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Jewish cookbook by Dallas author offers culinary world tour

By Tina Danze

Dallas Morning News

Published: December 2, 2009

Entrée to Judaism is a vast, multiethnic survey of Jewish cooking. The diversity of recipes in this book will astound you – especially if your idea of Jewish food is stuck in the brisket and matzo ball soup vein.

Written by Dallas cooking instructor and Reform Judaism magazine food columnist Tina Wasserman, this cookbook and culinary history mines all corners of the world to explore Jewish cooking since the Diaspora (the resettling of Jews beyond Israel).

Wasserman reaches back centuries for exotic recipes prepared by Jews in ancient lands – from Asia to Africa, throughout the spice route and all across Europe. She also showcases New World and modern expressions of Jewish cooking in the Caribbean, Latin America and Wasserman's kosher kitchen in Dallas. It all adds up to 275 recipes from more than 40 countries, and scores of anecdotes explaining the dishes' cultural origins.

Wasserman's historical findings make a fascinating read. Who knew that dark-skinned Jews settled in India when King Solomon came in search of spices? (That fact is the lead-in to the Bene Israel Shabbat Chicken Curry recipe.) Or that 15th-century Ottoman rulers welcomed Jews to Turkey during the Inquisition? (Hence, a recipe for Turkish Leek and Meat Patties, a Sephardic favorite for the New Year.)

Simone Janovich, also 17, from Higienopolis, Sao Pualo, said: "If I have to, I will go to college even without taking the ENEM."

Wasserman explains every geographic relocation of Jews as neatly as she does her recipes. And each recipe is accompanied by one of "Tina's Tidbits," valuable preparation tips.

You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate this book. It's an international cookbook that would appeal to anyone who values interesting yet easy ethnic recipes. Wasserman's experience in teaching home cooks keeps it accessible. Whether you're a gentile or Jew, chances are you don't own a book like this. And that makes it the ideal gift for the cook who has almost everything.

Originally published here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/taste/easyrecipes/stories/DN-nf_wasserman_1202gd.State.Edition1.216c89b.html.


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