Let me to introduce you to the arabesque cousin of Pasta Puttanesca -Italian for 'in the style of prostitutes'- said cousin is the Arabesque Pasta Sharmatesca, pronounced with an Italian accent, to sound classier. The pasta sharmatesca differs to the pasta puttanesca with the addition of makdous which is pickled aubergines stuffed with walnuts and chilli. It’s not entirely a substitute for the capers, which you could do though. I used...
Ask a Lebanese and they’ll shake a bundle of parsley and mint at you as they proclaim that a true tabouleh is one that is herb based. I have certainly been guilty of this. But is that really the case? First, let’s consider the etymology of the word which comes from the Arabic root ‘tabala’ meaning to toss, dress or marinate which also offers us a family of ‘mou-TABAL’ dishes… This said, we can come to understand that the...
Candied Pumpkin Jam and Labneh Cheesecake Author: Bethany Prep time: 1 hour 15 mins Cook time: 40 mins Total time: 1 hour 55 mins Serves: 6 This recipe is inspired by three different dishes: the Turkish dish kabak tatlisi, the cheesecake and, of course, Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. I do prefer this to the traditional pumpkin pie, as it’s far less sickly sweet. The pumpkin really gets to shine and it also melds well with the zesty labneh...
Photography by Sarka Babicka As ever, it's been a busy few months. I thought things might slow down a tad after #FBC12, finally allowing me some time to catch up but alas, it has not been the case. I'm always happier when busy though, so not complaining. I've managed to swing a long weekend in Istanbul this coming weekend. If you happen to have any foodie suggestions, then please do send them my way. In the last post on DKS I introduced the...
Wheat Berry & Puy Lentil Salad with Oven-Roasted Aubergine & Harissa-Yogurt Dressing Author: Bethany Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 1 hour Total time: 1 hour 15 mins Serves: 4 Wheat berries are whole, unprocessed wheat kernels and the basis of all wheat products. They are high in fibre, with a characteristically chewy texture, and although they take a while to cook, they do not require soaking, which is a bonus. Harissa is a North...
Well folks, the #FBC12 "insane" giveaway has seen an incredible (1640 entries) turn out of participants. Thanks to all who participated and I'm thrilled to see so many of you keen to attend #FBC12, especially as returnees. Now, the news you've all been waiting to hear (maybe) .... A very big congratulations to a Rafflecopter giveaway Sally Prosser, please get in touch via email and we will arrange for your ticket and sessions to be booked....
Tabbouleh Author: Bethany Prep time: 25 mins Total time: 25 mins Serves: 4 Tabbouleh is a salad I can eat (and have eaten) daily for weeks at a time with no complaint. My Teta (Lebanese for Nana) was renowned for making the most delicious tabbouleh (but then so is every other Lebanese grandmother!). Living abroad over the last 8 years, I have noticed that Western versions of this dish use a larger bulgur-to-parsley...
Warm Freekeh Salad with Fig, Feta & Caramelized Onions Author: Bethany Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 30 mins Total time: 40 mins Serves: 4 I prepared this dish at a recent cooking demonstration during an event hosted by Lebanese Wines at Atelier des Chefs in London. It was incredibly popular and even though I’d made double the quantity required, we actually ran out within the first hour. It’s a lovely salad made from freekeh,...
My lovely friends Nando from LiveKitchen & Sarka from Cook Your Dream joined me a couple of weeks back to shoot a series of DKS recipe videos. It was a brilliantly fun day and a great learning curve as I'm trying to become more active in v-blogging. Here goes my first shot, I hope you like it! For more info and for the recipe on labneh and some inspired variations visit one of my other posts about it here. Also, here's a recent recipe...
There's something dreamy about courgette blossoms. They are incredibly delicate and I love their vibrant green and yellow tones. I was first introduced to the idea of eating a courgette flower, in my early teens, nowhere else but in Provence by my, then, French step-mother. She didn't do much to them but drop them in a light batter before frying them. They were simple but so wonderfully fulfilling. Having grown up, for part of my childhood on a...
It's hard to define Abu Kassem in a few words but genuine, humble and generous would be a good start. He is known for the za'atar he grows in the fields surrounding his home in the south of Lebanon and considered to be one of the few enterprising farmers who started domesticating the wild za'atar plant (thyme), which was previously only collected from the wild. He's since developed the brand Za'atar Zawtar which combines the fruits of his...
I have been enjoying this salad plentifully over the last month. After all, how can one resist the combination of crisp green leaves, garlicky butter beans, and a runny egg yolk with a sprinkle of sumac? And if that wasn't enough, this salad can be knocked out in no time! Okay, so you may need to use canned beans but I recommend cooking up a big batch of dried butter beans and then freezing them in individual serving sizes, making it more...
Freekeh (frikeh) is my number one grain and preferred starch to use. I find it so versatile to cook with and I cherish the unique, nutty undertone and smoky aroma it carries. This ancient grain is typical to the cuisine of the Middle East. Growing up I enjoyed it the traditional way in the quintessential freekeh ma' djej/ Lahm or freekeh with chicken and/or meat. However, freekeh can be used in risottos, salads (this salad was a big hit when I...
The idea for this dish came to me months ago but it only came to life yesterday. I am happy to say it was a great success. It takes inspiration from the seven-layer dip although it doesn't have as many layers. It combines hummus b' lahme, hummus balila and gorgeous pomegranate arils and is in fact built upon an intricate layer of flavors. First, there is the zesty and velvety smooth hummus b' tahini, then, a layer of humus balila which hosts...
What happens when a Brazilian, a Brit and a Lebanese-American get together? Well, food of course but also some pure comedy moments! If you are not yet acquainted with Nando's delicious Brazilian food blog, Cuca Brazuca, then you need to get over there quickly! Nando shares great recipes, great food photography and always well edited videos. In fact, I had the chance of trying his Mini Acarajes and I had to be polite by warning him I was going...
The last few months have been extremely hectic. Thankfully I have been kept very busy with different projects and prospects although this has meant a little less time for blogging. Holiday season is nearing and I'm really looking forward to more recipe creations and new inspirations. One thing that has also been on my mind is creating football friendly food, like these cauliflower fritters with tahini dressing. So, over the next couple of...
On my recent trip to Lebanon, my brother and I spent quality time together making these moreish stuffed Swiss chard fingers and I think they're just the right treat. I had never made them before and when I asked my aunt for the recipe her response went a little like this:" a handful of this, pinch of that, taste and see..." and well we had to make 3 different batches before we got it just right. Making these heavenly chard fingers was also...
I'm back home, in Brighton, after spending two lovely months in Lebanon. I am always so torn between where home lies for me. I feel I belong here and there and I love each place for entirely different reasons. When I'm here I want to be there and when I'm there I want to be here. Now, if I could just get it right... One of the very wonderful aspects of Lebanon that I cherish so much is the natural bounty that abounds. Lebanon is a very blessed...
I've been in Lebanon for a month and a half now and I am starting to blow fuses because of the ridiculously slow internet connection. Apparently, there are only 3 other countries with worse internet than Lebanon and I was shocked to learn that internet in the Palestinian territories is actually much better. Since my arrival to Lebanon, one of the projects I've been working on is the photography for a Lebanese cookbook that was first written...
I'm still here in my beloved Lebanon and well you can only imagine how many frareej meshweeyeh (grilled chickens) I've had... It's one of my all time favorites with extra toum, of course! Char-grilled butterflied chicken is very much a fast food item in our household. Although we prepare it ourselves when we throw barbecues, we also tend to pick it up ready made on our way back home when we don't have the time and energy. We keep things simple...
