This cookbook introduces the food and culinary traditions of the 25 countries that make up the Middle East. 150 recipes capture the tastes of the region. They include recipes for the best known national dishes and specialities, including mezzes, dips, breads and pastries, meat and fish dishes, exotic vegetables and desserts. The menus come from the Maghreb, Egypt, the Levant, Arabia, Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus. The book also describes the most popular ingredients and suggests easy-to-follow substitutes and variations. The cultures of the different countries, and their culinary differences and similarities, are examined.