The recipes in this book are the answer to a simple question: What did nomadic tribes eat in the desert in medieval times?
That question took me on an amazing journey of discovery, and, as I grew in understanding and knowledge, my reverence for these ancient peoples deepened.
They were truly incredible, clever and savvy, resilient and adaptable, making the most of the remote and often inhospitable landscape they called home.
Most of the historical references I found did not provide recipes. Instead they offered descriptions, names, a smattering of ingredients, and the occasional technique. It took a lot of experimenting in my kitchen and comparing ancient recipes with modern ones to develop recipes that echo the food traditions of medieval nomadic tribes.
My greatest delights were discovering how delicious their food tasted, how perfectly suited it was to the harsh desert environment with its extreme heat and cold, and how flexible it was depending on the weather, proximity to oases, and access to trade routes.
I hope these recipes will have you dreaming of desert adventures and leave you in awe of the people who have gone before us.