Taste of Sarband

While Tajikistan is the smallest of the former Central Asian Soviet counties, it is a rapidly globalizing nation undergoing a rich cultural and national renaissance. More than a cookbook, Taste of Sarband is a collection of anecdotes, memories, cultural lessons, and musings on what food means to Tajiks, both personally and culturally.

This cookbook contains recipes encompassing building blocks and seasoning, breads, breakfast dishes, side dishes, main meals, drinks, and deserts. It also contains sections on the history of Tajikistan, special cooking considerations and ingredients, and information on what a traditional holiday spread looks like in Tajikistan. The recipes and histories collected come from conversations with over fifty individuals, ranging from 18 to 108 years old, primarily from the Khatlon region. Vivid pictures accompany the cultural and culinary descriptions.