The Ralph Nader and Family Cookbook: Classic Recipes from Lebanon and Beyond

Ralph Nader and his family share recipes inspired by his parents' commitment to the healthy diet of their homeland of Lebanon.

Ralph Nader and his family share recipes inspired by his parents’ commitment to the healthy diet of their homeland of Lebanon.

“More than just a collection of recipes, though, this is a window on a culture and a family. Nader’s description of his mother convincing 8-year-old Ralph to eat radishes speaks volumes about this persuasive matriarch and the tireless activist she raised.” —Washington Post Book Club

Ralph Nader is best-known for his social critiques and his efforts to increase government and corporate accountability, but what some might not know about him is his lifelong commitment to healthy eating. Born in Connecticut to Lebanese parents, Nader’s appreciation of food began at an early age, when his parents, Rose and Nathra, owned an eatery, bakery, and delicatessen called the Highland Arms Restaurant. The family eschewed processed foods and ate only a moderate amount of lean red meat.

Nowadays, the Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest on the planet, but in the 1930s and ’40s of Nader’s youth it was considered by many Americans as simply strange. Luckily for Nader and his siblings, this didn’t prevent their mother, Rose, from serving the family homemade, healthy meals—dishes from her homeland of Lebanon. Rose didn’t simply encourage her children to eat well, she took time to discuss and explain her approach to food; she used the family meals to connect all of her children to the traditions of their ancestors.

The Ralph Nader and Family Cookbook shares the cuisine of Nader’s upbringing, presenting Lebanese dishes inspired by Rose’s recipes that will be both known to many, including hummus and baba ghanoush, as well as others that may be lesser known, such as kibbe, the extremely versatile national dish of Lebanon, and sheikh al-mahshi—”the ‘king’ of stuffed foods.” The cookbook includes an introduction by Nader and anecdotes throughout. The Ralph Nader and Family Cookbook will entice one’s taste buds, while sharing a side of Ralph Nader that may not be commonly known, though will not surprise anyone familiar with his decades of activism and involvement in consumer protection advocacy.

Introduction

Appetizers & Dips
Hummus bi Tahini
Baba Ghanoush
Laban (yogurt)
Labneh (strained yogurt)
Laban with Cucumbers

Soups & One Smoothie
Lentil Soybean Soup
Cannellini Bean Soup with Swiss Chard
Apple parsnip Soup
Garlic Soup
Creamy Ginger and Spinach Smoothie

Salads
Tabouleh
Fatoosh (tomatoes, scallions, and parsley with toasted bread)
Salata (tossed salad)
Swiss Chard Salad

Main Dishes
Sheikh al-Mahshi (baked eggplant stuffed with lamb and pine nuts)
Sfeeha or Fatayer (open-faced or stuffed pastry with lamb or spinach filling)
Baked Kibbe
Stuffed Kibbe Cooked in Labaneeye
Dajaje ma' a' Hashwee (chicken with lamb and rice)
Yabrak Arish (rolled stuffed grape leaves)
Yabrak Malfoof (rolled stuffed cabbage)
Baked Fish with Spices and Tarator Sauce
Burghul with Swiss Chard or Chicory
'Mdardara (lentils with rice and onion)

Vegetables
Loubieh bi Zayt (string beans in olive oil)
Beets with Onions in Olive Oil
Steamed Broccoli with Garlic, Lemon, and Olive Oil
Foole (fava beans with olive oil)
Tofu and Kale
Mediterranean Eggplant

Breads & Desserts
Ma'mool (pastry filled with crushed pistachio nuts)
Macaroon Kashab (glazed sesame seed macaroons)
Stuffed Honeydew
Ka'ak (sweet yeast bread)
Cream Cheese Gelatin Delight
Apple Cake
Rice Pudding
Two-Two-Two Cookies
Crunchy Bran Muffins
Zucchini Bread

Conversions

Acknowledgments

Index

About the Author