Sweet Delights from a Thousand and One Nights: The Story of Traditional Arab Sweets

Which dessert is named after the heroic third century Queen Zenobia of Palmyra? Which crunchy pastry shares its name with the caps worn by the Turkmens of Anatolia? How does one make the perfect Baqlawah?  Blending cooking with culture and recipes with history, this is the fascinating and delectable story of traditional Arab sweets. Filling the tables of caliphs and noblemen, these sumptuous desserts of saffron and rose water conjure the opulence and grandeur of the medieval Islamic world. Bringing together tenth to fourteenth century Arabic texts, the authors retrace the history of these sweet dishes, reviving the original recipes and following their development and influence over the centuries into non-Arabic speaking lands. Honey, dates, figs, and pomegranates are just a few of the ingredients featured in this exquisite selection of mouth-watering desserts, all woven together with medieval poems and stories. A unique insight into Middle Eastern culinary history, this beautifully illustrated book is a must-have for anyone with a sweet tooth.