Spain, North Africa, SW Asia

The table below lists the bibliography of sources from Spain (Andalusia), North Africa, and SW Asia to be found on our bookshelves. Where newer editions were found in the preparation of the list, the new edition is listed. Scan the list, or Sort using the Region column, or use the Search box to find a keyword.

RegionSourceMCG Comments, or other comments (cited)
SpainAn Anonymous Andalusian Cookbook of the 13th century by an unknown author. Charles Perry, translator. 150 pages. Made available by David Friedman: http://daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Cookbooks/Andalusian/andalusian_contents.htmThe edition by D. Friedman is no longer available in print. There are brief notes on quantities and ingredients, and a glossary. Wide variety of Arabic dishes. Delicious!
SpainBest of Delectable Foods and Dishes from al-Andalus and al-Maghrib: A Cookbook by Thirteenth-Century Andalusi Scholar Ibn Razīn al-Tujībī (1227–1293). Nasrallah Nawal. 914 pages. Translation. Brill Academic Publishing, 2024. ISBN 9004688374
SpainA Drizzle of Honey : The Lives and Recipes of Spain’s Secret Jews. David M. Gitlitz, Linda Kay Davidson. 332 pages. . St. Martin’s Press, 1999. ISBN 312198604
SpainAt the First Table: Food and Social Identity in Early Modern Spain (Early Modern Cultural Studies). Jodi Campbell. 252 pages. . University of Nebraska Press, 2017. ISBN 803290810
SpainFood Matters: Alonso Quijano’s Diet and the Discourse of Food in Early Modern Spain (Toronto Iberic). Carolyn A. Nadeau. 336 pages. . University of Toronto Press, 2016. ISBN 1442637307
SpainHeritage of Spanish Cooking. Alica Rios, Lourdes March. 256 pages. . Random House, 1992. ISBN 679416285Has a small section on pre-1600 food.
SpainThe Exile’s Cookbook, Medieval Gastronomic Treasures from Al-Andalus and North Africa. Ibn Razīn Al-Tujībī Al-Tujībī, Author. Daniel L. Newman, Translator. 352 pages. . Saqi Books, 2023. ISBN 863569978
SW Asia & N. AfricaAnthimus — On The Observance of Foods. (De Observatio Ciborum). Mark Grant, Translator. 142 pages. . Prospect Books, London, 2007 . ISBN 1903018528Early 6th c. letter from a Byzantine physician discussing the aspects of various foods. Includes a small number of recipes.
SW Asia & N. AfricaByzantine Cuisine. Henry Marks. 459 pages. . H. Marks, Eugene OR, 2002. ISBN none
SW Asia & N. AfricaTastes of Byzantium: The Cuisine of a Legendary Empire. Andrew Dalby. 272 pages. . I B Tauris & Co Ltd, 2010. ISBN 1848851650Good overview, based on Anthimus and descriptions
SW Asia & N. AfricaCurry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors. Lizzie Collingham. 352 pages. . Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN 195320018
SW Asia & N. AfricaIndian Food: A Historical Companion. K. T. Achaya. 672 pages. . Oxford University Press, 1994. ISBN 195634489
SW Asia & N. AfricaMoghul Cooking: India’s Courtly Cuisine. Joyce Westrip. 236 pages. . Serif Publishing, 2000. ISBN ‎ 189795946XMost of the recipes in this book are after 1600. Modern versions are included.
SW Asia & N. AfricaThe Mughal Feast: Recipes From The Kitchen Of Emperor Shah Jahan. Salma Yusuf Husain. 224 pages. . Roli Books, 2020. ISBN 8193704975
SW Asia & N. AfricaA Persian Cookbook: The Manual. Saman Hassibi, Amir Sayadabdi. 356 pages. . Prospect Books, 2018. ISBN 1909248592Includes original recipes and translations.
SW Asia & N. AfricaA Taste of Thyme: Culinary Cultures of the Middle East. Sami Zubaida, Richard Tapper. 320 pages. . Tauris Parke Paperbacks, 2001. ISBN 1860646034
SW Asia & N. AfricaAnnals of the Caliph’s Kitchens: Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq’s Tenth-Century Baghdadi Cookbook. Nasrallah Nawal. pages. Translation. Brill Academic Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9004188118
SW Asia & N. AfricaBountiful Empire: A History of Ottoman Cuisine. Priscilla Mary Işın. 280 pages. . Reaktion Books, 2018. ISBN 1780239041
SW Asia & N. AfricaDelights from the Garden of Eden: A Cookbook and History of the Iraqi Cuisine. Nasrallah Nawal. 574 pages. 2nd edition. Equinox Publishing, 2013. ISBN 1845534573
SW Asia & N. AfricaFood and Foodways of Medieval Cairenes: Aspects of Life in an Islamic Metropolis of the Eastern Mediterranean (Islamic History and Civilization, 88). Paulina B. Lewicka. 626 pages. English. Brill Academic Publishing, 2011. ISBN 900419472X
SW Asia & N. AfricaFoodways & Daily Life in Medieval Anatolia: A New Social History. Nicolas Trépanier. 262 pages. Kindle. University of Texas Press, 2014. ISBN
SW Asia & N. AfricaGod’s Banquet: Food in Classical Arabic Literature. G. J. H. Van Gelder, Geert Jan Van Gelder. 178 pages. English. Columbia University Press, 2000. ISBN 231119488
SW Asia & N. AfricaKitab al-Tibakhah: A Fifteenth Century Cookbook – Special Edition of Petits Propos Culinaires 21. Muḥammad bin al-Ḥasan bin Muḥammad bin al-Karīm al-Baghdadi, compiler. Charles Perry, translator. 127 pages. . Prospect Books, 2005. ISBN 19030184205 pages of Arabic recipes. Bourgeoisie rather than haute cuisine, so uses few rare (for that period) or expensive ingredients.
SW Asia & N. AfricaMedieval Arab Cookery: Papers by Maxime Rodinson and Charles Perry with a Reprint of a Baghdad Cookery Book. Maxime Rodinson, Charles Perry, A.J. Arberry. 527 pages. . Prospect Books, 1998. ISBN 907325912These papers may be hard to find.
SW Asia & N. AfricaMedieval Cuisine of the Islamic World: A Concise History with 174 Recipes (California Studies in Food & Culture). Lilia Zaouali, Author. M. B. DeBevoise, Translator. 264 pages. . University of California Press, 2009. ISBN 520261747The multi-stage translations may introduce inaccuracies. Newer, more direct translations are available.
SW Asia & N. AfricaScents & Flavors: A Syrian Cookbook (Part of Library of Arabic Literature). Charles Perry, Translator. 481 pages. . New York University Press, 2017. ISBN
SW Asia & N. AfricaSeljuk Cuisine: A Chef’s Quest for His Soulmate. Omur Akkor. 198 pages. . Blue Dome Press, 2014. ISBN 1935295543
SW Asia & N. AfricaSherbet and Spice: The Complete Story of Turkish Sweets and Desserts. Priscilla Mary Işın. 256 pages. . I.B.Tauris, 2013. ISBN 1848858981
SW Asia & N. AfricaStarting with Food: Culinary Approaches to Ottoman History. Amy Singer. 214 pages. . Markus Wiener Publishing Inc., 2011. ISBN 1558765131
SW Asia & N. AfricaSweet Delights from a Thousand and One Nights: The Story of Traditional Arab Sweets. Habeeb Salloum, Muna Salloum, Leila Salloum Elias. 272 pages. . I.B.Tauris, 2013. ISBN 1780764642
SW Asia & N. AfricaThe New Book of Middle Eastern Food. Claudia Roden. 528 pages. . Knopf, 2000. ISBN 375405062A very approachable book for an introduction to cookery in some Arab countries. Contains much discussion of foodways, interspersed with recipes for things you’ve eaten at Middle Eastern restaurants. Some recipes are redactions of recipes from “A Baghdad Cookery Book.”
SW Asia & N. AfricaThe Sweets of Araby: Enchanting Recipes from the Tales of the 1001 Arabian Nights. Leila Salloum Elias, Muna Salloum. 128 pages. . Countryman Press, 2011. ISBN 881509299
SW Asia & N. AfricaTreasure Trove of Benefits and Variety at the Table: A Fourteenth-Century Egyptian Cookbook (Islamic History and Civilization: Studies and Texts, volume 148). Nasrallah Nawal. 724 pages. Translation. Brill Academic Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9004347291

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