What do you think?
Rate this book
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.
“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.
“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.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2025
9 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Nader
139 books260 followersAmerican attorney, author, lecturer, political activist, and candidate for President of the United States in five elections, including the last election 0f 2008, with his role in the 2000 election in particular being subject to much debate.
Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer rights, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government. Nader is the first Arab American presidential candidate in the U.S.
Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer rights, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government. Nader is the first Arab American presidential candidate in the U.S.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 16, 2020
I am old enough to remember Ralph Nadar as the author of the book "Unsafe at Any Speed," so I was surprised to see that he had published a cookbook. I was aware that he was Lebanese, and his collection of family recipes is fascinating and inspiring. Middle-eastern cuisines uses roasted eggplants, and I think I would need some more instruction on how to get that right because the consistency of eggplant stops a lot of people from enjoying that particular vegetable. Thank you to Akashic Books, one of my favorite small publishers, for the Advanced Review copy.
August 26, 2023
The baba ganoush calls for way too much lemon! I used half the recommended amount and it was still excessive — it calls for 3 lemons for 2 medium eggplants. Also, the recipe doesn’t call for any olive oil! I know the recipes are supposed to be healthy and low fat, but live a little, Ralph! The introduction invites readers to play with proportions, which seems to be necessary here.
Will update this review as I try more recipes.
Will update this review as I try more recipes.
April 7, 2020
Like going over to a friend's house and flipping through their family's cookbook. I appreciate this for what it is, and I really appreciate that every single recipe has a picture! Nice and homey, I enjoyed it, but nothing that pushes it above a 3 star for me.
December 21, 2020
Awesome cookbook! The recipes look so good and the photos are amazing. Well organized and easy to follow. Definitely trying some of these recipes very soon. I received a free digital copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.
September 7, 2020
Good recipes and I love his introduction.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews