Friend of the Silk Road Gourmet, Sasha Martin of Global Table Adventure has prepared Omani Kofta from a recipe donated by yours truly. The recipe is for sausages that can be made from beef or lamb and flavored with cumin, and cinnamon. These are then bathed in a rich zucchini sauce full of parsley and mint. Delicious, easy to prepare, and as the photo of Sasha’s beautiful daughter Ava attests, kid pleasing as well. The authentic Omani recipe is a lot spicier (lots more cinnamon, chilies, vinegar and herbs and no cumin or coriander seed) but the one adapted by Sasha, will be delicious and suitable for everyone – especially those who like their dishes on the tamer side.
Although Oman is not covered in the Silk Road Gourmet (unless it will be in a currently unplanned 4th volume), many recipes from the Arabian Peninsula are related to recipes in Western Asia and the Caucasus. Some Arabian regional recipes, such as Fish in Saor or Sayadieh is it is called on the Arabian Peninsula can be found adapted in Europe (many in Venetian cuisine) cuisine and there are also recipes that can be found as far east as China, like Eggs with Tomatoes. As major traders and businessmen on the Silk Road, Arab culture, cuisine and of course what became the region’s dominant religion – Islam – all travelled the Silk Road to the far corners of the world. (Words in stub post by Laura Kelley; Photo by Sasha Martin and Global Table Adventure)