
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“Beautiful people, an amazing story, and incredible food”- Heidi
To express her gratitude to the community who sponsored the Mayada family’s resettlement, she prepared a hearty meal. Mayada’s act of sharing food ignited an outpouring of support. Numerous dinners followed and attracted enthusiastic crowds to help and enjoy her cooking. This cookbook captures her collection of recipes as well as the story of Mayada’s journey.
The Bread and Salt Between Us offer you more than forty recipes. From the fresh tabbouleh that she learned from her mother and sisters to the rice pudding for her future husband.
All proceeds from the sale of this cookbook will directly benefit Mayada’s family and other refugee community members.
About the author: Mayada Anjari is an active home cook. She is a mother of four children and lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Jennifer Sit is a writer, cookbook editor, and co-author of Senegal: Modern Senegalese Recipes from the Source to the Bowl with Pierre Thiam of the James Beard Award nomination. Besides, she has edited cookbooks at independent publishing houses Lake Isle Press and Blue Apron, including the IACP Award-winning Blue Apron Cookbook. Jennifer Sit currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Liz Clayman is the contributor to the great photographs in this book and is a New York food and hospitality photographer.
Saha: A Chef’s Journey Through Lebanon and Syria [Middle Eastern Cookbook, 150 Recipes]
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“Buy this book for your reference library if you are at all interested in a book with beautiful pictures, fantastic stories, but most importantly, yummy recipes.”- Angela T. Szpojda
At Saha, world-renowned chef Greg Malouf explored its influential culinary scene. The traditional and inspirational dishes in Saha will make people be captivated by its unique taste.
You will find hearty peasant dishes or delicately spiced specialties from ancient palaces, all of which are intricate and delicate in flavor but not too complicated to make at home. Touching stories and rich and interesting recipes from Lebanon and Syria that embody the spirit of modernity and antiquity, taste, and color are beautifully depicted in the cookbook. This illustrative and lavish design is full.
About the author: Greg Malouf was born in Melbourne, Australia, but his parents are Lebanese. Before working internationally, he took formal apprenticeships at some of Australia’s best restaurants. Greg Malouf has created a unique cooking style that combines Middle Eastern tradition with contemporary flair.
He is currently co-authoring with Lucy Malouf on several award-winning works and cooking at Melbourne’s MoMo restaurant.
Lucy Malouf is a writer and editor living in Melbourne. She regularly contributes to food magazines, major Australian newspapers, and food and wine-based websites. Lucy Malouf also works as a restaurant reviewer and writer for the leading Melbourne food guides.
The Aleppo Cookbook: Celebrating the Legendary Cuisine of Syria
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“This cookbook is beautiful, and I want to make almost every recipe. They are simpler than Indian cooking but still fascinating and yummy.”- Jane VanSant
In this comprehensive cookbook, you will be exposed to practical instructions on Middle Eastern cooking techniques by one of the most famous chefs in the Arab world, as well as step-by-step explanations of over 200 irresistible recipes. Attractive cooking is divided into 15 chapters, including:
- Basic Recipes
- Appetizers and Mezze
- Soups
- Salads and Accompaniments
- Grains
- Fish
- Poultry
- Desserts and Sweets
- Pickles and Preserves
- Beverages and more
In addition, a highlight in this book becomes a beautiful cookbook, a great gift for food lovers are wonderful colorful pictures of food, people, and markets of Aleppo.
About the author: Besides being a chef, Marlene Matar is also a highly accomplished culinary teacher. She studied at Beirut’s L’Academia Italiana Bella Cucccina, Montreal’s Ecole Professionnelle de Cuisine Chinoise, and received a Grand Diplôme in cooking and pastry from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.
Scents and Flavors: A Syrian Cookbook (Library of Arabic Literature (63))
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“This is wonderful! I have tried many of the recipes and found them all tasty!”- trackyj
“Scents and Flavors: A Syrian Cookbook” is organized like a meal, opening with appetizers, juices, and main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Booked by chapters on antiperspirants and post-meal hand soaps, medicinal oils, concoctions, and perfumes, this comprehensive cookbook is a feast for all of your senses.
About the author: Charles Perry is a culinary historian and has written many books on Middle Eastern cooking. In addition, he has published and consulted on Middle Eastern culinary history and translated several pre-modern texts, including A Baghdad Cookery Book: The Book of Dishes.
Claudia Roden is a cultural anthropologist and a British cookbook writer. She is the author of famous Middle Eastern cookbooks, including A Book of Middle Eastern Food.
Soup for Syria: Recipes to Celebrate our Shared Humanity
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“Soup for Syria is a wonderful book on many levels. The recipes are delicious, yet simple to prepare; the photographs are beautiful; the profits help people.”- Cracked Country Lips
Famous cookbook authors and chefs the world have come together to help food relief efforts to alleviate the suffering of Syrian refugees. Many individuals have contributed the recipes in this beautifully illustrated cookbook of delicious soups worldwide.
All profits that we get from the sale of this cookbook will be donated to help fund food relief efforts through various non-profit organizations.
About the author: Barbara Abdeni Massaad was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and has moved to Florida. She is a TV host, regular contributor to international cooking magazines, a culinary writer, and cookbook author.
Barbara Abdeni Massaad is the author of Man’oushe: Inside the Street Corner Lebanese Bakery and won the International Academy of Gastronomy Award for Mouneh: Preserving Foods for the Lebanese Pantry and the Gourmand Cookbook Award.
Barbara is also a founding member of Slow Food Beirut and is an active participant in the International Slow Food movement. She currently lives in Beirut with her husband and three children.
Syrian Style Recipes: A Complete Cookbook of Middle-Eastern Dish Ideas!
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“Easy to follow”- maha Greer
This cookbook will bring you all kinds of Syrian-style cooking ideas, from breakfast, lunch, to dinner and side dishes, the author will share them in this helpful book to help you prepare new and delicious dishes at home.
About the author: Daniel Humphreys is a culinary writer and the author’s culinary knowledge influenced by British mothers. Daniel has 15 years of experience as a chef and has excellently satisfied all diners, even the most demanding ones.
Ah’len Cookbook – A Culinary Journey Through the Eyes of the Syrian Lebanese Association of Trinidad
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“This book was awesome, and the food is fantastic!”- Olivia Dalla Costa
This “Best in the world” award-winning cookbook is the publication of the Syrian Lebanese Women Association in Trinidad and Tobago containing delicious family traditional recipes that have been passed down from mothers for girls of generations.
This book presents the history of the migration of people from the Middle East to the Caribbean. This is not just a cookbook, but also a collection of told stories and insight into Syrians and Lebanese’s growing up in Trinidad and Tobago.
About the author: “Ah’len Cookbook – A Culinary Journey Through the Eyes of the Syrian Lebanese Association of Trinidad” is created by The Syrian Lebanese Women’s Association, which brings together many people with passion and experience in culinary. This is their first cookbook.
Sitto’s Kitchen: A Treasury of Syrian Family Recipes Taught from Mother to Daughter for Over 100 Years
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“Some excellent family recipes that do truly reflect the Middle East’s delicious foods in general and, more precisely, Syria.”- Fisherman3
This unique cookbook is a collection of recipes of the Syrian family, taught from mother to daughter for over 100 years in the Arabic kitchen. You will find over 165 recipes with over 100 full-color appetizing photos of delicious food that will take you on your journey to discover traditional Syrian food.
The author offers delightful treats, from an Aleppo breakfast to after-dinner Arab coffee and sweets. In addition, the book also includes some Bulgarian Wheat dishes to satisfy and delight vegetarians.
About the author: Janice Jweid Reed was born and raised in the vibrant Syrian-Lebanese community in Paterson, New Jersey. She has lived and worked in Southern California for over 20 years. Janice Jweid Reed recently retired and is now a grandmother but still loves to cook and teach traditional Arabic dishes to family, friends, and community.
We hope you like this post and finally find out your favorite Syrian cookbooks. Meanwhile, we welcome you to explore our site and discover more cookbook recommendations from the same cuisine below.
