Book excerpt: The Middle East - from North Africa and Moorish Spain, through Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to Iran and the Arabian Peninsula - has long had a vibrant tradition of home-style vegetarian cuisine, from their abundant salads, dips and breads to delicious and hearty main meals. Based on the freshest ingredients and cooked from the heart, Greg and Lucy Malouf's recipes are designed to be mixed and matched for sharing. With its stunning photography, New Feast offers modern interpretations of Middle Eastern food with more than 130 recipes inspired by the spirit of generosity that characterises the region. While vegetables are the stars, the recipes have variety with a selection of grains, legumes, couscous and rice, plus breads, butters, dips and preserves, and even an enticing assortment of fruit-focused ice creams, puddings, pastries and cakes. Think Winter tabbouleh; Eggplant pilaf with yoghurt & zhoug; Charred corncobs with almond-saffron butter; Spicy red hummus and Orange baklava cigars. Now available in a compact hardback, New Feast - one of eight books in the Maloufs' series of highly acclaimed food and travel books - is a rich and diverse compendium of vegetarian recipes with a Middle Eastern touch.