Category Archives: Side Dishes
Aubergine Salad with Yoghurt and Pomegranates.
March 11, 2023
Prep 15 min Cook 15 min A unique and delicious recipe from Aleppo in Syria with aubergines, yoghurt and tahini laced with a pomegranate dressing. In the late 90s, Marcelle was... More
Fasoulakia- Braised Greek Beans
July 27, 2022
Prep and cook 35 min We are fortunate enough to live within a block of Eastern Market in Washington DC, one of the oldest fresh produce markets in America. We therefore have easy... More
Charred Okra With Garlic And Coriander Seeds
March 6, 2022
Prep 15 min cook 10 min This recipe will have you enjoy the sweet, grassy flavor of okra without the glutenous texture it sometimes acquires when cooked in a stew or sauce. One... More
Vegetarian Tian Provençale
December 22, 2021
Prep 15 min cook 35 min A vegetarian one-pan delight from Provençe of fresh vegetables, drenched in quality olive oil and then cooked in the oven until all the vegetable and... More
Buttered Carrots Blended With Caraway Seeds
December 16, 2021
Prep time 5 min. Cook time 5 min Here is a delicious carrot recipe that blends their natural sweetness with a little butter and dried caraway seeds that give a burst a... More
Mashed Potatoes With Rosemary Walnut Sauce
December 15, 2021
Prep time 10 min cook time 15 min Rich in butter and cream, this mashed potatoes recipe is only for special occasions. An aromatic rosemary and walnut sauce, gives this family... More
Herb Garlic Mushrooms On Grilled Polenta
November 7, 2021
Prep time 5 min. Cook time 15 min This recipe is a full on rustic Italian blast of herbs, garlic and mushrooms on fluffy grilled polenta. Perfect as a side dish or appetizer.... More
Grilled Zucchini With Zaatar Dressing
November 5, 2021
Cook and Prep time 10 min Za’atar has a definite thyme flavor with overtones of nutty sesame seeds, the aromas of coriander and cumin seeds laced with lemony sumac. You can make... More
Egyptian Salad
November 1, 2021
This is the mainstay of many Egyptian meals ( or for that matter, those from North Africa or the Eastern Mediterranean as well). It is simplicity itself with no set recipe other... More
Ratatouille
October 1, 2021
Prep time 15 min cook time 20 min My take on a French classic of a stove top cooked mix of a heartwarming mix of vegetables. When I was very young, we lived in an... More
Imam Bayildi-A Turkish classic
September 20, 2021
Prep time 15 min cook time 20 Smokey baked globe eggplants stuffed with a rich and aromatic mixture of tomatoes and onions. The dish called Imam Bayildi originated in Turkey and... More
Greek Zucchini Fritters
May 3, 2021
Prep 15 cook 10 min Lightly battered zucchini slices served with a garlicky yoghurt sauce is a quick and easy side dish or pre-dinner nibbles. Among the many things I miss about... More
Risotto Al Salta
January 1, 2021
Prep and cook 15 min It will sound extravagant of me to suggest that you make this dish by devoting 20 minutes of careful and uninterrupted stirring of arborio rice in a saffron... More
Egyptian Festive Rice
December 16, 2019
Prep Tim 10 min Cook time 20 min Diced dried apricots, roasted chestnuts and a little tomato paste give this rice dish a festive color and flavor. The Internet can be very... More
Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Pomegranate Molasses
December 14, 2019
Prep time 10 min cook time 15 min Here is a really festive side dish. Sweet potatoes coated with tangy pomegranate molasses and warming nutmeg/clove/cinnamon/pepper tasting... More
Braised Radishes
September 21, 2019
Prep 5 min cook 20 min A satisfying side dish that looks like red-skinned potatoes with a mellower taste and without the carbs. If you’re someone more accustomed to seeing... More
Aubergine Purée With Blistered Tomatoes and Basil
June 8, 2019
Prep and cook time 15 minutes If you happen to be an aubergine lover, you have to try this 15 minute recipe. It is a Jamie Oliver inspired dish, creamy puréed aubergine with... More
Toasted Vermicelli With Pine Nuts And Raisins
June 6, 2019
Prep time 5 minutes cook time 10 minutes I don’t know about you but I crave carbs more often than I care to admit. Other than comfort food on their own in a huge bowl of pasta,... More
Lemon Orzo With Turmeric
December 5, 2018
Prep time 5 min Cook time 15 min Here is my go to recipe for a change of pace to rice as a side dish. Orzo blended with lemon and earthy turmeric pairs well with any fish or... More
Cauliflower With Cumin In Tomato Sauce
December 5, 2018
Prep time 10 min Cook time 30 min Dried cumin seeds and a light tomato sauce transfer a humble cauliflower into a treat. Cauliflower is one of those maligned vegetables,... More
Orzo With Garlic Herb Mushrooms
October 30, 2018
Prep Time 10 min cook time 15 minutes I have always been fascinated by how things work and get made and I recently got curious about how orzo is shaped. That tiny little grain of... More
Moroccan Aubergine
October 27, 2018
Prep Time 5 min Cook time 15. This is a perfect example of the aubergine’s adaptability as an ingredient and the genius of Moroccan cuisine that blends sweet and spicy... More
Lemon Rice
October 5, 2018
Prep Tim 5 min cook time 20 min Although rice features in many Middle Eastern Dishes and was a regular part of my diet in Egypt where I grew up, nothing compares to the variety,... More
Charred Asparagus With Toasted Garlic Dressing
August 30, 2018
Prep time 5 min cook time 10 min Something magical happens when you toast garlic. It loses is pungency and gets a... More
Egyptian Rice
August 5, 2018
Prep 5 min. Cook 20 min Toasted pine nuts and vermicelli make this rice dish pretty special. Rice is... More
Fregola Sarda With Mushrooms
August 3, 2018
Prep time 15 min. Cook time 15 min Fregola Sarda is a type of pasta from Sardinia that typically consists of semolina dough that has been rolled into balls 2-3 mm in... More
Grilled Fennel
August 2, 2018
Prep time 10 min cook time 10 min Unlike the strong taste of raw fennel, grilling fennel tones down its anise flavor and the charred taste blends well with a little salt and lemon... More
Grilled Zucchini With Saffron Yogurt
August 1, 2018
Prep time and cook time 10 min. Here is a delicious combination of the richness of saffron with the creaminess of yogurt to dress the smokey flavor of grilled zucchinis.... More
Bulgur Wheat With Raisins and Pine Nuts
July 27, 2018
Prep time 5 min Cook time 20 min A lot of energy goes into a meal’s main course and usually it is the protein part that gets all the attention with side dishes relegated to... More
Stuffed Artichoke Hearts
June 29, 2018
Prep time and cook Time 40 min I like artichokes. They have a unique and subtle taste and I have strong feelings about how they should be cooked and served. At home we eat fresh... More
Seared Baby Zucchini With Thyme and Lemon Butter Sauce
May 22, 2018
Prep 15 minutes Cook 15 minutes Zucchini available in supermarkets tend to be the large, bland variety and the challenge is to cook them without getting them water logged. If you... More
Aubergines With Koshari Tomato Sauce
May 4, 2018
Prep time 10 min Cook time 10 min It is with great pride that Egyptian’s claim that unlike most Middle Eastern dishes,... More
Shrimp And Blistered Tomato Salad
May 2, 2018
Prep and cook 30 min No ingredients spell Mediterranean summers like shrimp, tomatoes, garlic and basil and this recipe shouts it from the rooftops. Not only is it quick and easy,... More
Spicy Grated Tomato Dressing
February 13, 2018
Prep time 2 min. Cook time 5 min. This spicy tomato dressing is delicious with steamed or roasted sprouts or broccoli. Using the coarse side of a box grater, grate three or... More
Sautéed mushrooms with balsamic vinegar
December 5, 2017
Prep time 5 min. cook time 10 min. This is a gutsy blend of chunky garlic, a rich sweet balsamic reduction laced with aromatic sage. I love mushrooms. They are versatile, there... More
Saffron Mashed Potatoes
December 3, 2017
Prep Time 5 minutes. Cook time 15 minutes. This recipe elevates a perennial favorite into something close to gourmet status. A good start would be to decide on which kind of... More
Spinach and Sumac Yogurt Sauce
November 21, 2017
Prep Time 5 min Cook Time 10 min Like my fellow baby boomers, spinach was one of those vegetables we were forced to eat when we were young. Based on the since debunked myth... More
Roasted Japanese aubergine with saffron yogurt
November 5, 2017
Prep Time 10min. Cook time 30min This quick and easy recipe combines the long thin Japanese eggplant famed for its sweetness with the centuries old dressing of rich creamy... More
Roasted endives with fresh thyme and caraway seeds
September 19, 2017
Prep Time 5 min Cook Time 20 Min What you need ( for 2) 3-4 Endives 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons fresh minced... More
Broccoli With Lemony Tahini Dressing
September 13, 2017
Prep time 5 min. Cook time 10min A creamy, lemony, herby tahini sauce is ideal for broccoli because its gets right into the tiny florettes and coats them with its rich flavour.... More
Seared Endives With Lemon Butter Dressing And Caraway Seeds
August 14, 2017
Prep Time: 2 min Cook Time: 8 min. This recipe is a perfect blend of the endive’s natural bitter-sweet flavor and the freshness of a lemon butter sauce. Every now and... More
Freekeh With Almonds and Raisins
August 11, 2017
Prep time 10 min cook time 30 min Considered one of the top eight Middle Eastern superfoods (See article ), this delicious blend of freekeh’s smokey nutty taste with... More
The Classic Panzanella Salad
June 14, 2015
Prep 45min Panzanella is a hearty Tuscan salad and one of my favorites – especially in summer when tomatoes are at their very best. It is made with stale or toasted bread cubes... More
Spicy Mediterranean Watermelon Salad
May 25, 2015
Prep Time 15 minutes A ripe watermelon is supposed to sound hollow when you tap it and feel “heavy”. God luck with that. I have tapped, listened and “weighed” hundreds of... More