Samarkand: Recipes & Stories from Central Asia & the Caucasus, written by Caroline Eden and Eleanor Ford, features the unique melting pot of cuisines from the lesser traveled areas in Central Asia. In this book, you will find dishes from all over the region including Chapli Kebabs from Afghanistan, Dushanbe Pilaf from Tajikistan, Samsa from Uzbekistan, Cinnamon Potatoes with Pine Nuts from Azerbaijan, Green Olive and Walnut Salad from Turkey, Spinach Khachapuri from Georgia, Grape and Pistachio Orzo from Armenia, and Salmon Kulebyaka from Russia. I will also be sharing their recipe for Katama (Kyrgyz Swirled Onion Flatbread) following the review.
Disclosure: I received this book from Kyle Books in exchange for my honest review. All comments and opinions are my own. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Caroline Eden and Eleanor Ford
Caroline Eden is a travel writer based in Great Britain. She has contributed to The Guardian, Financial Times, and The Telegraph, along with having a weekly page in the London Metro. Caroline has traveled to Central Asia over a dozen times and reported on key events in Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Haiti and Azerbaijan for BBC Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent. She has also spoken at the Royal Geographical Society, Asia House, Stanfords and Waterstones. Samarkand is her first cookbook.
Eleanor Ford is a food writer and recipe developer for the Good Food Channel and BBC Good Food Magazine. She has also been a restaurant reviewer for Time Out, editor for Zagat’s Hong Kong guide, and a judge for The Guild of Food Writers’ Awards. She first visited Uzbekistan in 2014 with her husband and son. This is also her first book.
Samarkand
Chapters are divided based on course: Introduction, A Shared Table, Soups, Roast Meats & Kebabs, Warming Food for Long Winters, Plovs & Pilafs, Accompaniments, Breads & Doughs, Drinks, and Desserts & Sweetmeats.
I was so incredibly excited to learn more about an area and cuisine I may never get the chance to experience in person through the breathtaking photography and Eden and Ford’s stories. They begin with an overview and history of the region. The title, Samarkand, is named after the city in Uzbekistan known as the “crossroads of cultures” for its location along the Silk Road and variety of ethnic groups. Uzbekistan alone has been influenced by seven ethnic groups in Samarkand- the Tajiks, Russians, Turks, Jews, Koreans, Caucasians, and Uzbeks. The background of each group is explained and how they left their mark on the cuisine.
Along with the recipes, you will find travel snippets from the area such as foraging in the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan; cultural differences between the Uighur and Han Chinese in Kashgar; a look inside the kitchen in the Mountain Jew community of Gyrmyzy Gasaba in Azerbaijan; offerings in the largest market in Almaty, Kazakhstan; the history behind Plov and its many variations; types of non bread and how it is baked; the food of Tbilisi, Georgia; fermented milk drinks and other dairy products; and even how apples were introduced to Kazakhstan.
Measurements are provided in US Customary. The name of the dish is written in English, but the name in the original language is occasionally given. Every recipe includes a headnote with background information and serving tips. The food photography is provided by Laura Edwards. Most of the recipes include a full page photo, generally of the finished dish. There are also absolutely gorgeous photos of the scenery, markets, and people.
This book is a great pick for those looking for recipes from Central Asia. This area tends to rely heavily on meats and dairy products, though there are quite a few vegetable offerings. Many of the dishes are authentic, while others were developed with the home cook in mind with stream-lined methods and less fat content. Many of the ingredients are easy to locate in the average American grocery store. Having an international market nearby specializing in Middle Eastern and Turkish foods will be helpful for a few of the items such as sour cherries, Korean chile powder, harissa, pomegranate molasses, barberries, lavash bread, tahini, orange blossom water, and vine leaves. Recipes range from easy to toss together in 10 minutes to elaborately layered dishes.
Katama (Kyrgyz Swirled Onion Flatbread)
Katama is an onion-filled swirled flatbread from Kyrgyzstan. Pieces of dough (that can be made with or without yeast- this version is without) are rolled until flat and covered with golden caramelized onions. The circles are rolled up and coiled to enclose the onions and create flaky layers before being rolled flat again and pan-fried until crisp.
A few of the onions escaped as I formed the Katama, but overall most stayed inside to create crisp, flaky layers with bits of the sweet caramelized onions in every bite. I also learned that Claire is crazy about caramelized onions and tried her best to steal away the Katama as I was photographing. She ended up eating a whole one on her own along with the bits of runaway onion she would grab as I was rolling out the Katama.
Other Dishes
I also made Tomatoes, Dill, and Purple Basil; Yogurt, Cucumber, and Rose Petal Soup; Beef Shashlik with Tahini and Pistachio Sauce; and Bukharian Family-Style Chicken and Rice.
The Tomato, Dill, and Purple Basil is the very first recipe in the book. It was so perfect for summer. I have purple basil in the garden and this was a great use for it. Tomatoes are sliced and arranged with thinly sliced onions, dill, purple basil, and cilantro. The salad, known as “sweetie hottie” in Uzbekistan, is sprinkled with a sweet and spicy salt mixture.
The Yogurt, Cucumber, and Rose Petal Soup is another great dish for summer. This refreshing, herby soup is served cold with ice cubes to help cool down during hot days. It is also incredibly easy to make using the quick whirl of a blender. Yogurt is blended with cucumbers, a variety of herbs, seasonings, and rosewater. It is garnished with a few mint leaves and rose petals. I enjoyed it, but it seemed to be more of an acquired taste for Evan and Claire.
The Beef Shashlik come from the Gazientep province in Turkey’s Anatolia region. These ground beef skewers are packed with spices and chopped pistachios. The star of this dish to me was the accompanying Tahini and Pistachio Sauce. It was so easy to make and such a wonderful combination of flavors. Shelled pistachios are pureed with soaked bread, tahini, lemon, and garlic. It is also a perfect dipping sauce for bread.
Most plovs tend to be intricate with many ingredients. This Bukharian Family-Style Chicken and Rice dish is a nice alternative for weeknight dinners with your family. It was a huge hit with both kids. The dish is cooked in layers starting with carrots and onions, then chicken, and finally rice. It is cooked until tender in only about 30 minutes with very little prep work. I love the seasonings and the addition of toasted cashews over the top.
Looking for more flatbread recipes?
Try Cong You Bing (Chinese Scallion Pancakes), Qutab (Azerbaijani Stuffed Flatbread), and Kalāneh (Kurdish Scallion Bread with Brown Butter).
Katama (Kyrgyz Swirled Onion Flatbread) Recipe
Excerpt from Samarkand
Katama (Kyrgyz Swirled Onion Flatbread)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 small onions finely sliced
- Sea salt
- Pinch of chile powder ground red chile (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
- 1/2 cup warm water
- Sunflower oil for cooking
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a small heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium heat. Cook the onions with a pinch of salt, stirring often, until very soft and golden brown. Season with the chile powder (if using) and set aside to cool.
- Put the flour in a large bowl with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and make a well in the center. Squeeze the onions using the back of a spoon and add any butter that comes out to the flour. Start trickling the warm water into the well while you mix with your other hand. Bring the dough together and knead for a good couple of minutes. You want dough that is soft and pliable- if it is too dry, add a splash of water; if it is too sticky, add a little more flour.
- Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Roll out each piece thinly on a floured surface and spread a quarter of the onion over the surface. Roll up into a tube, pinch the ends, and form the tube into a coil with the outside end tucked underneath. It should resemble a cinnamon roll. Finally, roll it flat again into cardboard-thin rounds. Repeat with the remaining dough. The rounds will contract as they sit so you'll need to pull them out a little flatter with your hands as you put them into the pan.
- Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and use paper towels to rub it with a little oil. Cook the breads for about 2 minutes on each side, turning after each minute. They should puff up a little and begin to blister as they cook. Serve hot from the pan.
Susan
Your onion stuffed flat bread is made just like the northern Chinese scallion cakes, which are enhanced with a brush of sesame oil. They look delicious, and so inexpensive I love the photo of the bread with your child’s pretty little chubby hand. The dough for the Chinese version uses boiling water added to the flour instead of warm, Which enhances the creation of flaky layers. The dough is also easily put together in a food processor if you have arthritic hands and wrists, as I do. You just process it until a ball forms and travels around the container.
Tara
Thanks Susan! I love scallion pancakes too. Kyrgyzstan shares a border with Northern China so there are a lot of similarities. I actually have a recipe for the scallion pancakes too: http://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/cong-you-bing-chinese-scallion-pancakes/
Christina | Christina's Cucina
Oh yes! I too think they remind me of the scallion cakes Susan just commented about earlier! I love those, so I’m sure I’d love these too!
Anne Murphy
That bread looks wonderful!
And the book sounds fascinating. So few of us in the US know much if anything about that area… and food can be such a wonderful introduction to other cultures.
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
This looks so mouthwatering! I love flatbread and with onions in it?! Yum!
Priya Shiva
These swirled onion flatbread look very similar to the way we make lachha paratha in India. I can bet they are delicious!
karen geary
I am wondering what cut of meat 1braising lamb would be in the Lamb with chestnuts recipe. No weight is given. Any ideas?
Tara
Hi Karen! Based on the serving size and other ingredients, I think around 2 pounds. I haven’t tried that recipe yet, but leg or shoulder should do well.
lk529
The bread sounds great – love that little hand!!
Your soup is stunning, too.