Category Archives: Starters
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
Avgolemono – Greek Egg and Lemon Soup
December 12, 2022
Prep and cook 20 minutes. A creamy and silky smooth lemon chicken soup gently thickened with an egg emulsion. Chicken soup is the universal remedy for all physical and... More
Carrot Soup With Caramelized Onions
December 5, 2021
Prep 15min Cook 20 min Caramelized onions are a cornerstone garnish of Middle Eastern dishes. Koshari, one of Egypt’s national dishes uses them as a critical component. The... More
Garlic Soup
November 25, 2021
Prep 25 min Cook 20 min Once in a while one comes across a recipe that redefines its category and this one is a good example. For me, it redefined what a satisfying soup... 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
Andalusian Gazpacho Soup
June 1, 2021
Prep time 25 min (excluding chilling) Seville, the capital of the Andalusian region of Spain, has a special style of its own and when I visited the city I took to it... More
Ottolenghi’s Cherry Tomatoes With Yoghurt
March 11, 2021
Prep time 10 min Cook time 15 min Cold Greek yoghurt topped with piping hot charbroiled cherry tomatoes makes this Ottolenghi appetizer quite unique. I have a love hate... More
Chilled Persian Cucumber Yoghurt Soup
February 4, 2021
Prep time 10 min Chill time 20 min. This elegant and simple recipe for a chilled cucumber soup is a good example of how for centuries, Persians incorporated yogurt in their... 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
Seasoned Fairy Eggplants
July 17, 2020
Prep time 10 min cook time 5 min Fairy eggplants are the sweetest and most delicate variety of eggplant. These tiny beauties, palm-sized and streaked with purple and white, are a... More
Fried Feta Cheese With Honey And Sesame Seeds
November 5, 2019
Prep Time 10 min Cook time 10 min This is a Greek speciality of fried feta cheese encrusted with sesame seeds served with honey. Frying feta softens it slightly and gives it a... More
Seared Sea Scallops With Lemony Salsa Verde
October 29, 2018
Prep time 10 min cook time 5 min Succullent scallops with the tang of lemony. salsa verde is the perfect starter or light dinner dish. I caught on to sea scallops late in life... More
Mediterranean Grilled Red Pepper Salad
July 21, 2018
Prep 10 min cook 10 min Grilled sweet peppers is a snack my grandmother kept on hand along with other goodies whenever we visited in her downtown Cairo apartment. It is a simple,... More
Buratta With Dukkah And Preserved Lemon Bruschetta
July 19, 2018
Prep Time 10 min This delicious blend of rich buratta cheese spiced with... More
Sicilian Caponata
June 29, 2018
Prep time 10 min Cook time 20 min These days, appetizers seem to be somewhat mundane. If I see or hear about another recipe for artichoke or avocado dip because they happen to... More
Moules (Mussels) Mariniere
June 23, 2018
Prep Time 10 min. Cook time 10 minutes. This is the ultimate gourmet quickie. Succulent Mussels in a delicious white wine and herb broth. Although it is Belgium’s... More
Charred avocados pine nut sauce and dukkah dressing.
June 20, 2018
Prep time 15 minutes Creamy and smokey avocado gets a lift from even creamier pine nut and lemon tahini sauce finished with an aromatic dukkah dressing. Dukkah is Egypt’s... More
Fresh Burrata And Honey Bruschetta
June 14, 2018
Prep time 2 min Cook Time 5 min If you are ever in New York go to Locanda Verde in TriBeCa. It is a casual chic, bustling neighborhood Italian taverna located in Robert... More
Charred cucumbers with mint and quick pickled red onions
June 11, 2018
Prep Time 15 min The combination of smokey cucumbers and mint highlighted by a few strips of quick pickled red onions is quite magical. The secret to this recipe is to use Persian... More