Souk to Table includes 100 Middle Eastern recipes for condiments and dips, salads and sides, main dishes, soups and stews, and desserts and drinks. The main dishes are divided up into 30 minutes, 1 hour, and worth the effort, which I thought was a nice way to split up the main dishes because some days you may only have 30 minutes to make dinner while other days you can spend an hour or more cooking. The cookbook begins with an introduction and ingredients to have in the pantry. Next are the recipes. Each recipe has an introduction, ingredient list, numbered directions, prep, and cook times. Every recipe also includes a photo, which I greatly appreciate, and the photos are beautiful. Some of the recipes I would love to try are the Puff Pastry Cheese Fatayer, Muhammara Pasta, Persian Ash Reshteh, Classic Walnut Baklawa, and Karak Chai. Souk to Table is a fantastic cookbook, and it is perfect for anyone interested in Middle Eastern cooking.

This is a wonderful cookbook, I’ve tried several of the recipes over the last number of week and each one has been a success.
I loved in particular that while many of the recipes were new to me , I had all the ingredients to hand. Special mention to the recipes for dips and sides, id not idea they were so versatile and easy to make. Great photography, clear recipes, variety and detail.
The ebook format does not do this book justice and I’m definitely going to buy a copy to add to my kitchen stack.
Recommend whole heartedly.
5 ⭐️

"Souk to Table" by Amina Al-Saigh is a fantastic addition to any collection of Middle Eastern cookbooks. The author's passion for the cuisine is evident in every recipe, and her love for the region's rich culinary traditions shines through on every page.

What sets this book apart is its focus on accessibility. Al-Saigh understands that cooking Middle Eastern dishes can sometimes be overwhelming, so she provides easy-to-follow recipes that are perfect for busy households. Her approachable writing style and clear instructions make it easy to create delicious, flavorful dishes without spending hours in the kitchen.

The book is filled with a wide variety of recipes, from classic dishes like hummus and falafel to more modern twists on traditional favorites. Each recipe is beautifully photographed and accompanied by helpful tips and anecdotes from the author's own experiences.

Overall, "Souk to Table" is a must-have for anyone who loves Middle Eastern cuisine and wants to bring its bold flavors into their own kitchen. Highly recommended!

I’m pretty picky with the cookbooks I purchase but I 100% would add this one to my collection! It’s filled with recipes that look packed with flavor and beautiful photos to match!

Thank you Rock Point and NetGalley for an ARC of this recipe book.

I enjoyed the notes and background stories Amina provided throughout this book.
Prior to the recipe section, the key ingredients in Middle Eastern cooking were explained and pictured which I found particularly useful, the recipes were grouped into different sections making it easier to find within the book, and were accompanied by a photograph of each dish.

This recipe book will be a welcome addition to any one who is keen to try more dishes of Middle Eastern origin.

This book has some amazing recipes, great range with options for everyone. So flavourful and filling. Definitely recommend.

A beautiful cookbook filled with delicious and flavourful Middle Eastern dishes adapted for the modern kitchen and time poor working family.
I simply want to cook everything in this book, there are a wide variety of dishes from different countries in the Middle East and great shortcuts suggested that won't truncate the flavours.
The recipes are also very budget friendly, and only the pomegranate molasses, which is one of the base flavours of most recipies will be a little more difficult to source than just a run to the local supermarket.
I would not recommend to vegetarians or people with a low carb diet. Those are substantive meals with a strong traditional feel with a lot of vegetables in many of the recipes.

Great recipes and photos! There are a lot of chicken and rice/potato dishes, but still plenty of other recipes to make the collection worthwhile. If you're vegan/vegetarian, you could still use this book for inspiration.

This cookbook is a wonderful gateway to the vibrant and rich culinary traditions of the Middle East, gathering some of the best dishes from the region into one beautifully curated collection. From flavorful dips and condiments to hearty mains, soups, salads, and even decadent desserts, it covers every aspect of Middle Eastern cuisine in a way that’s accessible for home cooks. What I especially appreciate is the focus on using easy-to-find, fresh ingredients paired with authentic Arabic spices, which makes it simple to recreate these mouthwatering meals in your own kitchen.

The recipes are laid out in such a way that even someone new to Middle Eastern cooking can dive right in with confidence. The instructions are clear and concise. The cookbook also balances a wide variety of dishes. For weeknight cooking, the quick dips, salads, and sides are perfect. The mains—like fragrant chicken shawarma or grilled kofta—are approachable and satisfying, while the soups and stews bring a comforting warmth, ideal for cooler days. And then there are the desserts! From sticky-sweet baklava to refreshing rosewater-infused drinks, there’s something to delight every palate.

If you’re looking to explore Middle Eastern cuisine and bring these delicious, fragrant dishes to your table, this cookbook is a must-have. With its focus on fresh ingredients, simple techniques, and the beautiful complexity of Arabic spices, it makes authentic Middle Eastern cooking not only approachable but deeply enjoyable.

What a lovely and interesting cookbook with some great Middle Eastern recipes. It is a book that brings new life and flavours to your kitchen and your meals. I enjoyed trying some of the wonderful and tasty recipes, the ease of making them and the joy of eating them. The division of the book in to sections was easy to follow, the photos made me hungry and the twist the author put into the recipes was quite lovely and new.

This is a recipe book I will use again and again to bring new life to the food in my home. All I can say is YUM!

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Rock Point for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

In this skillfully written cookbook that features the yummiest recipes from Morocco, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and so on ... Amina Al-Saigh celebrates the various food cultures within the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region. A truly beautiful cookbook that made me immediately follow the author's accounts (@HungryPaprikas) on both Instagram and Tiktok !

The book is divided into 7 sections (Condiments and dips, Salads and sides, 30 minutes, 1 hour, Worth the effort, Soups and stews, Desserts and drinks) so that you can try different menu combinations. Being from the region, I'm pretty familiar with most of the traditional recipes and I can tell that the author has impeccable taste. But what got me really excited about this cookbook are the twists she put on some famous dishes : Crumbled falafel salad ? Deconstructed manti ? Muhammara pasta ? So creative !

Honestly, there's nothing negative to say about this book (other than the fact that there are no Algerian recipes in it haha) : Great design and layout, oustanding food photography / styling (done by the author herself), excellent writing, clear instructions ... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 well-deserved stars !

Thank you so much NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing a copy of this e-book for review consideration !

This is a stunningly beautiful cookbook full of authentic recipes. We have friends from the Middle-East and so many of these dishes are things we've eaten that they cooked for us, and even a few that they taught me to make myself.

The photos are so beautiful, and the recipes are simple and easy to understand. I also love how each spice is described in the beginning of the book, and that helps make it much easier to find a substitution if needed.

This is a must buy for anyone interested in adding some delicious flavors to their meals. I've already made a shopping list, and plan to cook my way through this book.

I am so excited to try these recipes! When I cook I try to get out of our normal recipes so this will definitely help with that! We also LOVE dips in my household so best believe that is the first things I will be trying! The recipes seems super easy to follow and I love that there are pictures of every dish so I know how it is supposed to look. I cant wait to try my hand at baklawa and I know my mom cant wait either since it is her favorite dessert!

Souk to table felt super authentic and I loved the really honest introduction that explained both the Canadian and Iraq influence on the recipes and chef's cooking experience. The graphics and fonts had a great look and the food photography itself was exceptional!

I also really enjoyed the structure, it felt really clean and followed such a good chronology from the lighter recipes with dips and salads to the more labour intensive and heavier meals. I think this cookbook is suitable for anyone curious about expanding their horizons as the recipes are really well written and digestible with lots of notes to compliment the recipes. Not to forget, so many of the recipes were so low effort and had such a low prep/cooking time so this is also increased the accessibility of this book.

My main critique was that some recipes felt like they were in the wrong category - the phyllo cheese pie felt more like a main dish than a starter (but I respect that this is down to opinion) also there was such a lack of options for vegan/vegetarians In the main dishes section there was only one vegan recipe and I found some of the vegan recommendations in the notes section a little far fetched. For instance, in the chicken curry, the vegan amendment was to not add chicken which didn't really feel like a thoughtful or particularly good note.

All in all, if you're a meat eater and want to try some fuss free interesting recipes I would definitely recommend this book. However, if you are vegan/vegetarian I'm not sure you will gain as much from this one.

I absolutely loved this cookbook! Coming from a culture with Turkish cuisine influences, I’ve been eager to incorporate more Middle Eastern dishes into our daily meals. This book offers a fantastic variety, from fresh salads and quick dishes to more elaborate, flavorful recipes. The presentation is beautifully done, with mouth-watering photos that inspire you to start cooking right away.

One of my favorite cuisines is Middle Eastern food and with this beautiful cover, I couldn't resist picking it up.

The book includes 99 recipes, from sauces and sides to main dishes, soups and dessert. Every recipe has a beautiful, delicious color photo, step by step instructions, notes, cooking times, and yield.

I loved the organization of the book. Main dishes were separated by time involved making, which I appreciate.

There were so many delicious sounding meals! Good things take time, so I won’t mind it when these recipes turn out tasting as good as they look.I’m definitely going to be making many of these in the future.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this cookbook.

Gorgeous cookbook that makes middle eastern cooking approachable. The recipes were clear and the photography is lovely. This is a vibrant and exciting cookbook. I’ve just read a wonderful novel set in Iran and so getting this book was great timing as I’ve been inspired to try out some middle eastern cooking. A prominent dish in that book (Persian Fesenjoon) is even featured in here!

Love Middle Eastern food? Then this is the book for you. Lots of great recipes with really good pictures (very important to me). I especially enjoyed the sauces and will definitely start using them in my everyday cooking.

Alas the photography in this book doesn't do the recipes justice. The recipes are comprehensive and very meat focused. An American publication which just doesn't quite fit in the UK market.

Book Review: Souk to Table by Amina Al-Saigh

Rating: 5 Stars

As a huge fan of Middle Eastern cuisine, I was beyond excited to dive into Souk to Table: Vibrant Middle Eastern Dishes for Everyday Meals by Amina Al-Saigh. This cookbook is a delightful treasure trove of over 100 easy-to-make recipes that beautifully blend traditional and modern Middle Eastern flavors. Amina, a popular food blogger known as @hungrypaprikas, really understands the struggle of busy weeknights and has crafted this book to make cooking accessible without sacrificing the bold, exquisite flavors we all crave.

The book starts off with a fantastic introduction to “My Middle Eastern Pantry.” Here, Amina lays out the essential ingredients that form the backbone of her recipes, making it easy for anyone to stock their kitchen with what they need. Following this guide are sections divided by meal types: from "Condiments and Dips" to "Salads and Sides," and even "Main Dishes in 30 Minutes." There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for quick weeknight dinners or more elaborate weekend feasts.

What I love most about Souk to Table is how approachable it makes Middle Eastern cooking. Each recipe is accompanied by stunning photography that makes your mouth water before you even start cooking. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, with helpful notes on alternative ingredients for those who might not have access to everything. The "Deconstructed Turkish Manti" and "One-Pot Chicken & Saffron Orzo" were both huge hits in my house—seriously, my family couldn't get enough!

In a world where cooking can sometimes feel overwhelming, Amina’s book is like a warm hug that invites you into the vibrant flavors of the Middle East without the intimidation factor. Whether you're a seasoned chef or just starting out, Souk to Table is definitely a must-have addition to any foodie’s collection. I can’t wait to try more recipes from this gorgeous book—it’s truly a celebration of culinary heritage that enriches our everyday meals!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️