The Jewelled Table by Bethany Kehdy

Any book on Middle Eastern cooking draws me in. I fall victim to the vibrant colors of this cuisine, tables overflowing with large platters of fragrant offerings and the community feel of a gathering. Bethany Kehdy’s debut title The Jewelled Kitchen (or the US edition Pomegranates & Pine Nuts) is a beautiful cookbook. Now the author is back with The Jewelled Table: Cooking, Eating and Entertaining the Middle Eastern Way which explores the way Middle Easterners cook, eat, and entertain, and the rituals of doing so at home.

As the title would suggest, this book is a feast for the eyes with stunning illustrations, spectacular photography and a feeling of humble richness. The mezze style of hospitality encourages your guests to linger, to talk and share. Many platters of simple, flavorful dishes give the air of abundance. When you examine how Middle Easterners entertain, you learn what really is important – the feeling of care. The host is nurturing us with food, time and togetherness – “what’s mine is ours”. 

Bethany begins with the basics, follows with refreshments and cocktails, and then food that decorates the table. She continues with small plates, principal dishes and ends with desserts. Drink in the author’s narrative, soak in the photographs of the landscape and people. Then be inspired by the dishes that shine with thoughtfulness and care. This is a feel good book and reading through it again today was refreshing. 

Our  takes you inside this gorgeous title and features the following 

 

 

Special thanks to Hardie Grant for providing us with the materials for our EYBD Preview above and offering three copies of The Jewelled Table in our giveaway below. I am grateful that publishers such as Hardie Grant continue to release these titles that inspire me to greatness by bringing the world’s cultures, customs and cuisines to my kitchen. 

 

The publisher is offering three copies of this book to EYB Members in the US, UK, AU and NZ. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post and this forum post. Once you log in and enter your member name you will be directed to the next entry option – the blog comment. After that, there are additional options that you can complete for more entries.

Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on April 7th, 2019.

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116 Comments

  • size_27  on  February 8, 2019

    I love vine leaves, and these sound amazing:
    Noura's deceptive vine leaves stuffed with tabbouleh & Arabic coffee (Yalangi)

  • riley  on  February 8, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • HelenAus  on  February 8, 2019

    Just because I love the name – the virgins breasts with lavender 🙂

  • sarahawker  on  February 8, 2019

    Spiced kishk pizzettes (Man'oushet kishk)

  • lapsapchung  on  February 8, 2019

    Golden rice kebbeh teardrops with duck & orange blossom (Kebbet halab / Kebbet timman)

  • kmn4  on  February 8, 2019

    The virgin's breasts with lavender (Ghraybeh)

  • Dewnie  on  February 8, 2019

    The bread puffs…..and the seasoning mixes…..

  • screenstarr  on  February 8, 2019

    As a pescetarian, I gravitated toward the vegetarian choices. I loved the evocatively titled recipes, such as the Virgin's Breasts, but the first one I'd really like to make in my own kitchen is Spiked Za'atar Salad. It sounds simple enough for a beginner, and then I could ease my way into more demanding recipes. Thank you!

  • lean1  on  February 8, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews sounds like a wonderful snack!

  • zeni  on  February 8, 2019

    Baby aubergines stuffed with garlic, walnut & pomegranate (Batenjan makdous) cause I love this flavour combination; but Bacon basturma (Basturma khanzeer) OMG!!!

  • elsid22  on  February 8, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • lpatterson412  on  February 8, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews

  • merkusje  on  February 9, 2019

    Sticky freezer cake with tahini & carob molasses (Tahini wa debs al kharub) 

  • Barb_N  on  February 9, 2019

    Unfortunately the digital recipe for the fatayer does not include the savory pastry which is a different recipe.

  • mpdeb98  on  February 9, 2019

    Aysh pita pyramids

  • Dannausc  on  February 9, 2019

    Aged butter

  • LaurenE  on  February 9, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • kaivulagi  on  February 9, 2019

    I'd make the whipped hummus. I just love me a good hummus.

  • t.t  on  February 9, 2019

    Hawayej spiced toasted chickpeas (Qadami)

  • Ckerr81  on  February 9, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • Lizwizz  on  February 10, 2019

    Za'atar blend

  • mph993  on  February 10, 2019

    Whipped hummus with roast beetroot & fennel – furthering our beetroot experiments!

  • MiMi60  on  February 10, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews sounds like a wonderful snack

  • a1apple  on  February 10, 2019

    Arabic coffee (Qahwah Arabiyya)

  • thecharlah  on  February 10, 2019

    Pomegranate & cumin cashews

  • ravensfan  on  February 11, 2019

    Arabic coffee (Qahwah Arabiyya)

  • Laura1  on  February 13, 2019

    Spiked Za'atar Salad

  • SusanMargaret  on  February 14, 2019

    The Za'atar Salad is calling to me. I recently came across this flavor explosion and can't get enough of it.

  • JulieG1002  on  February 15, 2019

    Imam Biyaldi — eggplant and olive oil = heaven!

  • jmay42066  on  February 15, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • lauriesk  on  February 16, 2019

    I would make the Orange blossom honey pistachios.

  • GregH  on  February 16, 2019

    Old-country tabbouleh (Kisir / Eetch / Sud khayma)

  • Sladea86  on  February 16, 2019

    The sultans poached eggs

  • popoff  on  February 18, 2019

    Beetroot, labneh & za'atar fatayer kayaks

  • jamston  on  February 23, 2019

    Rhubarb & rose mascarpone cream osmalieh

  • Karla123  on  February 24, 2019

    I love eating tabbouleh, so I'd opt for "Old-country tabbouleh."

  • Livia  on  February 24, 2019

    Grilled vegetable salad with halloumi & carrot-top chermoula (Salata meshweeya) !

  • Jenamarie  on  February 24, 2019

    Avocado mutabal with peach & pomegranate (Mutabal al avocat)

  • chiquidu  on  February 28, 2019

    Broad bean moutabal

  • josears  on  February 28, 2019

    Fenugreek, kefir & honey semolina carrot cake (Helbeh)

  • emi10383  on  February 28, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • Natlovesgib  on  February 28, 2019

    Golden rice kebbeh teardrops with duck & orange blossom (Kebbet halab / Kebbet timman)

  • Plumbobmummy  on  February 28, 2019

    The mini Arabic bread puffs

  • Dendav  on  February 28, 2019

    The bread puffs

  • choppergirl  on  February 28, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • JACQUELINEM  on  March 1, 2019

    Smoked Cod tajen (Tajen Samak tahini).

  • michelle666  on  March 1, 2019

    the Orange blossom honey pistachios sound lovely

  • braabpro  on  March 1, 2019

    Rainbow torshi slaw

  • percussion03  on  March 1, 2019

    Looks beautiful! Sultan’s poached eggs

  • leilx  on  March 1, 2019

    From magmour and boronia to musaqua

  • bopper  on  March 2, 2019

    Bezar spice mix

  • agreaves19  on  March 2, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • clairew137  on  March 2, 2019

    mini Arabic bread puffs

  • racheybr  on  March 2, 2019

    i would probably start with Old-country tabbouleh. So much here to choose from my mouth is watering

  • Lkitchings  on  March 2, 2019

    Beetroot mutabal with apple, walnuts & anchovy oil

  • mhindle  on  March 3, 2019

    Aysh pita pyramid

  • lselke  on  March 3, 2019

    I am very intrigued by zaatar and lavender tea.

  • lozzle77  on  March 4, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews

  • hillsboroks  on  March 4, 2019

    Vintage Garlic sounds intriguing.

  • Gillian.Hitchen  on  March 4, 2019

    pomegranite and cumin cashews

  • Breeze81  on  March 5, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios would be my first dabble.

  • kbennall  on  March 5, 2019

    Hard to choose – I want everything. But that tomato and chili relish calls to me.

  • RuthHarwood  on  March 7, 2019

    The Aysh pita pyramids

  • silversand  on  March 8, 2019

    Charred vegetables (Khodra meshweeya)

  • Shelley.b  on  March 8, 2019

    Bread puffs

  • slambo70  on  March 9, 2019

    Hawayej spiced toasted chickpeas (Qadami)

  • jessiecomp  on  March 9, 2019

    I'd love to have a go at the Mini Arabic bread puffs (Khobz)!

  • nzxnick  on  March 10, 2019

    The Imam fainted – what a fantastic name for a dish! Looks like a great book.

  • EmilyR  on  March 11, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • jd5761  on  March 12, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews for me

  • fbrunetti  on  March 15, 2019

    Artichoke stuffed with green kishk mutabal

  • dhalstead  on  March 15, 2019

    Rolled damask buche with persimmon and pistachio ice cream

  • Roosta  on  March 15, 2019

    Hawayej spice mix because I have all the ingredients to hand.

  • nyprairiedog  on  March 15, 2019

    Oh I'd love to try the griddled flatbread variation

  • MelissaMorris  on  March 16, 2019

    Hummus 'broth' with seared tuna & egg (Hummus lablabi) – I love all of these ingredients, so together they would be an amazing combination of flavours

  • luccio  on  March 16, 2019

    'Aged butter' sounds intriguing…

  • gpolkes  on  March 16, 2019

    Absolutely want to make that Rhubarb Osmalieh! After cooking through Zaitoun, this seems like a perfect next cookbook 😀

  • RickPearson54  on  March 16, 2019

    aged butter

  • lgroom  on  March 16, 2019

    Rainbow torshi slaw

  • ExploringTheTurkishKitchen  on  March 16, 2019

    The sultans poached eggs – Çilbur is a regular in this house so pimped up version?! hello!!

  • edyenicole  on  March 17, 2019

    aged butter!

  • zeenie  on  March 17, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews

  • sequoia55  on  March 18, 2019

    Hawayej spiced toasted chickpeas (Qadami)

  • tararr  on  March 18, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews

  • dtremit  on  March 19, 2019

    Pumpkin & pomelo borani with coconut tarator

  • dogs  on  March 19, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews

  • sford888  on  March 19, 2019

    I really fancy the pomegranate & cumin cashews – yummy!

  • auntietina  on  March 20, 2019

    Beetroot, labneh & za'atar fatayer kayaks

  • portkey  on  March 21, 2019

    Pomegranate and cumin cashews

  • PaulaCheadle  on  March 22, 2019

    Sultan’s poached eggs

  • Pwilson44  on  March 22, 2019

    I would try prawn crescents

  • Ozzyhog  on  March 22, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • sheridarby  on  March 22, 2019

    Imam Biyaldi – I love aubergines

  • ukraines  on  March 22, 2019

    Pomegranate & cumin cashews

  • fionajk42  on  March 22, 2019

    Baby aubergines stuffed with garlic, walnut & pomegranate (Batenjan makdous)

  • deanfromuk  on  March 22, 2019

    The Orange blossom honey pistachios sounds superb

  • ejsmith  on  March 22, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • Sand9  on  March 23, 2019

    Black Magic Brownies sound good x

  • SueCl  on  March 23, 2019

    Sultan’s poached eggs 😋

  • chimpbob  on  March 23, 2019

    The Aysh Pita Pyramids

  • vickyallum84  on  March 23, 2019

    Arabic coffee

  • Beasste99  on  March 23, 2019

    Sultans poached eggs

  • Twiddle  on  March 23, 2019

    Orange blossom honey pistachios

  • DimensionAEB  on  March 24, 2019

    The Pomegranate and cumin cashews.

  • JenjiRM  on  March 25, 2019

    Beetroot, labneh & za'atar fatayer kayaks (Fatayer b shamandar)

  • littleminxgirl  on  March 26, 2019

    The bread puffs sound yummy

  • jezpurr  on  March 27, 2019

    Prawn crescents (Sambusek araydess)!!!^_^

  • Zaira  on  March 28, 2019

    Orange Blossom Honey Pistachios

  • cellenly  on  April 1, 2019

    Sultan's eggs

  • milgwimper  on  April 1, 2019

    The sultans poached eggs

  • Zephyrness  on  April 2, 2019

    Za'atar & lemon aqua

  • Blackeyedsusans  on  April 2, 2019

    Rhubarb & rose mascarpone cream osmalieh

  • banba1  on  April 3, 2019

    Mini Arabic bread puffs

  • saregama  on  April 4, 2019

    Eggah

  • ktcupcake  on  April 5, 2019

    The beet, za'atar, and labneh kayaks. They sound delicious!

  • demomcook  on  April 5, 2019

    Za'atar & lavender salt (Milh muz'atar)

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