The Saffron Tales

Winner of the M.F.K Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing from Les Dames d'Escoffier

New York Times Best Cookbooks of the Year

Wall Street Journal Best Cookbooks of the Year

BBC Food Programme Best Cookbooks of the Year



A glorious celebration of the food and people of Iran, featuring stories from home kitchens and more than 80 delicious, modern recipes.



"This is so much more than a compilation of recipes, gorgeous though they themselves are. This is a book that tells a story, both cultural and personal, and her voice is as engaging as her food." --Nigella Lawson



"Barberries, fresh herbs, date molasses, dried limes, saffron; Yasmin's Persian pantry staples are a roll call of my favourite ingredients. Her recipes are a mouthwatering showcase of a beautiful country." --Yotam Ottolenghi



"Not just a great cookbook but a book full of stories – a love letter to Iran and its people." --Diana Henry



Armed with little more than a notebook and a bottle of pomegranate molasses, and fueled by memories of her family's farm in the lush seaside province of Gilan, British-Iranian cook Yasmin Khan traversed Iran in search of the most delicious recipes for this Persian cookbook.



Her quest took her from the snowy mountains of Tabriz to the cosmopolitan cafés of Tehran and the pomegranate orchards of Isfahan, where she was welcomed into the homes of artists, farmers, electricians, and teachers. Through her travels, she gained a unique insight into the culinary secrets of the Persian kitchen, and the lives of ordinary Iranians today.



In The Saffron Tales, Yasmin weaves together a tapestry of stories from Iranian home kitchens with exclusive photography and fragrant, modern recipes that are rooted in the rich tradition of Persian cooking.