Falafel is of course that awesome and healthy snack food that can become an entire meal when served over a salad or wrapped in flat-bread. And when paired with taratoor (tahini-garlic sauce) it is nothing short of culinary genius (in my humble opinion). This is a variation on the classic chickpea falafel in that itContinue reading “Broccoli Falafel with Taratoor (Yum!)”
Tag Archives: Lebanese Food
Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice (sort of)
This is yet another variation of my Lebanese chicken-and-rice recipe. The reason I say “sort of” in the title of this post is that I didn’t use ground lamb–which is in the original recipe–and I color/slightly flavor the dish with turmeric (along with the other spices), which is not normally in this recipe. In addition,Continue reading “Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice (sort of)”
Kibbeh wa Kafta
Kibbeh and Kafta are two Lebanese meat recipes that are somewhat similar yet at the same time a bit different. While they are both often made with lamb they are equally good when made with beef (as the recipe pictured is). And the recipe can take on many forms, this is just one example. IContinue reading “Kibbeh wa Kafta”
How to Make a Deliciously Flavorful and Healthy Rice Dish
A couple things before I start. Firstly, the title to this post should actually read, How to Make a Deliciously Flavorful and Healthy Rice Dish So Easy and Simple and Hearty and Truly Good Flavored That You Won’t Even Notice it Doesn’t Contain Meat, but it of course is too long of a title. AndContinue reading “How to Make a Deliciously Flavorful and Healthy Rice Dish”
Moudardara (Lebanese Lentils and Rice)
This recipe is classic Middle Eastern Food. It is also easy to make and so delicious that you won’t be able to stop eating it. The recipe I’ve included here, of course, is a variation on the traditional. This is a dish that is often eaten during Lent and for that reason usually remains vegetarian,Continue reading “Moudardara (Lebanese Lentils and Rice)”
The Flavor of Summer…
I made this salad for employee meal last night at work. Like much of the nation it has been hot in Western New York and the last thing I wanted to eat while working in a sweltering kitchen was something hot. This fit the bill; I had leftovers for lunch today. This is really justContinue reading “The Flavor of Summer…”
Baba Ghanouj and Hummus…two similar recipes but uniquely different
These recipes are equally delicious and simple to make. And while they may look similar their flavors are somewhat different. One, of course, is based on chickpeas (the Arabic word for chickpea is hummus, or hummos) and the other is based on roasted eggplant, which gives the recipe a slightly smokey flavor. If you’d likeContinue reading “Baba Ghanouj and Hummus…two similar recipes but uniquely different”
Yet Another Variation
I’ve mentioned many times on this blog that this dish (Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice) is one of my all-time favorite recipes, I could eat it a couple times a week and not tire of it. I’ve also posted many variations of it, and this is yet another. The thing I did different this time–other than using brownContinue reading “Yet Another Variation”
Lebanese-Style Chicken-and-Brown Rice (sans boeuf ou d’agneau)
Yes I’ve posted this recipe before–or many variations of it–but it’s one of my favorites and I can’t help but post it again in hopes that more people try it. This is yet another variation of the classic Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice recipe that I grew up with. While this version still has toasted vermicelli, I usedContinue reading “Lebanese-Style Chicken-and-Brown Rice (sans boeuf ou d’agneau)”
La Menthe Vinaigrette (ou citronette)
This is by far my favorite vinaigrette sauce. And I consciously use the word sauce rather than dressing because it is more than a salad dressing. This can be used as a dip or drizzled over poultry, seafood, or meat..and of course used as a salad dressing (it is in fact the basis to theContinue reading “La Menthe Vinaigrette (ou citronette)”
Barley Tabbouleh
Yesterday I made mushroom-barley soup but cooked too much barley (it’s amazing how it just keeps expanding isn’t it). The outcome was that I had an excess of cooked barley today. So I made a variation of tabbouleh for staff lunch today. I had never made this with barley before but it was delicious. AndContinue reading “Barley Tabbouleh”
Middle Eastern Brown Rice with Lamb and Vermacelli
This is a variation of my recipe for Lebanese Chicken and Rice. In this version I replace the chicken with lamb and use brown rice instead of white. Beef or pork can replace the lamb but it’s not quite the same. The aroma this dish (or any of it’s variations) will permeate the house withContinue reading “Middle Eastern Brown Rice with Lamb and Vermacelli”
Kibbeh (Lebanese Meatballs)
Kibbeh is a Lebanese recipe that comes in many shapes and forms, but if you’ve ever discussed food with a Lebanese person you know that the discussion always comes back to kibbeh. I’ve mentioned before that I myself am Lebanese-American (half, actually, on my dad’s side) and grew up eating this dish. It is basicallyContinue reading “Kibbeh (Lebanese Meatballs)”
Middle Eastern Lentil Soup
This is by far one of my favorite soups. It’s simple to make, delicious, nutritious, and the variations are seemingly endless. Listed below is the basic recipe but you can add any number of your favorite ingredients to make it a meal-in-itself. The recipe below, for example, is vegetarian but this is equally delicious withContinue reading “Middle Eastern Lentil Soup”
I Like to Cook at Home
“Cooking is a great destresser because it serves as a creative outlet,” says Debbie Mandel, author of “Addicted to Stress.” “And while stress can numb your senses, cooking activates them. It’s a sensory experience with aroma, taste, touch, visual delight and even sizzling sound.” I could easily start and finish this post with it’s title:Continue reading “I Like to Cook at Home”
Falafel (Yum!)
Falafel are an awesome and healthy food that is not only nutritious and delicious but easy to make. In it’s most basic description, it is nothing more than ground chickpeas (and/or other legumes) mixed with seasonings and deep-fried. It is traditionally eaten as a pita sandwich laden with tarator sauce (tahini sauce), but it isContinue reading “Falafel (Yum!)”
Saj, Marqouq, and Fatoush…Delicious Recipes to Keep the Kitchen (and the cook) Cool
As many of you know I cook for a living. And as many people around the country and the world currently know: it is hot outside, really hot. So on my day off today the last thing I wanted to do, like any cook–professional or not–is heat up the kitchen. But, on the other hand,Continue reading “Saj, Marqouq, and Fatoush…Delicious Recipes to Keep the Kitchen (and the cook) Cool”
Employee Meal 6.23.11 (Spiced Hummus and Baba Ghanouj with Caramelized Onions)
Hummus and Baba Ghanouj are two of my favorite warm-weather recipes, and the kitchen was steaming today so I made them for lunch. They are so easy to make and at the same time so satisfying. They’re also really versatile and I tend to change the recipes every time I make them. Below are basicContinue reading “Employee Meal 6.23.11 (Spiced Hummus and Baba Ghanouj with Caramelized Onions)”
Lebanese-Style Chicken and Brown Rice
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. It’s one that I grew up with and it’s also one which I shall never tire of. I’ve posted it–or variations of it–on numerous occasions, but because I believe it is so delicious and easy to make I thought I’d post it again. The main difference betweenContinue reading “Lebanese-Style Chicken and Brown Rice”
Employee Meal 5.18.11
Kibbeh on a skewer (kafta). Mmmm…I love this stuff. This is part of my ethnic heritage (my dad’s family was from “the old country”). Ate it with a salad, with fresh yogurt and hydroponic tomatoes (and bread of course). This is so easy to make and super flavorful…my mouth is watering as I remember theContinue reading “Employee Meal 5.18.11”