Simmer: Seasonal soups from around the world

By Sally Butcher and Jamshid Golshan Ebrahimi

Soup is comfort in a bowl: nourishing, affordable and endlessly adaptable. But it can also be fresh, fiery, fragrant, hearty and seriously inventive.

For every season, every taste and every mood, SIMMER celebrates the world’s greatest soups and stews, from time-honoured classics to brilliant twists and unexpected discoveries.

From Iran to Iceland, the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and everywhere in between, this is soup without borders. Discover cooling bowls for hot days, slow-simmered stews for cold nights, delicate broths, creamy chowders, meaty classics, vibrant vegetable soups and even something sweet.

Expect nostalgia, surprise and plenty of flavour, ladled up in equal measure:

FRESH AND ZINGY: Bloody Mary Gazpacho, Persian ‘Matzo Ball’ Soup

CREAMY AND VIBRANT: Sweetcorn Chowder, Jamaican Callaloo

HEARTY AND HOMELY: Proper Pea and Ham, Fake Shark’s Fin Soup

SPICED AND SOUL-WARMING: Turkey Mulligatawny, Sweet Afghan Pumpkin Soup

RICH AND FRAGRANT: Sweet Potato and Apricot Tagine, Chinese Braised Beef Soup

PLUS: Clever finishing touches that turn a good bowl into a great one.

Format: Hardback
Release Date: 22 Oct 2026
ISBN: 978-0-00-875790-8

Sally Butcher is the fiery-haired proprietress of the notable Persian food store Persepolis in Peckham, London, which she runs with her Persian husband, Jamshid. She is a bestselling author and avid blogger, who has amassed a devoted online following for her food-, shop- and Peckham-related musings. The foodie delights of the Middle East are her specialist subject, but she has been known to venture far and wide for inspiration. Her first book,Persia in Peckham, was published to critical acclaim and short-listed for the 2008 André Simon Award. It was also selected by theSunday Timesas their cookery book of the year. Her following tomes,Persepolis,Veggiestan,SnackistanandVeganistan, published by Pavilion, have also received critical acclaim.

Praise for Veggiestan: -

‘Had us salivating … Butcher writes like a dream, really know hers Middle Eastern foodstuffs and offers enticing recipes. An absolute must for the vegetarian on your gift list.’ -Delicious magazine -

‘Ranges across a number of Middles Eastern cuisines with flair and a sense of humour that makes it as much of a pleasure to read as it is to cook from.’ -The Indy Best 10 Vegetarian Cookbooks -

Praise for Snackistan: -

‘One can almost smell the bazar as one pores over the myriad recipes in this fascinating book.’ -The Good Book Guide -

Praise for Salmagundi: -

‘We want to cook every single recipe in Salmagundi.’ – The Foodie Bugle -

‘Peppered with history and quirky anecdotes, this is sure to be a bestseller.’ – Crumbs magazine -

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