Arap Koftesi burgul balls in a garlicky yogurt sauce
This bit of Turkish home cuisine is called Arap Koftesi, and I discovered it in Özlem's Turkish Table. We can call them burgul balls.
Middle Eastern food
The ultimate side dish: 8 ways to eat tahini
As earthy as tahini is (or as we say in the Middle East, techinah) the semi-solid paste brightens up with lemon, garlic, herbs and spices. It's great as a dip, but here are some new and surprising ways to eat tehini.
7 Evergreen Books on Sustainable Food for Your New Year
Eating sustainably can make a huge impact on our planet. We all know that eating sustainably, and eating local is good for the planet and good for the economy. Now that your New Year’s resolutions to eat better have come into effect, check out your local bookseller for seven recycled titles that will help bolster […]
Moroccan stuffed potatoes are called mafroum
The most hearty and satisfying dish from Morocco that is budget friendly and delicious.
Mechouia, Grilled Vegetable Salad from Tunisia
Tunisian flavors come together deliciously in a salad of charred, chopped vegetables.
Syrian Mint Lemonade
Called polo in Syria, try this refreshing Middle East mint lemonade to beat the heat. Like our cooling vegan cold almond milk and Turkish aryan yogurt drink, this herbal lemonade cools the body and soothes heated spirits.And it’s not only good, it’s good for you. Mint is packed with vitamin C, which helps you withstand […]
Beating Breast Cancer with Tumeric, a Favorite Middle East Spice
Turmeric originates from Asia and is common to Indian cuisine. It is also a popular ingredient for middle eastern recipes. Worried about the side effects of breast cancer recovery drugs, a 44 year old survivor named Vicky Sewart refused to follow medical orders and instead radically altered her diet. One of her secrets? A common […]
Saudi Arabian Bukhari Rice
Pilgrims from Uzbekistan brought Ruz Bukhari with them long ago, as they traveled to Mecca and Medina. We're sure they traveled by camel caravan, but nowadays pilgrims make their haj in all kinds of ways, even by bike. Along the way, the recipe infiltrated borders, as recipes tend to do, with Pakistan, Afganistan, and Arabic countries, eventually reaching Yemen.
May’s Seasonal Produce: Sour Plums and Cherries
Sour green plums the size of large marbles are in the shuk now, a seasonal favorite of the Iraqi community. Eat them out of hand as a snack, sprinkling each bite with a little salt. The classic Iraqi way to cook them is to pair them with meat in a flavorful stew. And if you […]
Herbel, a Moroccan wheat soup which is like our porridge
Herbel is a wheat soup that dish reminds Moroccans of breakfasts during Aid El Fitr and Eid El Adha. A recipe that has probably crossed the centuries.
Almond Torte With Pomegranate Molasses
This elegant cake has a rich note of the Middle East in its very local ingredients. Vegewarian means choosing more non-meat options in your overall diet. I propose to add: let’s round this philosophy out out to include healthier options all around. For example, we don’t want to give sweet things up altogether, but let’s […]
Moroccan love potion Majoun, spiced with cannabis
Be lonely no more. Morocco's "love potion" candy hides a secret high note in its heart.
Cousa Mahshi, Lebanese Stuffed Zucchini
A specialty of the Middle East, stuffed zukes are favorites with young and old. In a Tel Aviv supermarket, I watched a mother soothing her tired, hungry little boy. “Just another few minutes, and then we’ll go to Grandmother’s house for lunch!” The little boy sniffled, looked up, and asked, “Are there going to be […]
Sheep’s tail fat alya is the ancient Middle-Eastern shmaltz
A Middle Eastern flavor that refuses to go out of style – sheep’s tail fat. Some vegetable species thrive in harsh, arid conditions and still produce oil, like argan trees. And some animal species survive the desert by storing fat around their bodies, like camels. And like Awassi sheep, bred to store fat in their […]
October Seasonal Produce
October offers a variety of short-season delicacies. Look for olives, dates, and beans. Each month brings forward new fruit or vegetables to charm the eye and palate, while the previous month's stars fade away.