Lebanese Inspiration
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Continue ReadingMy favorite zaatar mix, that has to always be mixed and ready to have on sandwiches and over eggs.
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Continue ReadingSome kitchen secrets are too good not to be shared. One of my favorite childhood meals in Lebanon was my mom’s cauliflower gratin. It was always luscious, creamy, and full of flavor. Her secret? European cream. With simple ingredients and the addition of fresh French cream, her gratin was truly exceptional. Potato and Cauliflower Gratin with @thecreamlab.me
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Continue ReadingTahini Chocolate Chip Cookies, chewy in the center, crispy on the edges and so easy to make! I love the fact that they are naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and oil-free but full of the earthy flavor of tahini. Works perfectly well with the chocolate. Use milk chocolate for a sweeter, more indulgent cookie.
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Continue ReadingMeghli- or the ultimate love language! It is a sweet, thick and spicy rice pudding topped with piles of shredded coconut and meticulously peeled tiny nuts. It is usually served to celebrate a new birth and Christmas, usually both super hectic and busy periods!Now although the ingredients are super simple, this dessert requires a lottt of patience as it is boiled and simmered for a long time – hence the name! Meghli= boiled!
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Continue ReadingFood and flavors stir my emotions, my nostalgia. The combination of sweet, sticky Lebanese figs dipped in salty and sour zaatar transports me back to Lebanon, to evenings spent with my parents on their balcony. This combination reminds me of my dad specially. This and eggs with garlic and sumac. Maybe that should be next?Makes 8-10
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Continue ReadingI’m from Beirut and I grew up wondering why we didn’t have a village to go back, over the weekend. I would hear my friends’ the beautiful stories from their grandparents in the villages and the delicious meals they prepared with fresh produce from their land. My family owned a supermarket- so it felt very different!Luckily, my friends became family and their villages became familiar to me and we would visit often and enjoy their fresh produce and their meals and their stories.Tomato Kammouneh or كمونة بندورة is one of my favorite dishes from the south of Lebanon. It is…
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Continue ReadingRetro entertaining with these caramelized puff pastry squares made with quince jam and Manchego cheese. They are sooo crunchy, sweet and savory and so easy to make. Perfect for gatherings and hosting! I made them using the jam from Conserves Chtaura which reminds me so just h of my childhood. What ingredients reminds you of yours?
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Continue ReadingRice Paper Halloum Parcels (gf) As always, I absolutely love working with Lebanese brands and that for many reasons. First of all, the flavors and the quality are in my opinion the best. Secondly, the connection and the feeling I get from eating and consuming products that are from my land. Al Akhdar dairy produces their delicious fresh yogurts and cheeses from the south of Lebanon to the Bekaa. They are available in the UAE @pickitt.ae. Having a bite of this halloum feels like being a bit closer to home.
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Continue ReadingOn my last trip to Lebanon, i tried the most delicious kibbeh at a restaurant called @jouliabeirut. The owner Jad is from the north and this 1 layer kibbeh (mamdoudeh or spread kibbeh) is a specialty from the region. The topping reminded me of the famous pissaladière tart. It is SO DELICIOUS!I decorated it with lamb lettuce (ba’leh) and pomegranate seeds to create a contrast in flavor and in color.
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Continue ReadingTransforming memories of mom’s lahm bi ajeen into arayess with my secret weapon – the Russell Hobbs chopper! From effortlessly blending aromatic spices to creating a savory minced beef mixture, this handy tool makes it super easy. Just like my mom used to make, but with a yasso twist!