Zucchini fritters
A great way to use some leftover zucchini; in Lebanon, these fritters are made with the zucchini pulp leftover after they have been cored for stuffing. Simply grate or shred the zucchini in a food processor, add a bit of grated onion, garlic paste and lots of chopped herbs...
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Lebanese candy (Tarbouche)
This candy which has been around forever in Lebanon is the equivalent of the American twinkie. Very sweet and hugely popular; so much so that entire boxes can be bought for the equivalent of US$4. Must be a universal craving, to want something sweet, creamy and fluffy. The above...
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Wild sorrel (Hommaydah)
A wild green popping all over the mountains in Lebanon called hommaydah, or wild sorrel (oseille in French); delicious in any dish that calls for greens with a bite and used frequently in turnovers or fatayers. This time of year the mountains are starting to fill up with wildflowers...
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Sticky rice balls
There is a substantial workforce of Filipinos in Lebanon; due to their presence, stores have popped up with a selection of Filipino products. I love the Filipino ladies that I have encountered in Lebanon and learned a bit about their culture as well. These rice balls are a twist...
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Eggplant with yogurt sauce (Fattet al-Makdoos)
In what city in the world can you get this meal delivered to your door? That is what happened today when I called my caterer/friend/neighbor, Rima @RimRam Gourmet and asked her to help me out. Rima, whose is a true Beiruti, specializes in many traditional dishes and cooks herself...
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Muhammara kebabs
There is a local restaurant here in Beirut called Kebab-ji with several outlets throughout the city; their kebabs are neatly shaped by their expert kebab-makers and come in several varieties. The photo below is of a kebab-maker from Kebab-ji shaping the kebabs for a catered party. The kebabs today...
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Retro cake
I guess everyone has their own personal notion of what a retro cake is. A retro cake, to me, is the one my mother used to serve when she had her girlfriends over for the purpose of playing bridge or gossiping. Personally, out of the two activities I...
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Green tea and broccoli soup
My mother subscribes to a French magazine, Femme Actuelle, which is always full of recipes. This is where I plucked the idea of making a broccoli soup with some green tea. Why not? Just substitute the chicken broth for the steeped green tea (minus the leaves) and that’s it!...
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Black rice seafood pilaf
This is black rice; not wild rice or toasted white rice. The rice is short-grain and just as dark as can be. The Emperor of China used to love it and it was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Apparently, he’d forbid his subjects to eat it, it was meant...
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