Sumac: Recipes and Stories from Syria

A tribute to his homeland, Anas Atassis Sumac is an exquisitely photographed cookbook full of recipes that have been passed down through time. Featuring everything from the wonderful Friday breakfasts Anas often ate in his grandmother garden and his mothers sfeeha (small savoury pies) to za atar flatbread, batata harra (spicy potatoes), sayadiyah (spicy fish pilaf with caramelised onions) and Zahra (spicy roasted cauliflower) which he enjoys making for his friends.

Each of the 80 traditional and contemporary recipes in this cookbook retains the heart of Syrian family life―a family life shared by the majority of Syrians before the war cast them out across the whole world.

Sumac includes dishes for:

• Grilled Aubergine with Yoghurt Sauce (Sheikh Mushatah)
• Chicken Shish Kebab (Shish Tawook)
• Filo Pastries with Meat and Rice Filling (Ouzi)
• Chickpeas in Yoghurt Tahini Sauce (Musabaha)
• Eggs with Beef and Courgette (Mufarakeh)
• Tomato Soup with Barley and Lamb Shank (Shorbat Ameh)
• Fish with Sumac Tahini Sauce (Tajen Samak)
• Ashta and Caramel Bread Cheesecake (Aish El Saraya)
• Forgotten Date Cake