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…]
Lamb and Fava Bean Maqlouba (with Kefir Lamb Soup)
I was at Trader Joe’s a few weeks ago, and found frozen shelled fava beans. I like fresh fava beans in the shell, but it is not often that you can find that in the Baltimore region. So, shelled frozen favas will definitely do. I’ve stocked up each time I found them, because they do seem to sell out. If you want to look for them, this is what … [Read more…]
Meatless Monday: Vegetarian Iftar Menu for Ramadan
This Meatless Monday, a significant percentage of the world’s population is observing the Ramadan fast. I’ve decided to post a vegetarian iftar menu suggestion. It is important to break your fast on whole, nutrient-dense foods, and to keep refined and processed foods to a minimum. Some great sources of vegetarian protein include: Quinoa – a … [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…]
Deconstructed Levantine Cabbage Rolls (Lazy Malfouf)
I felt like eating stuffed cabbage, but didn’t have time to separate and boil the leaves, then stuff them one by one, so I decided to make it lazy-style. It’s not as pretty, but tastes very good on those days you just don’t have the time for rolling them. To be clear – It isn’t a replacement for the original – and certainly not something you’d … [Read more…]
Crustless Noodle and Roasted Vegetable Quiche
I had some leftover cooked wide egg noodles and some roasted vegetables from a previous meatloaf meal. The meatloaf was eaten up right away, and neither leftover side dish would have been enough on its own, so I decided to make them both into a sort of crust-less quiche. (There was about 1 cup of chopped noodles and 1 cup of chopped vegetables, … [Read more…]
Minted Cucumber Yogurt Salad- Khiar biLaban
This is a refreshing summer salad, made with fresh cucumbers and mint. The traditional Levantine recipe is nice and garlicky, but I also like to add some finely minced or grated onion. It goes very well with kabobs/grilled meats as well as with rice dishes. It is also good to eat alongside very spicy foods and curries, as the yogurt and mint help … [Read more…]
Lamb in Yogurt Sauce (or Wannabe Mansaf)
Not too long ago, I posted a picture on my Facebook page of a mansaf. A friend asked me if it was hard to make, and if I could share the recipe. While it is not hard at all to make, it is hard to make unless you have the right ingredients. The key ingredient is laban jameed, or a dried yogurt. I know that there is powdered jameed here in the … [Read more…]
Butternut Squash Dip – with garlic and yogurt
While hummus is probably the most recognized Mediterranean dip, there are countless items in the mezzeh spread that are meant to be scooped or sopped up with pita or flatbread. This is one of those dips. It can be made with pumpkin or any other winter squash, and the method is the same no matter which type you choose. You want a basic … [Read more…]
Layered Pita Eggplant Salad with Yogurt Dressing
As promised, here is the salad recipe from the previously mentioned small dinner party. This is a lovely salad where the whole is quite a lot more than the sum of it’s parts. It brings together the fresh crunchy lettuce, onions, and cucumbers, the warm fried eggplant and potatoes, the crispy bread, and the nutty chickpeas. It is very … [Read more…]