Za'atar Fried Chicken Author: Bethany Prep time: 45 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 1 hour Serves: 4 I can remember my love for garlic, or “toum,” since I was a little kid. I recall secret midnight snacks of Arabic bread generously smothered with the garlic sauce. This practice continues today, at which point my husband tends to disappear…This garlic sauce is probably like none other you’ve tasted before (unless you’ve...
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...
Loubyeh b’ zeit or green beans in olive oil (although technically it's tomato sauce) is a Middle Eastern one-pot, vegetarian (you may add lamb but that's a whole other post) dish made of green beans, preferably runner beans, that are cooked with tomatoes and olive oil. It’s really incredibly simple to make, requires very few ingredients and one of my favorite ways to have green beans. It will also make a wonderful alternative to the...
Yup, it has been a good while since I've last posted. I have been and still am incredibly busy but I won't bore you with the what/where/how. Things will soon unravel in their own time. Meanwhile, I've got a stellar recipe for you. It's inspired by Lebanon, of course, and by my wonderful visits to Abu Kassem, but also from the Food Blogger Connect 2011 goodie bag. The lovely people over at Steenbergs were kind enough to provide us with some...
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...
Happy New Year! This is my first post for the year and it's a very special one. It's been a longtime dream to write an article about Lebanon and 2010 saw me realize that dream. Accompanied by Roderick Field, we flew to Lebanon where we spent five days gorging ourselves. In fact, on one of the days, we managed to visit 6 different restaurants, and it wasn't just tastings that took place. Part of Lebanon's great charm is the abundant hospitality...
The month leading up to Christmas always creates a warm and fuzzy feeling inside as I get more and more excited about the Christmas celebrations. Everywhere you look Christmas paraphernalia looms and while that can get a bit overbearing (given that they start filling shelves in October these days) it doesn’t stop my eyes from twinkling like Christmas lights. Food, of course, preoccupies a large part of my Christmas planning. I spend a lot of...
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...
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...
It's been a while now that I keep getting requests for a fattoush salad recipe... Well it's finally here! I've guest posted the recipe over at the lovely Michelle, on her blog Greedy Gourmet. Please head over there and do make it soon. It's perfect for the weather we're having now and it makes a wonderful barbecue accompaniment. Bethx
I'm going home on Wednesday! I can't wait to be back in Lebanon hanging out with family and friends. I'll be there for the next month working on several really exciting projects that will be unveiled over the coming months. Speaking of which, have you heard about Taste Lebanon Taste Lebanon is a "real life" culinary tour across Lebanon which I'll be leading in September, taking 8-11 lucky travelers on a tasting journey over 7 days. Some of you...
I'm back from a lovely, relaxing holiday in Antigua where I sunned my self brown and drank rum punch galore. I've got some gorgeous pictures I can't wait to share with all of you in my next post. Antigua is so picturesque and I can't wait to return. Holidays are great for rejuvenating the mind and inspiring all kinds of creativity and ideas. I love it when I find inspiration on Holiday. I think it's a good sign that I relaxed the mind and soul....
What's your idea of a perfect holiday? Mine? My bottom perfectly poised on a sandy beach, chilled music in the background, a good self-help book (because everyone needs help), a few tropical cocktails to set things in motion, and of course a good-looking charmer sweet-talking me all the way. Luckily, I'm married to one so that's already a given! And, where will my bottom be settling in the next 10 days, you ask? Ah, it will be on one of the...
I'd like to thank you all so much for participating in the Lebanese Pantry Giveaway. I've really appreciated all your feedback! It's always a joy to hear what you have to say! You guys rock! I'm happy to announce and with the help of this website the lucky winner of the Lebanese Pantry Givewaway is Asha with comment # 7: "Asha@FSK 21 April 2010 at 1:55 am (Edit) # Love the new look and the Lebanese sections are fantastic!!! :) And, yes, awesome...
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