Fans pick 31 books like Julie Taboulie's Lebanese Kitchen

By Julie Ann Sageer, Leah Bhabha,

Here are 31 books that Julie Taboulie's Lebanese Kitchen fans have personally recommended if you like Julie Taboulie's Lebanese Kitchen. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Open Kitchen: Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings

Tara Bench Author Of Delicious Gatherings: Recipes to Celebrate Together

From my list on cookbooks for entertaining.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am passionate about the power of food and cooking, and how it can bring people together, allow us to explore our creativity, and nourish both body and soul. I’ve spent over 20 years creating recipes for home cooks, published in magazines, and inspiring confidence in the kitchen. Now I share my best advice, takes on traditional favorites, and the beauty of food and entertaining in cookbooks and on TaraTeaspoon.com. I encourage cooks to find cookbooks they inspire, with tested recipes, helpful tips, and beautiful pictures to entice all the senses. Trying new recipes from my cookbook list will bring joy to your cooking and entertaining.

Tara's book list on cookbooks for entertaining

Tara Bench Why did Tara love this book?

The author is a food and entertaining expert, and I know first-hand. Susan was my boss for many years at Martha Stewart magazine, and is the example all cookbook authors should aspire to. You know her recipes are tried and tested, as would any recipe from a seasoned recipe developer, food stylist, and food writer. The pictures in the book are gloriously inspiring, and do their job of making your mouth water. As a frequent hostess herself, Susan draws you in with several chapters of expertise, including creating your pantry, what equipment and ingredients to have on hand, and simple starters to get your party going. The rest of the book is full of recipes you will end up making based on the beautiful visuals, simplicity, amazing flavor combinations, and helpful tips to give you cooking confidence.

By Susan Spungen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Open Kitchen as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Simple, stylish recipes for fearless entertaining from the renowned food stylist, New York Times contributor, and founding food editor of Martha Stewart Living.

As a professional recipe developer, avid home cook, and frequent hostess, Susan Spungen is devoted to creating perfectly simple recipes for good food. In Open Kitchen, she arms readers with elegant, must-make meal ideas that are easy to share and enjoy with friends and family.

An open kitchen, whether physical or spiritual, is a place to welcome company, to enjoy togetherness and the making of a meal. This cookbook is full of contemporary, stylish, and accessible dishes…


Book cover of Jamie Oliver's Meals in Minutes: A Revolutionary Approach to Cooking Good Food Fast

Tara Bench Author Of Delicious Gatherings: Recipes to Celebrate Together

From my list on cookbooks for entertaining.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am passionate about the power of food and cooking, and how it can bring people together, allow us to explore our creativity, and nourish both body and soul. I’ve spent over 20 years creating recipes for home cooks, published in magazines, and inspiring confidence in the kitchen. Now I share my best advice, takes on traditional favorites, and the beauty of food and entertaining in cookbooks and on TaraTeaspoon.com. I encourage cooks to find cookbooks they inspire, with tested recipes, helpful tips, and beautiful pictures to entice all the senses. Trying new recipes from my cookbook list will bring joy to your cooking and entertaining.

Tara's book list on cookbooks for entertaining

Tara Bench Why did Tara love this book?

Few chefs make cooking seem as fun as Jamie Oliver. His genuinely happy personality shines through in his recipes from this cooking library staple. This book is unique because the recipes are organized into 50 full meals instead of separate chapters. This makes entertaining super easy because you can choose a main dish, and Jamie tells you what to serve with it. The recipes are all completely approachable and there’s no guessing what side dishes or desserts go with dinner. I’m the kind of cook who uses this book as a jumping-off board, and I change up his menus depending on what I want to serve. But the fact that you can do this, or follow his formulas to the tee and get a great meal, is the selling point for me.

By Jamie Oliver,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Jamie Oliver's Meals in Minutes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Renowned chef Oliver, bestselling author and star of ABC's "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," shows home cooks how to use their kitchen and their time more efficiently so they can get exciting, delicious meals for the whole family on the table in no time.


Book cover of The Minimalist Entertains

Tara Bench Author Of Delicious Gatherings: Recipes to Celebrate Together

From my list on cookbooks for entertaining.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am passionate about the power of food and cooking, and how it can bring people together, allow us to explore our creativity, and nourish both body and soul. I’ve spent over 20 years creating recipes for home cooks, published in magazines, and inspiring confidence in the kitchen. Now I share my best advice, takes on traditional favorites, and the beauty of food and entertaining in cookbooks and on TaraTeaspoon.com. I encourage cooks to find cookbooks they inspire, with tested recipes, helpful tips, and beautiful pictures to entice all the senses. Trying new recipes from my cookbook list will bring joy to your cooking and entertaining.

Tara's book list on cookbooks for entertaining

Tara Bench Why did Tara love this book?

This is the only entertaining book I’ll ever recommend that doesn’t actually have pictures! It would be blasphemous other than Mark is an expert recipe developer who churns out 40 menus for successful meals and offers a plethora of tips and helpful success secrets throughout. I miss the pictures but love how he organizes the meals by season. It’s easy to narrow down the chapter you want to cook from, and the descriptive titles let you choose a menu based on the delightful sound of the recipe! You’ll be thrilled to have these seasonal menus laid out for you, but they lend themselves well to inserting some of your own updated favorite recipes in place of canapes. Try his Pasta with Walnuts, or Chili-Fried Shrimp with Scallions and Orange, yes please!

By Mark Bittman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Minimalist Entertains as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The popular New York Times columnist and award-winning, bestselling cookbook author Mark Bittman now shares his winning strategies for creating elegant, delicious dinner parties with no fuss. Famous as “the Minimalist” for delicious recipes that can be made in a flash, Bittman’s entertaining cookbook is a must-have for hosts and home cooks of all skill levels.

The book features more than 150 recipes in 40 menus organized by season. Bittman’s signature “Keys to Success” offer a wealth of tips, from choosing the best ingredients to improving and streamlining your cooking techniques. Invaluable “Timetables” break down the process of preparing the…


Book cover of Ottolenghi Simple: A Cookbook

Mihaela Metaxa-Albu Author Of 30-Minute Keto: Low-Carb Cooking Made Fast, Easy & Delicious

From my list on top cookbooks of all time.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm an ex-pastry chef at Zuma London, current food blogger and creative director at Blondelish.com and YumCreative.com. I cook and shoot food photos and videos for 10 hours a day, almost every day of the week and I wouldn't have it any other way. I consider myself an artist and cooking is an expression of my inner self. I started cooking about 15 years ago as a hobby and within a year I took it to the next level by attending a 1-year class at Southgate College in London and getting my Chef Diploma. Right after that, I landed a job as a pastry chef at Zuma London which quickly transformed me into a pro. 

Mihaela's book list on top cookbooks of all time

Mihaela Metaxa-Albu Why did Mihaela love this book?

If you want to up your weeknight meal with delicious Middle-Eastern flavors and if you want to learn how to combine veggies in so many delicious ways, then you must read Yotam Ottolenghi's cookbook. He's a true genius of the Middle-Eastern cuisine and probably no other chef can mix unique flavors and simple ingredients as well as he does. While the recipes are truly unique, you'll find that they’re made with simple ingredients in under 30 minutes.

By Yotam Ottolenghi,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Ottolenghi Simple as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

JAMES BEARD AWARD FINALIST • The New York Times bestselling collection of 130 easy, flavor-forward recipes from beloved chef Yotam Ottolenghi.

In Ottolenghi Simple, powerhouse author and chef Yotam Ottolenghi presents 130 streamlined recipes packed with his signature Middle Eastern–inspired flavors, all simple in at least (and often more than) one way: made in 30 minutes or less, with 10 or fewer ingredients, in a single pot, using pantry staples, or prepared ahead of time for brilliantly, deliciously simple meals. Brunch gets a make-over with Braised Eggs with Leeks and Za’atar; Cauliflower, Pomegranate, and Pistachio Salad refreshes the side-dish rotation;…


Book cover of The Lebanese Cookbook

Edy Massih Author Of Keep It Zesty: A Celebration of Lebanese Flavors & Culture from Edy's Grocer

From my list on diverse Middle Eastern cultures and cuisines.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a Lebanese-born, New York-based Caterer, Chef, and Owner of Edy’s Grocer in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Born and raised in Lebanon, I have a passion for Middle Eastern food, culture, and, cookbooks. Growing up with a grandmother who never wrote one recipe down, it's been a journey to nail each recipe she used to make. When I moved to America, it was so hard to find good Middle Eastern cookbooks. Fast forward to 2024, a plethora of talented chefs have written books to help transport me back to Lebanon, sharing our Middle Eastern cultures, flavors, and heritage in such a beautiful way. I am proud of these cookbooks representing the Middle East.

Edy's book list on diverse Middle Eastern cultures and cuisines

Edy Massih Why did Edy love this book?

Any of the books Salma Hage comes out with are absolutely amazing. She has the perfect approach to bringing authentic Lebanese food to the Western palate. This beautiful and massive cookbook is the encyclopedia of a Middle Eastern kitchen—it’s like my bible.

It’s been a reference for me throughout the years, like a stepping stone into Lebanese cookbooks. It was one of the first I ever picked up—512 pages with 500 recipes!

By Salma Hage,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Lebanese Cookbook as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The definitive book on Lebanese home cooking, featuring 500 authentic and delicious easy-to-make recipes

On the shores of the eastern Mediterranean and a gateway to the Middle East, Lebanon has long been regarded as having one of the most refined cuisines in the region, blending textures, and ingredients from a myriad of sources. First published as The Lebanese Kitchen and now back in print under its new title, The Lebanese Cookbook, this is the definitive guide, bringing together hundreds of diverse dishes, from light, tempting mezzes and salads, to hearty main courses, grilled meats, sumptuous sweets, and refreshing drinks.


Book cover of Maydan: Recipes from Lebanon and Beyond

Edy Massih Author Of Keep It Zesty: A Celebration of Lebanese Flavors & Culture from Edy's Grocer

From my list on diverse Middle Eastern cultures and cuisines.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a Lebanese-born, New York-based Caterer, Chef, and Owner of Edy’s Grocer in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Born and raised in Lebanon, I have a passion for Middle Eastern food, culture, and, cookbooks. Growing up with a grandmother who never wrote one recipe down, it's been a journey to nail each recipe she used to make. When I moved to America, it was so hard to find good Middle Eastern cookbooks. Fast forward to 2024, a plethora of talented chefs have written books to help transport me back to Lebanon, sharing our Middle Eastern cultures, flavors, and heritage in such a beautiful way. I am proud of these cookbooks representing the Middle East.

Edy's book list on diverse Middle Eastern cultures and cuisines

Edy Massih Why did Edy love this book?

Rose from Washington DC’s Maydan also takes a deep dive into her cookbook, from growing up in Lebanon and the recipes she grew up with to opening the restaurant and watching it grow.

It’s cool to see that whole journey represented in a cookbook and Lebanese food on display in another beautiful cookbook.

By Rose Previte, Marah Stets,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Maydan as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The debut cookbook from Rose Previte, creator of the Michelin-starred restaurant Maydan and beloved Compass Rose, explores bold flavors, accessible, shareable recipes, and overlapping foodways, spanning from the Middle East to North AfricaRose Previte introduces readers to the eclectic cultures of the region spanning North Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East through food, offering a nuanced, informed, and yet entirely warm and personal way in. Before opening her beloved Washington, DC, restaurants Maydan and Compass Rose, Previte traveled old spice trade routes to learn from home cooks, and it became apparent how adjacent cooking traditions informed and folded back…


Book cover of Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon

Melissa Addey Author Of A String of Silver Beads

From my list on exploring Morocco’s culture.

Why am I passionate about this?

On a trip to Morocco, immersed in new sounds, smells, sights, and tastes, I was hit with the idea for a novel about a woman in the 11th century, a time when a Berber ruler took over the whole of North Africa and Spain. It led to many years of research and correspondence with historians, and became not one novel, but four, telling the story of four women’s lives that interweave as a newborn empire rises. The books I have listed here were some of the ones that brought the place, the culture, and the era alive for me. I hope they can do the same for you!

Melissa's book list on exploring Morocco’s culture

Melissa Addey Why did Melissa love this book?

Gorgeous to look at, this recipe book lists food that provides a real feast for the senses, from orange blossom-scented cakes to Morocco’s famous tagines (my favourite is with preserved lemons) and everything in between. When I research for historical fiction, food is one of my first ports of call, and this book brought Morocco alive on my table. Read, cook, eat, and be in bliss!

By Claudia Roden,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Arabesque as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon offer some of the world's most exciting cuisines. In this delectable cookbook, the award-winning, bestselling author of The Book of Jewish Cooking and Claudia Roden's Mediterranean translates the subtle play of flavors and cooking techniques to our own home kitchens.

Interweaving history, stories, and her own observations, she gives us 150 of the most delicious recipes: some of them new discoveries, some reworkings of classic dishes—all of them made even more accessible and delicious for today’s home cook.

From Morocco, the most exquisite and refined cuisine of North Africa: couscous dishes; multilayered pies; delicately flavored tagines;…


Book cover of Honey from a Weed: Fasting and Feasting in Tuscany, Catalonia, the Cyclades and Apulia

Theresa Kishkan Author Of Mnemonic: A Book of Trees

From my list on plants and how our lives are woven with theirs.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up in a coastal landscape and aspired from childhood to read my way through it by knowing its plants. I once watched a master carver at work on a totem pole at a living museum and could relate the wood curls falling from his adze to the giant cedars growing at the site. As a university student, I worked in a botanical show garden, learning so much about the provenance of plants and what they tell us about geography, history, and beauty. These experiences, in childhood and early adulthood, formed my lifelong interest in ethnobotany, nomenclature, and mythology, explored through the lens of creative work.

Theresa's book list on plants and how our lives are woven with theirs

Theresa Kishkan Why did Theresa love this book?

As someone who has traveled widely in Mediterranean countries, I love Patience Gray’s infectious enthusiasm for the extraordinary wild bounty of the region’s fields, forests, and shorelines. Moving from one small home to another with her sculptor husband across borders, she learns the landscapes and how to forage for the next meal.

She offers identification tips and ways to adapt traditional cooking methods to more contemporary contexts, and she immerses us in the rich history plants carry in their names, common and specific. She noted their use as medicinals and purposes for dyes and fiber. I was enchanted by the drawings, the folklore (Carrara saying: Who wants to eat a good supper should eat a weed of every kind), and the window she opens wide to a beautiful green world.

By Patience Gray, Corinna Sargood (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Honey from a Weed as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book is perhaps the jewel in Prospect Book's crown. Within a few months of its first appearance in 1986 it was hailed as a modern classic. Fiona MacCarthy wrote in The Times that, 'the book is a large and grandiose life history, a passionate narrative of extremes of experience.'; Jeremy Round called Patience Gray 'he high priestess of cooking';, whose book pushes the form of the cookery book as far as it can go. Angela Carter remarked that it was less a cookery book that a summing-up of the genre of the late-modern British cookery book. The work has…


Book cover of Bitter Honey: Recipes and Stories from the Island of Sardinia

Haniyeh Nikoo Author Of A Persian Kitchen Tale: Discover Exciting Flavors Through 60 Simple Recipes

From my list on cookbooks that are made easy to travel the world.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am Haniyeh Nikoo, a full-time recipe developer, food stylist, and food photographer.

My passion for food does not stop at my Iranian roots but goes beyond the borders. It is my way of experiencing and learning about the world, cultures, and people. I not only care about how a dish tastes but also how it looks and how it invites you to take a bite and get on a journey of trying something new.

Haniyeh's book list on cookbooks that are made easy to travel the world

Haniyeh Nikoo Why did Haniyeh love this book?

I love this cookbook for how it makes me feel. It’s filled with authentic recipes from Sardinia (An island between Europe and Africa) that are presented like a poem to touch your soul and invite you to sit at a table that makes you feel warm, cozy, and welcomed.

The book contains various recipes for any occasion, and stunning images and engaging stories make it something beyond an ordinary cookbook!

By Letitia Clark,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bitter Honey as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Guild of Food Writer's Awards, Highly Commended in 'First Book' category (2021)

In Bitter Honey, seasoned chef Letitia Clark invites us into her home on one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean Sea - Sardinia.

The recipes in this book do not take long to make, but you can taste the ethos behind every one of them - one which invites you to slow down, and nourish yourself with fresh food, friends and family.

The importance of eating well is even more pronounced here on this forgotten island. Try your hand at Roasted Aubergines with Honey, Mint, Garlic…


Book cover of The Sicily Cookbook: Authentic Recipes from a Mediterranean Island

Anika Scott Author Of Sinners of Starlight City

From my list on sparking an obsession with Sicily.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been a traveler and a dreamer ever since I was a little girl. I used to write to the tourism bureaus of different countries and tape pictures of faraway places onto the walls of my bedroom. It’s no surprise I ended up living in Europe, my home base for excursions all over the world. My historical fiction always features places that mean a lot to me, whether it’s Germany (where I live now), or Sicily – where my mother’s family came from. Digging into my Sicilian heritage and the culture and life of the island for my third novel was like discovering a new home.

Anika's book list on sparking an obsession with Sicily

Anika Scott Why did Anika love this book?

Every time I’m in Sicily, I stuff my face.

The food is as sublime as the island itself. Imagine eating pasta alla norma (noodles with eggplant marinara) with a breathtaking view of Mt. Etna. There’s fried arancini filled with rice, there’s caponata, there’s orange cake... I could go on and on! The Sicily Cookbook has recipes for some of my favorite Sicilian foods plus stunning photos of the island.

It's food and travel combined!

By Cettina Vicenzino,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Sicily Cookbook as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Get a taste of the unique fusion of flavors that Sicilian food has to offer!

​Packed with more than 70 Sicilian recipes, all accompanied by evocative food photography from the island, this Italian cookbook will bring the Mediterranean sunshine into your kitchen.

Discover authentic Italian cooking at its finest with this Sicilian recipe book. Here’s what’s inside:

   • More than 70 Sicilian sweet and savory recipes, from Pasta Alla Norma, grilled octopus and Sicilian baked sausage to arancini with tuna, Jerusalem artichokes with black lentils and Sicilian orange bread
   • Recipes include appetizers, main courses, individual dishes, side dishes, desserts…


Book cover of Open Kitchen: Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings
Book cover of Jamie Oliver's Meals in Minutes: A Revolutionary Approach to Cooking Good Food Fast
Book cover of The Minimalist Entertains

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Interested in Lebanon, the Middle East, and Beirut?

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