Saffron in the Souks: Vibrant recipes from the heart of Lebanon

Recipes were easy to make, with so many new ideas. Looking for something new to cook, try theses out.

This book follows the author as he moves around Lebanon cooking recipes with locals. There are many of the standards but also recipes I haven't seen before including new riffs own old standards. The recipes typical of the middle east do differ slightly in Lebanon where a tart edge seems to be popular - think lemon juice and pomegranate sauce.

Great easy to follow recipes.. amazing background information about the area .. reading this book and looking at the pictures make you want to visit Lebanon so badly

I've browsed the first couple of sections of both of this author's books that I bought (Orange Blossom & Honey: Magical Moroccan recipes from the souks to the Sahara and Saffron in the Souks) and I don't know how much of any of his recipes I would be willing to try, aside from maybe some simple salads. These books were written for a British audience and everything is geared to the metric system. Plus, he has a breezy style about him that suggests he is more a travel writer than a cook. I'm not sure I trust these recipes, and don't want to make things that aren't going to work. I'm especially suspicious of some of his filled breads and pastries, and flatbreads. In my experience, ethnic filled breads and pastries and flatbreads are some of the hardest things to make if you didn't grow up watching your mother make them and learning at her knee. Yet he just breezes through these recipes as though they were no big deal. I'm doubtful. If I were still within the refund period, I would ask for my money back on these books. I'm leaving the same review for both, as my impression of both of them is the same.

great purchase

Can’t wait to try the recipes

1st off, I’ve been following John on IG for sometime where he often shares recipes (the photos are absolutely killer so I must make the dishes) and have made more than a few. Each recipe I’ve made is clear to follow, spectacular in the liveliness of flavor, beauty of colors and surprise of textures. John himself is incredibly enthusiastic about Lebanon, generous in his acknowledgements and sharing of experiences, and overall seems a truly exceptional human. I’ve already read the book from cover to cover and am dying to walk in the old souks, smell the smells and see the beauty he describes so vividly. I can not recommend this book highly enough.

Have cooked most of the recipes and they're ALL good!

I literally want to cook everything in this book. The few recipes I have managed to do so far have been brilliant and come out looking like the photos (nearly!). Marvellous flavours, very accessible instructions, wonderful back stories.

The latest contribution from Mr. Smith: an excellent journey through the Souks underlined with magnificent Photographs and easy to follow recipes! A joy to read and cook from.

I have hundreds of cookbooks and I can confidently say that this book is full of great recipes that actually work. The book has beautiful pictures as well. The king chicken shawarma was easy and devoured by my kids in record time, prefering to fill up their bellies with more chicken than saving space for ice cream. And they requested I make it again soon too. All his books have been great but this one has become a family favorite in a very short time. I am going to get the kindle version as well because I want to make sure I have access to the recipes while shopping for groceries.