Spiced Watermelon and Feta Salad
spiced watermelon and feta salad
Old School Middle Eastern Recipes with Some Modern Day Twists
YUMMY ! Just thinking about writing this post makes my mouth water. Shrimp Orzo Salad is such a great dish to wind down the summer with. It’s lemony-dill dressing provides a refreshing flavor akin to other summer dishes, but the warmth of the orzo and creamy tang of the goat cheese provides a heartiness that lets us know that fall is just around the corner.
I started making this particular dish just after I graduated from law school. It was, in a way, part of my entry into “adult” life. While it is Mediterranean inspired, it was the first real dish that I made completely on my own that was unlike anything I had eaten before or would have been taught to make by my mother and grandmothers. I first brought to a friends dinner party and then to my parent’s house for the ultimate taste test. Needless to say, it passed the test and has since become one of my signature dishes. I hope you give it a try, truly is a unique and delicious dish that will make your mouth water just thinking about it.
I worked on this vegan recipe as a tribute to the many vegan and vegetarians at my office. Vegan baking has been something new to me, but I have learned from my mom that cooking and baking is about experimentation and knowledge of ingredients. Our …
Vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, dolma, warak enab or yalanji -whatever you want to call it – are one of the best things to grace any gathering. When the dish is noticed, conversations are paused, eyebrows raise, crowds gather, and suddenly the 80 pieces you made …
While we grew up eating our fair share of Middle Eastern cuisine, my Mom, being the excellent cook she is, would constantly throw new dishes into the mix inspired by restaurant visits or our travels abroad. She was and still is a true renaissance woman in the kitchen. Her inspired cooking philosophy has rubbed off on us and lead me to make this Mediterranean Chopped Salad after a recent dinner at Coco Pazzo Café in Chicago. Sitting outside and enjoying the Chicago summer, we had the most delicious Italian chopped salad that was fresh, light and a perfect introduction to a most excellent meal. I put my own Middle-Eastern spin on it, using mainly chickpeas instead of cannellini beans and adding some mint for additional freshness. The result is a celebration of veggies that will leave you feeling healthy, energized and satisfied. It’s a wonderful dish to enjoy al fresco as we savor these last days of summer.
Bread, aka khubez in Arabic, is common to many Middle Eastern meals. It is eaten with hummus, dips, cheese, meats…the list goes on! There are so many varieties of bread too. This recipe creates the softest and fluffiest pocketless pita. It is perfect to dip …
Tata’s Signature Salad is a wonderful go-to salad any time of the year. Our Tata (grandma) made this simple salad so refreshing by adding a touch of mint. Of course, her sweet tooth would always kick in, so she added a little bit of sugar …
This is an ode to hummus. Hummus has earned the title of a universal dish. From an upscale to a fast food restaurant, there is a good chance that you may find hummus on the menu, and if not, probably the place next door has it. There is also a good chance that the person you are with says, “Man, I love hummus.”
The other day, at my husband’s graduation party (yes, graduation party #43….what can I say? After residency there are some grey hairs now), my mother-in-law Majedah made a large batch of hummus for the party. All the guests asked where it was from. I proudly said “Majedah made it!” to which she modestly responded, “It’s no big deal, I made just before I came.” It is truly delicious – so smooth, creamy, and tangy. And the best part, it takes no more than 20 minutes to make. One of my favorite stories about this hummus is that one of our friends (hey Matt!) said he almost called us at 10pm a few days later to see if we had any leftover hummus – the store stuff just wouldn’t do! I wish he would have called, eating hummus is acceptable at any hour.
So here’s to you, hummus, for making the tahini I grew up with #mainstream. If you have 20 minutes, make this hummus, you will not regret it!
Also, be sure to check out one of earlier post, Nana B’s Famous Hummus ,for more hummus inspiration.