Sweet Middle East

January 1, 2016

In this colorful volume of pastries, confections, and beverages, Helou (Levant) shares more than 60 recipes for distinctive Middle Eastern sweets. Western readers will recognize her recipes for baklava and Turkish coffee, but they'll be unfamiliar with most other dishes, including pumpkin halva, Turkish sweet chicken pudding, apricot leather ice cream, and barberry jam. Helou doesn't shy away from traditional ingredients such as mastic (a plant resin), mahlab (a spice made from cherry pits), and Argan oil; rather, she encourages seeking them out from suggested online sources if necessary. Other frequently used items, such as orange blossom water, cardamom, dates, and semolina, will be easy to find. VERDICT A unique dessert collection that will thrill fans of fragrant, spicy, and syrupy sweets. For a different take on similar flavors, try Anne Shooter's Sesame & Spice.

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