Category: Sides
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Halloumi Cheese – Homemade
Halloumi cheese is very easy to make at home and will cost much less that if bought them ready from the store. Halloumi cheese is probably the most loved and “respected” cheese in Lebanon. Black caraway seeds are added into the cheese then folded together. You can freeze a whole batch of them and use…
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Pickled Eggplant
Pickled eggplants are a delicacy made in many of the Mediterranean countries. Although there are variations, the recipe posted here is the typical Lebanese version. These pickled eggplants are stuffed with garlic walnut mixture and preserved in pure olive oil. If you like condiments, you will love these! They are the perfect alternative to the more…
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Cheese Beurek in Puff Pastry
Cheese beurek in puff pastry is the easiest from all the beureks you’ll ever make. In retrospect, this should have been the first beurek recipe posted on my site. They make a great appetizer or side dish for your dinner or lunch menu. Cheese beurek in puff pastry is so popular, it’s often sold at…
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Steamed Spinach with Caramelized Onions
Steamed spinach with caramelized onions is a dish that I’ve always loved. Known to be one of the worlds healthiest foods, spinach contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, it restores your energy level, lowers the risk of different cancers and helps maintain a healthy blood glucose level. Spinach comes from the same family as swiss…
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Ejjeh
Ejjeh is a popular Mediterranean breakfast item, served as an appetizer and often made during the month of lent. Ejjeh is similar to the French omelette, the Italian fritatta, and the Mexican huevos rancheros. Eggs are combined with parsley and Mexican gray zucchini or squash, red bell peppers, seasoned with garlic and allspice and fried…
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Mujaddarah – Lentils with Rice
Mujaddarah, or lentils with rice is a dish made in many Middle Eastern countries. Lentils in general are considered one of the world’s healthiest foods because of their high protein content. Brown lentils also referred to as European lentils are the most widely used because they are fast cooking and cheap. This recipe is the…
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Red Bell Peppers Stuffed with Bulgur
Red bell peppers stuffed with bulgur, is a vegetarian dish I make during lent. The aroma of the roasted red bell peppers combined with the onions, and bulgur stuffing is amazing. Pomegranate paste or molasses (available at specialty and Middle Eastern stores) is used very often in Mediterranean cooking and renders a sour yet sweet…
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Foul Moudammas
Foul moudammas, rich in fiber and vitamins, is a popular breakfast menu item you’ll find at local diners or restaurants when visiting Lebanon. It’s as common as ordering pancakes or waffles here in the United States. Fava beans are cooked till they are soft and creamy. Garbanzo beans, cumin, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil are…
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Pepper Paste
Pepper paste is widely used in Armenian cooking. This homemade version is so much more flavorful and pure than the ones sold in jars. Whenever my mom would give me a recipe that contained tomato paste, I would ask her if I should add pepper paste. She’d say “Yes … of course” because she assumed I would…
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Seafood Stock
Seafood stock, aromatic and full of flavor. Even though you can fine seafood stock readily available, this is so much better. Preparing your own stock is very easy, rich in flavor, and it will cost you practically nothing. Most of the time, when cooking shrimp, the shells are tossed away and discarded. But I hope…