A love letter to Syria told through food, memory, and the spice that ties it all together.
Part memoir, part cookbook, Sumac by Anas Atassi blends personal storytelling with over 80 traditional and modern Syrian recipes—each dish a thread in the fabric of a country too often defined by conflict. Through family photos, vivid memories, and aromatic dishes, Atassi shares the flavors that shaped his childhood and connect him to his homeland.
Nigella Lawson calls it “remarkably generous,” praising Atassi for evoking the food that creates a sense of home. Whether it’s mezze shared at family gatherings or leisurely breakfasts in his grandmother’s garden, every recipe carries emotional resonance—meals rooted in comfort, resilience, and celebration. With stunning photography by Rania Kataf (Humans of Damascus), this book offers a rare, intimate window into Syrian life and cuisine.
Who’s it for?
Anyone interested in Middle Eastern cuisine, food as cultural storytelling, or building empathy and understanding through the act of cooking. A powerful choice for both home cooks and armchair travelers.
Spices to pair with this cookbook:
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Sumac: The namesake spice—fruity, tart, and deeply woven into Syrian cuisine.
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Za’atar: A versatile blend used for dipping, marinating, or sprinkling on warm flatbread.
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Cumin: Adds earthy warmth to lentil soups, stews, and meat dishes.
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Aleppo Pepper: Mild and fruity with a slow-building heat; essential in many Syrian recipes.
- Cinnamon: Brings sweet-spicy depth to savory tomato sauces, pilafs, and stuffed vegetables.
“As a Syrian who has had, due to the devastation of war, to spend most of his life outside Syria, Atassi presents the food that creates the feeling of home, gathering memories, flavors, and dishes both as a homage to his mother and his homeland. It is a remarkably generous book that wants you the reader to take pleasure in the food that means so much to him. And reading this book, I long, too, to savor those meals and those flavors.” —Nigella Lawson