Whenever I think of this dish my mouth waters! It sure teases the tongue with a barrage of complex flavors from earthy spices like Oregano/Thyme, Sumac and garlic along with green and red peppers. Mom has been baking this fish for a long time yet she doesn’t have a consistent official name for it. For …
We just came back from a visit to Lebanon and in the process captured a whole bunch of recipes straight from Mama’s kitchen. This Baba Ghanouj recipe is our first installment for now. Baba Ghanouj is made by mashing roasted eggplants with Tahini paste, some garlic, and a bit of white vinegar to help lighten …
People from my mother’s home village in Lebanon, Bakarkasha, are nicknamed “Batata” which is the Arabic word for “Potatoes.” Apparently they are known for their love for potatoes, and their many different ways of enjoying this food staple. Just the other day mom reminded me of this fact when she threw at me yet another …
If you’re looking for an easy to make appetizer and which would inspire your guests to hail your talent and praise the Lord, look no no further than “Hot Garlic Potatoes.” This appetizer has simple ingredients, is filling, and its success correlates directly with how good you make the garlic sauce. A successful garlic sauce …
I always knew that “Moussaka” is an Arabic term that means “cold dish,” hence I got perplexed when I started being introduced to Greek food and saw the claim that Moussaka is Greek. If you think of it though, the Mediterranean and Middle East have quite a rich heritage and history and one can easily …
The Lebanese kitchen carries many crowns, and Fattoush salad is one of them. What distinguishes Fattoush are 2 main aspects: the number of greens and vegetables it carries, and the complex rich flavor that the pomegranate molasses and/or sumac spice engulf it with. Fattoush is the official Lebanese peasant salad, and farmers just throw in …
Cucumber Yogurt is a smooth, healthy and very refreshing dip perfect for the spring and summer. Its main ingredients are yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, mint and salt. We have this dish as a common appetizer during hot days, and during spring time in Lebanon, when in season, we prepare it using fresh local yogurt made from …
During childhood, my brothers and I used to join our uncles and our late grandfather Saleem for harvest in the mountains above their village of Bakarkasha in Lebanon. Our grandpa was an old-school farmer. He had no machinery, no big toys, just traditional farm tools like shovels and forks. Some of his land at altitude …
Hummus is a delicious Middle-Eastern dip made from boiled Chickpeas, lemon juice, and Tahini sauce and which is served as an appetizer with pita bread. The word Hummus literally translates to chickpeas from Arabic. Its origins are believed to be from the Shami region (Lebanon/Syria/Palestine/Jordan) however the Lebanese are pushing hard to reclaim credit for …
Vegetarians Rejoice! “Slee’ M’alla” is the Lebanese name for Sauteed Dandelion, an extremely easy to make vegetarian dish (that is also economical). The main ingredients are dandelion leafs, onions and lemon juice. Mom never buys dandelion from grocery stores in Lebanon, instead she picks the leafs from wild dandelion that grows in our garden. According …
