Now out: Maman and Me

Here is a lovely cookbook that is written by a mother and daughter who enjoy cooking the foods of their Iraninan-American heritage. Those who pick up this book will learn a lot about Iranian food and will enjoy some delightful meals.

Throughout these pages there are many photos to accompany the recipes. Some of these will make readers hungry. Try everything from breakfast to dessert with the rest of a day in the middle.

Start with Sweet or Savory Labneh Toast or with a Sweet Date Omelet. Later, indulge in a Saffron Shrimp Pilaf or a Garlicky Lamb Shank. Then, how about a Sweet Rose and Rice Flour Custard? Readers will be able to enjoy eating these these thanks to the clear directions that accompany the recipes.

This is an appealing cookbook and one that will, perhaps, open up a new cuisine to home cooks.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Four stars ****

From the Publisher

Featuring 78 cherished Iranian American family recipes from mother-and-daughter duo Roya and Gita

Sweet Date Omelet (Gheysavah)	Cooling Cucumber Yogurt (Mast-o khiar)	Beet And Labneh Salad (Borani-e labu)

Hearty Lamb, Bean, And Potato Soup (Abgoosht)	Sweet And Spiced Lentil Rice (Adas polo)	Sweet Jeweled Rice (Shirin polo)

Saffron Salmon With Ranch Dressing	Carrot Juice Float (Ab Havij Bastani)	Rosewater And Cardamom Pudding (Masghati)

Learn how to make tahdig from the “CEO of tahdig” as named by her TikTok fans

Most often, Iranian rice dishes include tahdig, the crisp crust that literally translates to “bottom of the pot.” Some indescribable alchemy takes place when fluffy rice steams while a glorious crust forms around it. The bottom of the pot caramelizes the rice or other ingredient and turns it into something satisfyingly crunchy, nutty, and complex.

For Iranians, tahdig is an everyday staple. People on TikTok have called Gita’s tahdig “drop-dead gorgeous” and “the most beautiful thing [they’ve] ever seen.” Now, the secret is out and you can make Maman’s tahdig and all of her incredible Iranian recipes in the comfort of your own home.

Meet the Authors

Roya Shariat is a Brooklyn-based writer and social impact professional. She has worked for leading brands and organizations, including Chobani, Glossier, the ACLU, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Shariat writes a weekly newsletter on food and culture called Consumed and runs a popular cooking TikTok with her mother, Gita Sadeh, that has over fifteen million likes across the platform.

Gita Sadeh is a Maryland-based chef and early childhood educator. She has more than four decades of teaching experience and five decades of culinary experience. Sadeh is known for her cooking online and offline—she has catered events and gatherings from her home kitchen and taught Iranian cooking classes to families throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Her thousands of fans on TikTok call her “the CEO of tahdig.”