Halal Islamic Food for Healing & Wellness - Organic, Healthy Meals for Fasting, Ramadan & Daily Nourishment

Disappointing book that does not live up to its title nor the other effusive 5-star recommendations. Recipes in the book seem to be a mash-up of the author's favorite foods than a selection of dishes that are known for their healing and restorative elements. Random side notes accompany some of the recipes that give vague and superficial references to the supposed healing properties of a specific spice or ingredient such as pepper or garlic that any one would already know from watching a single episode of Dr. Oz's tv show or a quick trip to Whole Foods. Not every sidebar contains a health reference either - many are simply cultural info or trivia related to a dish. Another irritating aspect of the book is how the author repeatedly denotes a variety of Arabic dishes as "Bedouin"... lol um, no. Bedouin is not a singular genre of food or culture unique unto itself but a rather romantic term for nomadic groups whose traditions, food, language, culture, etc. all differ based on the region, tribe and ethnicity of their specific group. That digression aside, the assortment of recipes provided is also confusing. Fattoush salad is oddly included as are a variety of sugary South Asian desserts such as rice pudding which are undoubtedly more comfort food than healing dishes. The book would have had more success (and made more sense) if presented as a sampling of cuisines of the Muslim world. Anyone looking for anything else will be sorely disappointed. Bottom line: save your money and try Tess Mallos' books for authentic and well-written recipes from the Mediterranean and Middle East. Ruta Kahate's 5 Spices, 50 Dishes cookbook is a great intro to the techniques and flavors of the Indian subcontinent.