Feel like eating something flavorful and satisfying, but not heavy? Stewed haricot beans answer your hunger – and they’re easy to make. A hearty vegetarian stew, aromatic with herbs and spices (see our series on Middle Eastern spices). Great with rice or fresh pita and a simple protein like cheese or an omelet on the […]
Amirim, a unique vegetarian village in northern Israel, offers gorgeous views… and mediocre food. Once upon a time (according to the owner of the bed and breakfast that I recently stayed at in Amirim), a young group of idealistic vegetarians gathered in central Israel and decided that they needed to get away from all that […]
Will we really have to face a world without humus? Green Prophet explores urban gardening to offset food shortages. Climate change has already made historical marks on the planet, but for the most part, we’ve been complacent about our food supply. Water comes out of the tap. Supermarket shelves look well stocked. We still wonder […]
What’s more comforting on a chilly day than a cup of soup? Try our twist on a traditional Lebanese recipe. When fresh vegetables are scarce in remote areas of the Middle East, people rely on dried pulses stored for the winter in ceramic jars or burlap bags. Onions harvested in summer add piquancy. Samneh, clarified […]
Labane is easy to make and is perfect with olive oil. At first it seems to sour to be right, then you fall in love with the zing.
Cool, soothing raw almond milk is great for hot days. But when winter arrives, enjoy a creamy, hot, Middle Eastern version. Almond milk, while it may be killing the bees, is a vegan option for a protein drink, instead of animal milks (like camel’s milk). It’s lactose-free, has no cholesterol, and a cup contains 10 […]
What good is a farmer’s market if it only appeals to a small group of people? Beirut’s Souk el Tayeb reaches out to the community. Whereas some farmer’s markets can set an elitist tone – appealing mostly to a yuppy or wealthy clientele instead of delighting in bringing good food and good values to the […]
Once you’ve tasted bread baked with spicy black cumin seeds, you’ll reach for more…and more. Black cumin is often added to breads and crackers in the Middle East, as we noted in our post about black cumin seed. We suggest scattering some of those spicy black seeds over the dough in our recipe for za’atar […]
The recent salmonella outbreak in the U.S. provoked a debate: are local eggs really safer than eggs from industrial farms? Over this past summer, half a billion eggs were recalled in the U.S. due to salmonella contamination. Salmonella, a debilitating and potentially life-threatening illness, is caused by the salmonella enteriditis bacteria. The eggs came from […]
Coriander, lemon, and four kinds of vegetables make a mouth-watering vegetarian couscous. Natural locavores, good Middle Eastern cooks take pleasure in seeking out the very best and freshest vegetables in the open-air markets, transforming inexpensive local ingredients into delicious traditional foods. Some examples include mulukhiya (our mulukhiya recipe here) and couscous. While couscous is often […]
In the time it takes to go out and buy fast food or wait for the home delivery, you can whip up delicious home-made – and healthy – sandwiches. It takes five minutes to put together a sandwich based on foods from the pantry and fridge. And you save money using up some of the […]
Fresh corn makes all the difference in these golden muffins – a treat for family and guests. Right now in Israel it’s the Sukkot holiday, and visiting time as friends and neighbors go sukkah-hopping from one home to the next. It’s time to catch up with neighborhood news, refresh friendships, and relax with people instead […]
Are you sure you want to cook etrog jam this year? Make sure it’s organic, first. In my parent’s old-fashioned cookbooks are recipes based on the beautiful, fragrant etrog (citron): etrog jam, etrog cake and cookies, even an etrog souffle. As tempting as it is to make jam out of the attractive yellow fruit after […]
Watching TV and sitting at the computer is fattening, if you eat in front of the screen. It’s time to examine our eating habits and consider how best to repair them. Most people agree that eating in front of the computer or TV leads to overeating. We unconsciously reach for another handful of that salty […]
Fasting, while probably better for the environment, is unfortunately unsustainable for us humans. What other ways can you make your eating eco-friendly? Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is one of the holiest days of the year for Jews and is a time of reflection, atonement, fasting and prayer. It is a day when […]