Claudia Roden's Mediterranean: Treasured Recipes from a Lifetime of Travel [A Cookbook] by Claudia Roden
Product details
Web ID: 14789520Part Cookbook, Part Memoir & Part Travelogue
For me, this is a book to borrow from the library and read once rather than one to add to my go-to cookbook collection to consult frequently. The author shares memories of her extensive travels and the foods she enjoyed in different regions, noting "There is a special conviviality and intimacy in the kitchen that you don't quite get in the living room... Memories of life in old rural worlds live on in the cooking, like ghosts hovering in the saucepans." There are beautiful scenic photos throughout the book, but they lack captions identifying the country which would have been helpful for anyone interested in travel. While I enjoyed reading about her experiences in various countries, I didn't find the recipes to feature new, inventive flavor combinations. She explains that Mediterranean food is often "simple and frugal" with a reliance on fruits and vegetables grown locally as well as nuts and herbs, with meat reserved for special occasions. With the exception of the chapters on meat, poultry and seafood, many of the dishes are vegetarian. The recipes are similar to those I've seen in other cookbooks. For example, the chapter on Appetizers includes recipes on Focaccia, Tarama (a dip with cod roe), Tapenade, Fresh Goat Cheese with Herbs and Olives, Mahammara Walnut and Roasted Pepper Dip, Eggplant Puree, Labneh, Roasted Cheese Polenta Cubes, Chicken Liver Mousse, and Green Olive, Walnut, and Pomegranate Salad. I can find similar versions of nearly all of those in other cookbooks. The recipes are relatively simple, often relying on fresh produce and good olive oil. and should be approachable for most home cooks. With a few exceptions, the ingredients are available in the Trader Joe's and Wegmans near me. I look forward to making Green Barley "Risotto" with Peas and Asparagus, Vegetable Couscous, Red Pepper and Tomato Salad, and Yogurt Cake. Although the author notes that the Mediterranean is wine country, she does not offer suggestions of wines to pair with the dishes. If you are primarily interested in vegetable-heavy Mediterranean dishes, I recommend the Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cookbook (Salma Hage, 2016), the Greek Vegetarian Cookbook (Heather Thomas, 2019) and Mediterranean Harvest (Martha Rose Shulman, 2007), all of which have a wider variety of recipes. And the first two have photos of most of the dishes unlike Claudia Roden’s Mediterranean which only has photos of approximately half of the finished dishes. I received a free copy from Ten Speed Press in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Beautiful book for adventurous cooks
Like a lot of people, I’ve been armchair traveling over the last year and a half (or kitchen stool traveling). Claudia Roden’s Mediterranean is one of my favorites for this pursuit. Her writing transports you, making you feel like you are eavesdropping in someone’s home or sitting in a seaside cafe on a wonderful vacation, absolutely idyllic and reminiscent of a time gone by. As for recipes, hers for a Tarte Pissaladiere is unbelievably good and makes me think of a trip many years ago to the south of France where I tasted it first, kind of an anchovy and onion pie. I’d share this book with someone who had few mediterranean books as this has a great smattering of all categories of dishes. I received a free copy of this book from Ten Speed Press in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Mediterranean Marvels
If you are a fan of travel throughout the Mediterranean and enjoy the flavors and colors of the beautiful countries in this region, this book is for you. I enjoyed the introduction pages the most as we are wrapped up in Author Claudia Roden's memories of travel, food, family, and the wonderful dishes that bring back warm feelings of comfort when preparing and eating these meals. The book is easy to read and the chapters are balanced in dishes that most home cooks can create with confidence. I found this book filled with flavors that remind me of my own travels, particularly the creamy polenta with mushrooms from Venice. Another dish that was a hit with my family was the chicken with apricots and pistachios, which was based on a 13th century Arab recipe that was interpreted to modern day. Flavors rich and delicious, you can't help but wonder about the families from so long ago who might have enjoyed the same dish. I find this book a treasure of travel stories, memories, simple yet flavorful ingredients, and beautiful recipes that any cook would love to make in their own home. Great book for the holidays, grab a copy for yourself and gift one to your favorite person. I received a free copy from Ten Speed Press in exchange for a free an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Delicious and Beautifully Done!
I always forget that “Mediterranean” food is more than food from one or two countries, as there are so many countries that are on the Mediterranean. I am sure I am not the only one, which makes CLAUDIA RODEN’S MEDITERRANEAN all the more interesting and exciting. She looks at some of the history and how foods and cooking methods have travelled, along with the similarities and differences of the dishes across the region. This is not a book filled with random recipes, these are recipes she has incorporated into her everyday cooking that she shares with family and friends, saying “The charm of a home-cooked meal is its casual simplicity.” I love that she has taken all of her thoughts about the food of the Mediterranean and put them into the recipes in this cookbook, keeping them easily accessible to home cooks at all levels. The food is beautiful and easy to share. I found my mouth watering as I read the recipes, complete with introductions, and optional variations. This is not just a cookbook, but also a memoir of sorts, and a love letter to all the foods in the various regions of the Mediterranean. This is evidenced by the introduction sections in the book, to each section of the book, and each recipe, and the photographs, not just of the food and ingredients, but the region which will have you longing to travel there. I can’t wait to make many of these recipes for my family on a regular basis. I hope my family and friends appreciate them as much as Roden’s do. I received a gifted copy from Ten Speed Press. All opinions are my own and freely given. #ClaudiaRondensMediterranean #ClaudiaRoden #Cookbook #TenSpeedPress
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Deliciously simple
Fans of Claudia Roden know what to expect, and this cookbook doesn’t disappoint. She relies on the simplest techniques, seasonal produce and herbs to create seemingly basic dishes that are amazing in their depth of flavor. The sweet and sour minty grilled zucchini has few ingredients, and even shorter instructions, but it is anything but plain. The dressing which consists of dried mint, sugar, and vinegar adds an unexpected zing to broiled squash. The dessert section include a straight forward recipe for fresh berries in an orange caramel syrup . That’s it- only three ingredients: orange juice, sugar, and berries. But the caramel is transformational – it changes a bowl of seasonal fruit into a sumptuous experience. My favorite recipe, the hazelnut cake with chocolate ganache is another three ingredient recipe (not including the 2 component ganache.) Though this cake took just ten minutes of prep time, the flavor was unexpectedly intense. In a world of ever increasing complexity, Claudia Roden has taken a step back and produced a guidebook to food that is simply prepared and utterly delicious. exchange for a free and unbiased review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Simple Meals with Great Flavor
This beautiful cookbook highlights all the flavors of the Mediterranean, from France to Morocco, in an easy to follow format. Most of the recipes are simple to make and call for a handful of ingredients, but all are packed full of flavor. I made the Tapenade, from the South of France. This is a perfect appetizer served on a crusty bread and the addition of rum takes it over the top ! From Turkey, the Green Olive, Walnut and Pomegranate Salad was a unique and sublime flavor and texture combination. I also made two Moroccan chicken dishes. Chicken Baked with Olives and Boiled Lemons, served over couscous and Chicken and Onion "Pies" with Moroccan Flavors. Both of the recipes used boiled lemons, which I plan to have on hand in my fridge from now on. Buy this book and plan your own recipe itinerary to the Mediterranean ! I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook from Ten Speed Press in exchange for my free and unbiased review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Healthy beautiful meals
This is a beautiful cookbook with accessible recipes - perfect for someone who loves to cook but is intimidated by overly complicated recipes or for someone learning how to cook who wants to create beautiful meals for entertaining. The ingredients in each recipe are easy to source and should be available in most US supermarkets. You'll find delicious but simple recipes such as "fresh goat cheese with herbs and olives" and "spelt [farro] and tomato salad." I recently made the "chicken with grapes" served on a bed of polenta and it was so delicious, we'll soon make it again. For the more adventurous cook, Roden's book can serve as a place of inspiration and you can easily tweak her recipes. For example, I made the "chicken baked with olives and boiled lemon" and subbed homemade preserved lemon for the boiled lemon to add additional flavor. Although the cookbook isn't marketed as "healthy" food, the recipes are filled with vegetables, lean proteins (chicken, fish), and whole grains and would be perfect for someone who wants to cook in a healthy way while still maintaining plenty of flavor. This book would make an absolutely lovely gift for any cook in your family. Disclosure: I've received a free copy from Ten Speed Press in exchange for a free and unbiased review
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Beautiful cookbook!
Claudia Roden’s Mediterranean cookbook is a beautiful, comforting book. There are gorgeous food and location photos and the book is filled with historical details. Ms. Roden has been a cookbook author and food writer and food researcher for a long time and this book compiles her most loved and treasured recipes and memories. Her joy is ever-present in the text. It was a wonderful read and the recipes are approachable and interesting. I started with Pan-Fried Fish with Garlic, Vinegar, and Aleppo Pepper with Herby Mashed Potatoes. The recipe was simple, but incredibly flavorful. The fish recipes were my favorite and I am looking forward to trying Fried Fish with Cumin and Tahini Sauce and Fish a la Provencale in Tomato Sauce next. Two veggie dishes that intrigued me were Green Barley Risotto with Peas and Asparagus and Roast Celery Root, Sweet Potato, & Carrot with Tarragon Vinaigrette. I’m also planning on trying her Tapenade and Aioli recipes. This book would make a lovely gift for any home cook, cookbook lover, travel foodie, etc. I’ve received a free copy of this cookbook from Ten Speed Press in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com