It is common in the Levant region to forage for wild greens like Chicory, Dandelion, Watercress, and Purslane. So, when I saw that I had a couple of pretty lush dandelions outside, I thought to myself….”hmmm, I should pick those and cook them”. Then, cooler heads prevailed (my husband’s cooler head, to be exact) and reminded me that we don’t know … [Read more…]
Liver with Onions, Garlic, and Parsley – Kibdeh
This recipe, Liver with Onions, Garlic, Parsley, and lots of spices (Kibdeh), is for those who appreciate the rich goodness that is liver when it is prepared right. Now, I know there are some who say that liver must be cooked rare to retain its health benefits, but those nutrients do not benefit me if I will not swallow it unless it is fully … [Read more…]
Hummus
Warning – a bit of a silly rant ahead….. One of my pet peeves is the current fad of calling almost any sort of Mediterranean-looking dip “hummus”. These days, they don’t even need to contain tahini. Pinterest is FULL of pins to recipes for black bean hummus, avocado hummus, zucchini hummus – I am very particular with what I consider hummus. … [Read more…]
Cauliflower Fritters – Emshaat
Cauliflower Fritters – Emshaat I love cauliflower. It is very versatile, and can stand in for chicken to make many recipes vegetarian. In fact, when my son was 3, and I made the following recipe, he thought he was eating chicken. As long as he was eating his vegetables, I really didn’t care what he called it 😉 Several types fritters are … [Read more…]
Kofta with Tomato Sauce (Mediterranean Meatballs with Tomato Sauce)
This is a tray bake of kofta with potatoes, onions, and tomato sauce. I’ve previously posted a Kofta with Tahini recipe, which is pretty much the same thing, but with a different sauce. This dish can be assembled the night before, and then popped in the oven after you get home from work, so it is a good weeknight option. This is very good … [Read more…]
Saturday Morning Brunch : Potato Egg Frittata (Batata wa Beid)
We make frittatas for a brunch or light dinner often. Potato Egg Frittata in particular is one of my husband’s comfort foods, so it is one that we make most often. I consider it a pantry meal, since it is made with things I have on hand all the time. That makes it convenient for those times we have been running lots of errands and it is suddenly … [Read more…]
Artichoke Msaka’a/Moussaka
This is a layered baked dish of frozen artichoke bottoms, spiced ground beef, and tomatoes. I know of some people who get fresh artichokes, trim and de-choke, then get on to the recipe. However, when I get fresh artichokes, I prefer to steam them and eat them leaf by leaf . I am very happy to be able to use frozen artichoke bottoms for a dish like … [Read more…]
Reshta/Rashta – Stewed Lentils and Noodles with Tangy Caramelized Onions
Reshta/Rashta – Stewed Lentils and Noodles with Tangy Caramelized Onions “The day is cold, and dark, and dreary It rains, and the wind is never weary”…. Maybe not quite as bad as that, but this is the view of my deck from my kitchen window: …and that is why it is the perfect day for this dish. Whenever the weather is cold and/or rainy, I … [Read more…]
Meatless Split Pea Soup
It has most definitely been sweater weather the past few weeks….and if you hate being cold as much as I do, that means you want nothing more than to hole up in a warm house, with some steaming hot soup. This is a very simple green split pea soup, using vegetable or chicken stock as the base, and no meat. I prefer my soups chunky, so I do not … [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…]