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 …
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 …
“Toum, zait w haamid” is a phrase that one would tend to overhear repeatedly from mom while giving cooking advice to friends. In Arabic, Toum = Garlic, Zait = Oil (Olive Oil here), and Haamid = Lemon. This is a tangy-garlicky combination that is the flavoring base of many traditional Lebanese dishes, including the Baked Garlic …
Shish Tawookcan be one of the tastiest chicken Kabobs around. The name points to its Turkish origins (Tavuk şiş) however it is quite a common chicken bbq dish in virtually every Middle Eastern country, and with Persians having their own “Jujeh Kabob” version. Back to Lebanon, Shish Tawook can be found in most fast food …
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 …
I’ve been to many “garlic lovers” restaurants including the “Stinking Rose” in San Francisco. I savored many ethnic garlicky dishes at friends’ homes. However, so far I’ve never come across any dish with a richer and more intense garlic flavor than the Lebanese Home-Made Noodles and Potatoes With Garlic, aka, “Macaron bi Toom.” This is …
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 …
Lebanese grilled chicken is a garlicky gourmet dish that tends to be our “Sunday special” at home. The recipe is quite easy to make and the secret is in the marinade, and is rather simple.
What is Shawarma Shawarma is probably one of the most recognizable Middle Eastern ethnic food names in the West, behind Falafel and Hummus. The name comes from the Turkish word çevirme which means “turning,” and where you have some deeply marinated layers of beef, lamb or chicken stacked on a vertical spit and slowly turning against …
