Hadia, Lebanese Style Recipes

A hardcover cookbook filled with irresistible family meals, including soups, salads, appetizers, eggs, pastries, yogurt dishes, stuffed foods, grains, pasta, gratins, chicken, fish, meat, sauces, sweet pastries, cold cakes, cakes, tarts, pies, Oriental sweets, jams, and pickles.

The recipes range from traditional Lebanese home-style dishes to a vibrant melting pot of recipes inspired by cuisines from around the world.

The book also features a section on how to set a dinner table, as well as an extensive guide to Middle Eastern spices and kitchen utensils.

More than 90 percent of the recipes in this book have never been published on my blog.

The recipes are simple and approachable, requiring no fancy or specialty appliances. Each one is a true labor of love, created in my own kitchen and shared, bite by bite, with my family and friends.

My Cooking Journey

My cooking journey began long before I ever imagined it would become my passion and, eventually, my career.

I released my first cookbook in Arabic in April 2003, followed by an expanded second edition in April 2007. The idea of translating my recipes into English for non-Arabic speakers was always on my mind, and that desire eventually inspired me to write Hadia, Lebanese Style Recipes.

For many years, I loved entertaining dinner guests with delicious homemade dishes. Over time, I developed a reputation among family and friends for being a good cook, and I began to wonder what it would be like to bring my recipes together in a book. Encouraged by my husband, family, and friends, who continually told me that I should write a cookbook, I finally began collecting and organizing my recipes. And that is how this journey began.

I was raised in a family where food was a source of togetherness. I grew up surrounded by two extraordinary women: my late grandmother, who was an amazing cook, and my mother, who makes the best sweets on earth. With the love of cooking inherited from these two remarkable women running through my blood, it seems only natural that cooking would become such an important part of my life.

I truly began cooking after I got married. Before that, I was completely lost in the kitchen! I never imagined that I would develop such a deep love for cooking and baking, nor did I realize then how passionate I would become about it—or that it would eventually become my career.

I have been cooking for more than 25 years, and I have never had any formal culinary training. I learned through experience, experimentation, and, of course, my mistakes—and for that, I am tremendously grateful. My journey has taught me one important lesson: never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. Anyone can become a good cook with patience, practice, and passion.

The recipes in this book are clearly written, with easy-to-follow instructions and beautiful photographs to inspire you along the way. I have included many of the beloved Lebanese recipes I grew up eating, along with a vibrant melting pot of flavors from around the world that I discovered through my travels.

My goal with this book is to make cooking and baking feel less intimidating and much more enjoyable for home cooks. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cook, you will find recipes here that are accessible, rewarding, and delicious. There is something for everyone in this book, and I hope you will feel proud serving these dishes to your family and friends.

Food is a wonderful way of bringing people together. Some of our most precious memories are made around the dining table, where we gather, share stories, laugh, and enjoy some of life’s happiest moments.

I hope you have as much fun cooking from this book as I had creating it. May these recipes find their way into your kitchen, onto your table, and into the memories you make with the people you love.

With my love!

The book is now available, with free shipping for Prime members.Amazon