Najmieh Batmanglij has spent a lifetime introducing people to the pleasures of Persian cuisine.   Her book,  New Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies has been referred to as  “The definitive book of Persian cooking” by the Los Angeles Times. She has spent the past 26 years traveling, teaching Persian cooking classes, and adapting authentic Persian recipes to tastes and techniques in the West.

In her book 240 classical and regional Iranian recipes, supported by 120 colour photographs, are intertwined with descriptions of ancient and modern ceremonies, poetry, folk tales, travelogue excerpts, and anecdotes. Recipes are presented in a format that is easy-to-follow. At center of the book is how to cook rice, the jewel of Persian cooking. By combining it with a little meat, chicken, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and herbs, you’ll have a balanced diet – colourful, yet healthy, simple yet exotic. 1,000 years of Persian literature and art have been woven into the book. Food-related pieces from such classics as the “10th century Book of Kings”, and “1,001 Nights” to the miniatures of Mir Mussavar and Aq Mirak, from the poetry of Omar Khayyam to the humour of Mulla Nasruddin are all included. The book makes  one of the world’s oldest, yet least known, culinary traditions once again accessible to every cook  – the first recipes were written 4,000 years ago in a cuneiform script on clay tablets. At Wickedfood Cooking School will be using the book as a basis for our Persian cookery classes.

See also:

Persian cuisine

Pomegranate Khoresh with Chicken – A delicious  Persian recipe from the book

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Wickedfood cooking school runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. We offer a variety of Johannesburg Cooking Classes. Cooking lessons are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these classes are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.