I have to admit, this may not be the most practical cookbook out there. It does feature some tough-to-find ingredients (such as "barberries," "Persian lime powder", etc.), and there are a lot of kebab type recipes that call for grilling - not the most practical for a busy weeknight cook. Some of the recipes here will require a commitment of time. However, that said, there are also many recipes here that are not too complicated, and a lot of very unique and exciting dishes: truly a culinary adventure. The "Khoresh" chapter is especially exciting to me - one pot meals that use exciting flavor combinations like dried or fresh fruits with meat and vegetables, reminiscent of the Moroccan tagine. If you're on a budget, there are also several ground-meat and egg dishes here, which are easy on the wallet. This book includes a huge number of recipes, all courses and with meat, poultry, fish, and protein-rich vegetarian options. The photographs are the most amazing I have ever seen in a cookbook. This is a very high quality book, and worth the bit more it may cost than other cookbooks. If you are interested in exotic flavor combinations and either willing to skip the ones with hard-to-find ingredients or track them down on the internet, this book will bring you much pleasure to both browse through and cook from.

If you can get the ingredients--and these days there are Arab/Persian food stores in most cities--you will not go wrong with this book. It's totally authentic food, cooked the way they cook at home in Iran. Persian food, if you happen not to have tried it, is unusual--pomegranates, compotes of greens, meat and fruits in same dish, pistachios, saffron and rose water --but always delicious and kind to the stomach. Beautifully set out, clear instructions, mouth-watering photos. Highly recommended both as cookbook and as guide to a vital part of Persian culture (they take their cuisine very seriously, and rightly so!)

Original recipes in this book are not only colorful but very tasty. Iranians sure know how to cook a meal. It's nice to see someone take such pride and effort in compiling a book as varied, complete, and beautiful as this one.

This book is written by the same author of "Persian Cooking for a Healthy Kitchen", and shares with this one the simple way in description of different recipes. This book has a more wide content of dishes, a chapter devoted to ceremonies and a lot of pictures, many with food and many devoted to Persian culture. It is not generally known that Persian Cooking was and is rather modern, previewing rules for a balanced diet, there are foods hot and cold and they cannot be mixed indifferently. It is a world to discover and this book gives a good help.

This is a wonderful book, not just as a cookbook but as a guide to some of the traditions of the Persian Culture. The pictures are beautiful and the recipes simple to follow. A must have for any household.

I grew up eating Persian food -- as a Persian-American I have pretty high standards for Persian food; the recipes in this book rival those my mom made when I was a kid... and she's a fantastic cook in her own right. I've made several of the khoreshes (hearty stews/soups), rices, and appetizers, and the directions are exactly right and easy to follow. There are very few "specialty" techniques in Persian food; if you can chop, fry, boil, and measure, you'll have no problem making these dishes even if you've never had Persian food before.

An outstanding, and beautifully constructed, book that works as well in the kitchen as it does on the coffee table.

But finally written down. This is a great book with very accurate and authentic recipes. It does a great job of breaking down all the steps into a very discrete manner that even a novice can follow. The serving portions are large so you have to cut down the portions somewhat. Pictures and paper quality are top notch.

A brilliant start to a cooks journey. The book has covered all areas of Persion cooking. The best I have seen either in English or Persion.

This book is an enthralling combination of recipes, culture and history. It is more than merely a cookbook. It offers a glimpse into the vibrant culture of this fascinating part of the world. The recipes are diverse and well-categorized. Though not every dish is photographed, the pictures are gorgeous, with traditional displays. Delightful!

As a Persian who loves to cook (and eat), I enjoyed this book so much. I have been a fan of cooking and consuming Persian delicacies my whole life, whether in the US or Iran. Batmanglij provides authentic recipes that are not too complex for the novice in a Persian kitchen. Her descriptions of Persian customs and their deep and intricate meanings are very helpful and insightful for those wishing to broaden their knowledge of a fascinating culture. I especially enjoyed her wedding description, because it is still done that way! The pictures are really a work of art; anyone who has ate Persian food knows presentation is everything and the layout Batmanglij displays is simply breathtaking. What I loved most about this book is that it is a great conversation starter! I discovered dishes I have never heard of and wound up asking my relatives in Iran about them. I have used this book not only for cooking, but referenced it for research papers, and given it to many people as gifts. If you buy this book, it will be the only book you need in your kitchen to create a true Persian feast. Noosh e Joon!

This book is well written, recipes are well documented, and easy to cater for and follow. This cuisine is indeed timeconsuming but ever so rewarding, results are always VERY impressive ! Lots and lots of compliments to the chef, which, of course translate to compliments to the authors of this amzingly useful, practical, informative and also beautiful book.
Having tasted it a few times at a friends' place, I decided that this must be the best and most beautiful cuisine in the world. Since I have no Iranian roots or relationships the cultural references and poetry are a nice addition. And now, I can also add that there is intense pleasure in taking lots of time for the preparation of these gorgeous dishes.

This book is well written, recipes are well documented, and easy to cater for and follow. This cuisine is indeed timeconsuming but ever so rewarding, results are always VERY impressive ! Lots and lots of compliments to the chef, which, of course translate to compliments to the authors of this amzingly useful, practical, informative and also beautiful book.
Having tasted it a few times at a friends' place, I decided that this must be the best and most beautiful cuisine in the world. Since I have no Iranian roots or relationships the cultural references and poetry are a nice addition. And now, I can also add that there is intense pleasure in taking lots of time for the preparation of these gorgeous dishes.

This book is visually stunning....and the recipes produce delicious dishes. Any serious cook must have a copy.

I love this book. After using it for two years I bought one for each of my sisters, and for a few friends. Everyone loves it. The food is always healthy, the flavors are distinct and the recipes are very easy to follow. Nush-e-jan! -liese

I love this book. After using it for two years I bought one for each of my sisters, and for a few friends. Everyone loves it. The food is always healthy, the flavors are distinct and the recipes are very easy to follow. Nush-e-jan! -liese

Not only is this book filled with beautiful photographs and illustrations from historical sources, but the recipes are easy to follow and absolutely delicious. I own a copy of this book for myself, and have given copies as gifts. Just a stunning addition to my cookbook shelf, however it is frequently found on my coffee table as well.

I gave this book 4 stars because it is a gorgeous book, were I rating it on recipes I would lower it to 3 stars...if you are looking for fabulous recipes like Fensenjan, or lamb stew with chestnuts and pomagranates look elsewhere.........

This is an absolutely fabulous book - I use it all the time, I never knew one cook rice in so many varied and interesting ways!
It's a wonderfull mix of recipies, folklore, ceremonies and a wide open window into the beautiful world of Persian life.
If you try only a few of the dishes in this book, even Iranian women will be impressed!!

This is an absolutely fabulous book - I use it all the time, I never knew one cook rice in so many varied and interesting ways!
It's a wonderfull mix of recipies, folklore, ceremonies and a wide open window into the beautiful world of Persian life.
If you try only a few of the dishes in this book, even Iranian women will be impressed!!

I had asked for this for our online Amazon registry because I had heard a lot of good things about the author. As a Persian-American I have been around Persian food a lot and make a lot of it myself, but I was curious to have a book that colaborated every recipe. I also wanted to re-learn a lot of the recipes which were self taught and create them in the way the author had instructed to do it the "right way" so to speak.

I was ... and still am ... very impressed with the book. I haven't been able to make it yet but the ones I have were delicious. The full pictures add to the feel of Iran and I was surprised to find recipes in there that neither my husband nor I had heard of or had. When I have time, I want to conquer those first.

Thanks Najmieh for your research and efforts!

When my aunt decided it was time that I learned to cook persian food (I am half-Persian and all american :-)), she sent me out to buy this book. The carefully she would mark the recipes with special changes she had made herself over the years. Most receipes remained unchanged. Even my beoved aunt couldn't improve on this. My cousin, when he proposed to his opera-singer wife, presented her with a copy of this book and a diamond engagement ring tied ot the ribbon pagemarker.
Today I ordered one for my sister, a pediatrician in Nashville. It's time we passed down the recipes to her. :-)
These reciped are so good and so easy, you'll claim they are longtime family recipes kept secret over the generations...a little white lie I doubt the author would mind. :-)

enjoy!
Parry Aftab

What a masterpiece! So carefully presented & such beautiful pictures & arrangements. My wife (Not Persian) has fallen in love with this book & has discovered many tasty dishes that make our dining table a delight. A MASTERPIECE. Great book.

As past reviews indicate, this is a really reliable, thorough cookbook. Iranian friends have admired everything I've fixed. It's especially useful to compare recipes in this book with the different versions found in "Persian Cooking For A Healthy" Kitchen. The spicing is sometimes slightly different and you can learn a lot just by seeing the possible variations.

As a passing note, I would say that when preparing the chelo in a rice cooker you can easily omit the oil. Virtually all of the butter must remain, however. (You can safely reduce the amount by 2-3 tablespoons.) Where water is called for, in the various stews, I use stocks.

The little-known (in Iran) khoresht-e zereshk is one of the best dishes in the book. And VERY Persian. It's a stew version of the far more famous zereshk polo, and slightly similar to fessenjoon, as well. Even strangers who have fixed it for guests have told me that it received rave reviews. The invariable joke is "how does an American know about this dish and WE don't?"

This book has made me an expert at Iranian cuisine. (Now all I need is a recipe for baaghaali ghataagh!)