I’ve been dairy-free and mostly grain-free for a while now. I was in the mood for some Chicken Alfredo, but I couldn’t have it made with dairy cream. I was afraid that my family – who are not dairy-free or grain-free – would reject the dairy-free version. It does have a coconut flavor, of course, but I made sure that it had ample garlic, … [Read more…]
Chicken and Dumplings
I know that it is officially Spring, but it actually snowed yesterday in some areas, so we are still in Chicken and Dumpling weather, as far as I am concerned. You can consider this recipe a template for your own version of Chicken and Dumplings. Instead of carrots, you could use parsnips, or rutabaga. Add 1 ½ cups of green vegetables. I greatly … [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…]
Crockpot Chicken, Peruvian style
I have rekindled my relationship with my slow cooker. I have started using it at least once a week, and this week, I’ve used it twice so far. There is something SO satisfying coming home to the aroma of home cooking. The common complaints I’ve heard about chicken in the crockpot are: It dries out It gets overcooked and shreds, losing its … [Read more…]
Preparing Chicken for Cooking the Levantine Way
This blog has been mostly recipes up to this point. I feel that it is important to go deeper into the Levantine kitchen than to just give you the recipes. I will add the tag “Kitchen information” to this post, and to all such posts that give you information regarding ingredients, and preparation instructions. This post is regarding preparation … [Read more…]
Chicken Mushroom Alfredo
This is a simple weeknight dish to put together. Instead of first cooking, then removing the chicken, I left the chicken in as I added all the ingredients, making this a one-pot meal. I lightened the standard Alfredo sauce up a bit by using only 1 tablespoon of butter, and using 1 – 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Plus, I really do like … [Read more…]
Chicken Freekeh Soup
NPR predicts that freekeh is one of the new foods to watch in 2014. Freekeh is a very nutritious and filling ancient grain. It has a low glycemic index, according to Eatright.org , and is higher in protein and fiber than other grains. Freekeh is a really rustic food that has been around in the Middle East forever. It is roasted green … [Read more…]
Creamy Chicken Curry
This is a curry made with madras curry powder, garam masala, coconut milk, and made oh-so-creamy with heavy cream. I consider this a pantry recipe because most of these items can be kept on standby in the pantry and freezer, for those times when you don’t have time to get to the store. It reheats very well, so you could double this recipe for … [Read more…]
Ramadan – Sample Iftar Menu #2 – Chicken Tray Bake
Here is another sample menu for iftar. A small bowl of black bean soup, Mediterranean-style tray baked chicken, Rice or bread, a tahini salad, finished off with some sliced watermelon sample menu #2: 2 dates Soup:Black Bean Soup Main Dish: Tray Baked Herb Chicken and Potatoes Rice or Bread Salad: Tahini Salad – Salata Tahina Dessert: … [Read more…]
Chicken Maqlouba with Cauliflower
“Heat oil in pot; brown chicken (or beef or lamb), onions, garlic, and spices. Add water to cover and boil…” This is the start of many, many Mediterranean dishes. Once you have the cooked chicken and the richly flavored broth, you can go on create some really good meals, whether soups, stews, or grain-based dishes. I’ve added the tag “start … [Read more…]