Kitab al-Tabidk
Title: Kitab al-Tabidk
Date: ca. 10th entury
Medium: Ink on paper
Scribe: Ibn Sayya’r al-Warraq
Credit Line: The National Library of Finland
This collection of recipes shows a luxurious side of the cuisine of medieval Islam. The text not only shows the foods eaten during the time, but also the role they played in the creation of culture during the Islamic Golden Age. The recipes themselves appear in the form of poems. This is one of many Islamic cookbooks that were made in the medieval era, but this one specifically includes explanations and instructions, which are not found in other medieval cookbooks. Some of the common foods listed in the cookbook are fish, sausages, and lentils. Along with the actual food, the Kitab al-Tabidk shows the cultural impact the foods had on the people, community, and culture during this period.