Red lentil Kibbeh
This recipe is adapted from Chef Ramzi’s The Culinary Heritage of Lebanon; it comes from the district of Bint Jbeil in South Lebanon.www.bintjbeil.com/index.en.html The area was subjected to so many bombing operations over a span of so many decades that I find it amazing that it managed to survive...
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Cream of artichoke soup
This is not the kind of news that will make headlines on FOX News or other major stations but I heard it on EuroNews and thought I would share it with you:www.euronews.net/2010/01/18/earthquake-in-haiti-palestinians-in-gaza-donate-to-haiti/ Today, I decided to simply make soup. I had already boiled a chicken yesterday and had some good...
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Rosewater and walnut jelly (Khabeessa)
Khabeessa was first brought to my attention by Leila, who left a comment asking if I knew about it; well, I did not. Just like moufattaka, it is a dessert that is specific to the Sunni communities in Beirut. Beirut, Ras Beirut to be exact (the part of the...
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Lamb chops with roasted green wheat (freekeh)and tomato sauce
It is high time to start stocking your kitchen with roasted green wheat or freekeh; it is available at middle-eastern stores, usually in a box, with instructions and recipes on the back. Nutritionally, it packs so much that it is crazy that not more people know about it. This...
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Sweet Fritters (Ouwaymate)
These fritters were highly anticipated at our house the first week of January; teta (grandma) would make a batch for the feast of Epiphany. I am about a week late. Oh well. I retrieved the recipe from her notes and here it is, slightly adapted: (recipe is the same in...
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The New Book of Middle-Eastern Food by Claudia Roden
This review is about the first cookbook I ever read on middle-eastern cuisine; my mother had bought it thirty years ago and handed it to me when I moved to the States. It was originally published in 1968 but has been revised since. There has been hundreds of books written...
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Fresh garbanzo beans salad
Found these at the middle-eastern grocery, imported from Mexico. We used to get them occasionally in Beirut from cart vendors, but I don’t remember how we ate them. As a snack? In a salad? Stew? These are also produced in California by califresh Luck would have it that Juan...
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Beans and grains casserole (Makhlouta)
Makhlouta means “mixture” in Lebanese Arabic, because in it you will find various legumes and beans: lentils, kidney beans, white beans, chick peas, bulgur, onions, wheat. It will energize you and give you strength and stamina. It will give you lots of fiber and lots of nutrients and...
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Zaatar Croissants
OK. This is a quick post because I am spending the evening watching American Idol! The most entertaining show on American TV, in my opinion! I have watched this show in Paris and in Beirut in French and in Arabic and the American show is way, way, better. Way better....
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