New Middle Eastern Street Food: Snacks, Comfort Food, and Mezze from Snackistan

Butcher, food writer, cookbook author, and owner of London’s Middle Eastern food emporium Persepolis (which she runs with her Iranian husband), knows her subject, and for this book tackles street food and snack-style recipes from countries across the mezze spectrum, including Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, Morocco, Armenia and Egypt. Butcher’s boundless enthusiasm is contagious and beautifully displayed in her new collection of over 100 dishes, all clearly explained and vividly photographed. Her signature wit and humor make this book fun, and is sure to motivate home cooks to get into the kitchen to whip up exotic Middle Eastern fare from all over the globe. In her “Nuts and Nibbles” section, Butcher highlights healthy alternatives to pretzels and chips like lemon-roasted almonds with saffron, and Harissa popcorn. “Fishy Things” includes enticing Streetwise Sardines, which are wrapped in grape leaves and grilled. Other in this delightful and often original cookbook includes Meat on Sticks (kebabs of all kinds), Meat Not on Sticks (Chicken Liver with Pomegranate Sauce,), and Hot Vegetarian Mezze (Turkish Zucchini Fritters with Yogurt “Sauce”). (Dec.)