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 …
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 …
Zaatar is to Lebanon what Peanut Butter is to America. The word “Zaatar” (aka Zatar or Za’tar) refers to wild thyme herbs that grow in Lebanese and Middle Eastern wilderness. It is also used to refer to the herbal mix that will be featured in this recipe and which is found in every Lebanese kitchen. …
Muhammara (pronounced moo-hum-mara) is a popular Syrian Shami dish that is served as a Mezza, ie, appetizer. Its literal meaning is “reddened” which refers to the reddish color of the dip that comes from red peppers. It is quite simple to make, yet quite rich in taste, and mezza lovers would rejoice over it. There …
If you’ve ever been to a Lebanese restaurant and fell in love with that white garlic sauce that is usually offered with barbq’s or shish tawook (chicken kebobs), today is your day. This post features this garlic sauce’s recipe along with an in-depth guide and references on the chemical reaction that is at the heart …
Lebanese call it “Labneh” or “Labne,” other folks from the Middle East call it “Labna” or “Lebni” and in the US it’s known sometimes as Kefir Cheese. Whatever the name is, Labneh is one of our favorite dips ever!! It is a simple dip made by filtering plain yogurt overnight and reducing its whey content. …
