Ev Kadını (Housewife Cookbook)

Mrs. Ayşe Fahriye’s book Ev Kadını (“Housewife” in English), published in 1883, brings the spirit of festivities to our meals today. Containing 887 of Mrs. Ayşe Fahriye’s recipes, the book occupies a very important place among the cookbooks as it also mentions table manners. In the introduction of the book, Mrs. Ayşe Fahriye states that she dedicates the book to women and she aims to teach them cooking techniques, kitchen organization
and service procedures. Precious information is given in the book, from table setting rules and organization of servants to the rules of etiquette to be followed during the meals, from the way the meals are served to the countryside feasts.

The book contains many kinds of recipes including soups, kebabs, stews, meatballs, pilaki, boreks, rice, stuffed vegetables, stuffed vine leaves, moussaka, vegetable stews, vegetables and olive oil dishes, as well as appetizers such as pickles, tarator and salads and also murabba and baklava. Not to mention
sauces, meat and fish squashes, boiled recipes and cold cuts, side dishes, pates, ice creams and bottled food.

Mrs. Ayşe Fahriye’s cookbook attracted so much attention that it sold out quickly after its first edition and it was published three more times.