Yashim Cooks Istanbul

Lamb was never a favorite until I tried these two recipes in "Yashim Cooks Istanbul," Dolmas, page 62, 63 and Lahmacun, page 111. The lamb dolma is pictured wrapped in red chard which gave the sauce its red color. Both are delicious with yogurt mixed with a crushed garlic clove and fresh or dried mint leaves, crushed. This cookbook is a must-have if you've loved the detective Yashim books by author Jason Goodwin. I did purchase many of the spices online and find myself using them in other recipes as well as those in this cookbook.

This hardcover book is sumptuous and kept us spell bound for half an hour on Christmas morning ... delaying the other presents waiting to be opened. The integration of the exotic and aroma-filled recipes with excerpts from the books is entrancing. Marvelous sketches and photos, too. Can't wait to try out some of the recipes. Now where did I put that pomegranate?

Very enjoyable book, and I've been making one of the recipes repeatedly in the few weeks that I've had it - it's that tasty. Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because a lot of the recipes just aren't able to be made by someone in SW Illinois - not a lot of access to some of the ingredients. Still, well-written!

My husband I have read all the Yashim Mysteries and loved them! The companion cookbook is beautiful and interesting in itself. Looking forward to making some of the dishes!!

This book is awesome. Jason Goodwin combines great food with a love of history. The recipes are clear and easy to prepare. The illustrations are stunning. You will enjoy this gem of cookbook long after the meal is over.

This book is delightful to look at, great to read and fun to cook with. For Yashim (and Jason Goodwin fans), this tome is a triumph of design and information---plus a reminder of Yashim's adventures. It is inspirational and is already making me cook more veggies in interesting ways.

The Greek fish stew was a big hit. The hummus recipe is simple and tasty.

Great recipes and great passages for yashim fans. Loved the fiery peppers and tomatoes.

As an enthusiastic fan of Jason Goodwin’s detective books featuring Yashim the eunuch, as well as an addicted food blogger, I’ve been looking forward to the publication of his cookbook Yashim Cooks Istanbul and it doesn’t disappoint. The book is arranged around the five Yashim books and each section is packed with quotes – some of the liveliest and most vivid passages - which paint the street scenes in Istanbul and Venice, and the market vendors, thieves, fishermen and nobles Goodwin depicts so well. The recipes have been chosen with care. Many, exotic and flavourful, are also satisfyingly simple – bean salad, the sultan’s Ramadan eggs, the kebab of Pilgrim Osman – anyone might cook these dishes – but the ideas are creative and different. Other recipes are more elegant, a sure talking point at any celebration; guinea fowl with pepper sauce, for example, or Palace fig pudding. The chicken and artichoke recipe disappeared in seconds with everyone asking for more. Visually the book is gorgeous, but not in an over-glossy unnatural kind of way. As well as being a respected author Jason Goodwin is also an astonishingly good food photographer, but the pages of this beautifully presented book are further interspersed with illustrations from various manuscripts and other sources and there are older images from the author’s own family archives which give the book an authenticity which is both lively and charming. Highly recommended.

We had read all the "Yashim" novels and enjoyed them hugely. Convincing and believable characters in a fascinating historical period, little about written about. The cooking and meals always made us hungry and this book is a brilliant syntheses of the novels, location,history and recipes.The artwork and photos are also a joy and make it an ornament to any book shelf. Highly recommended and I am off to re-visit the back catalogue of the writer. The duck recipe is worth the price alone. We are planning to cook one new recipe a week until we have tried them all

This is the most lovely book. It is beautifully printed on good paper with general illustrations and inspiring photographs of the food. If Yashim existed and was still alive he would be very proud . . .as it is Jason Goodwin can take several bows for him! The recipes are excellent, reliable and the taste authentic. I have actually cooked three recipes so far. Now I have acquired a few extra spices eg. Aleppo pepper more experiments to come. ps. The novels are a good read too.

A beautiful book, wonderful colourful photos accompanying recipes and excepts from Jason Goodwin's series about detective Yashim in 19th century Istanbul who's love of cooking has inspired this book. This is so much more than a recipe book, you can almost smell the spices, and you feel you can't wait to try out some of the recipes. Yashim Cooks is a real treasure and I love it.

A really interesting book. The recipes are easy to follow and often reminiscent of meals cooked by my mum that she had learnt from her granny.