Episode 136: Babylonia and Beyond: History of Iraqi Cuisine

Nawal Nasrallah joins Linda Pelaccio in the studio to celebrate the new edition of her book, Delights from the Garden of Eden. This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda and Nawal delve into the history of Iraqi cuisine and the Sumerian people. Learn about some of the world’s oldest recipes written on cuneiform tablets. Learn about the importance of stews in the Iraqi diet! How did traditional, medieval-influenced Iraqi recipes change with the discovery of the New World? Tune into this episode to learn more about cooking techniques for masgouf! Find out how Nawal blends ancient, medieval, and modern recipes in her book! This program has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch. Thanks to SNOWMINE for today’s musical interlude.

“I wanted people to see the other side of Iraq- the culture, the food- the bright side! This was my chance.” [3:00]

“We had a revolution in our kitchens in the 19th century when the tomato was introduced.” [25:40]

— Nawal Nasrallah on A Taste of the Past