extra virgin olive oil

Garlicky Asparagus Salad

1 bunch asparagus, cut into 2″-3″ pieces 2 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon minced garlic ½-1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ½ -1 teaspoon salt (I used pink Himalayan salt, but any would do) Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste Directions Steam asparagus 5-7 minutes until just fork tender, but still firm. … [Read more…]

Eggplant and Tomato “Stew”

We got some local eggplant and tomatoes at the farmer’s market. In the summer, I make this dish many times, using whatever vegetable I have on hand – eggplant, zucchini, cauliflower, etc. It takes about 40 minutes, and doesn’t use a whole lot of ingredients. Fresh, seasonal vegetables taste best simply prepared. I don’t even use spices in this a … [Read more…]

Red Cabbage Salad

This is a salad made up of red cabbage, carrots, and onions, with a lemon juice and olive oil dressing. It is a slightly tangy salad, that isn’t heavy or dripping with dressing. My good friend, fellow blogger Corey of Cooking With Corey came up with the idea of a Vegetable Of The Week challenge, which I thought was great for inspiration. So, of … [Read more…]

Meatless Monday: Eggplant Dip – with Mayonnaise, Kefir (or yogurt), and Olive Oil

This is a different version of the mutabbal eggplant dip, which contains tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. The mayonnaise provides the creaminess, the kefir or yogurt gives the tanginess, and you need the garlic no matter which version you use. You can call this one “Mama Ghanouj”…or should that be, mama ghanouja ? 🙂 You might have noticed … [Read more…]

Meatless Monday- Egg In A Rabbit Hole (Egg with Kale & Spinach, Topped With Cracked Pepper & Sumac)

Eggs In A Hole typically place the egg in the middle of a slice of bread. I like to place mine in the middle of a bed of greens, the kind that would make any rabbit (and veggie-loving human) happy. It’s a fast and easy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and pretty healthy, too. You get 2 cups of leafy greens in this meal, heart-healthy olive oil, and a … [Read more…]

Meatless Monday – Ravioli, Mushrooms, and Spinach in Rosé Sauce

like to keep a package of fresh pasta in the refrigerator when I know that we will be busy the upcoming week, because it provides a quick meal option when we are running around all day and need to get food on the table quickly. The sauce takes about 10 minutes to make, so plan that accordingly when you start your ravioli. Ravioli, Mushrooms, … [Read more…]

Tilapia on a Bed of Spinach, Topped with Tomatoes, Capers, Onions, & Garlic

This is a colorful seafood dish that can be thrown together quickly, yet has great color and flavor. The most laborious part of this is chopping the tomatoes, onions, and garlic – and you could even use canned chopped tomatoes and their liquid to save even more time. The rest is layering. I have to admit that tilapia is not my preferred seafood, … [Read more…]

Meatless Monday – Garlicky Potato Dip/Mash

This is a mashed potato dip, using olive oil instead of butter or cream. You can use parsley or cilantro in this, keeping in mind that each has a distinct flavor. Garlic is what makes this very tasty, but start at 1 clove, adding more if needed. We’ll be eating this along with an omelet and a salad for Meatless Monday. It is also good as part of a … [Read more…]

Meatless Monday – Oatmeal Helba – Vegan Oatmeal Fenugreek Cake Bars

This is a reworked dessert/sweet recipe. It is made with fenugreek seeds. It is usually made with mostly semolina. I wanted to make these bars, but noted that I only had about half the required semolina. I had a hunch that oatmeal would taste great in this, and I was right. From the original posted recipe Helba is a traditional sweet, dense cake … [Read more…]

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches – Djaj Musahab

This is called ‘pulled chicken’, but I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs for ease. You can serve this chicken in a crusty bread, or wrapped in flatbread. You can also eat it with rice and a salad. I prefer it as a sandwich, to feel like I have just stopped at a food cart in the center of a Levantine city. Tahini sauce 1 Tablespoon … [Read more…]

The Levantess