If you haven’t noticed already, I love bringing back ancient dishes that have survived the test of time! There’s something magical about a dish that has survived millennia — something that carries with it memory, ritual, nourishment, and simplicity. Keshkek (sometimes spelled kashkak, keşkek, or regional variants) is one such dish. It’s a humble fusion…… Continue reading Keshkek: A 3,000-Year-Old Bowl of Warmth, History, & Flavor
Category: cooking
Shish Tawook: The Chicken Kebab That Conquered the Levant (and Our Taste Buds)
You may know it as the juicy, yogurt-marinated chicken that lights up every Middle Eastern BBQ. But Shish Tawook is more than just a delicious grilled skewer — it’s a culinary passport that tells the story of cultural exchange, local adaptation, and pure flavor magic. Let’s take a tasty journey into the origins, evolution, and…… Continue reading Shish Tawook: The Chicken Kebab That Conquered the Levant (and Our Taste Buds)
A 1000-Year-Old Eggplant Recipe Perfect for the Modern Table: Badhinjan Muqallal
Few vegetables are as beloved in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean kitchen as the humble eggplant. From smoky baba ghanouj to hearty moussaka, it has long been a canvas for flavor and creativity. But did you know that one of the earliest recorded recipes for eggplant dates back over a thousand years? In the 10th…… Continue reading A 1000-Year-Old Eggplant Recipe Perfect for the Modern Table: Badhinjan Muqallal
Hot Honey Crispy Fish: A 10th-Century Arab Dish for Today’s Table
Because of the positive response I got on my last recipe for a 10th century Arab chicken salad recipe, I will share another 1000 year old recipe with you today. I kid you not, when I tried this fish I decided it was my FAVORITE way to eat white fish….EVER. At first bite, this fish…… Continue reading Hot Honey Crispy Fish: A 10th-Century Arab Dish for Today’s Table
Dining in the Eiffel Tower vs. Seine River: Iconic Meals or Tourist Trap?
Hello My Dear Friends, I just came back from a long awaited trip with my daughter to Paris to celebrate her graduation, and I had to share some of this trip for you just in case you decide to visit there anytime soon. Sampling global cuisine always inspires me to get more innovative in the…… Continue reading Dining in the Eiffel Tower vs. Seine River: Iconic Meals or Tourist Trap?
1000 Year Old Arab Chicken Salad Heals and Nourishes…
When we think of a chicken salad, we might picture something cold, creamy, and often uninspired. But in the 10th-century in the Arab world, a chicken salad was far more than a quick lunch. It was a carefully constructed, healing dish—where every ingredient served a medicinal purpose, curated for balance, digestion, and vitality. The notion…… Continue reading 1000 Year Old Arab Chicken Salad Heals and Nourishes…
The Mediterannean Summer Dip Worth Diving Into!
With warmer days already here, there is one dip I make regularly that is as versatile as ranch, only better in every way possible. My grandmother in Bethlehem used to have a cup of this wonder dip next to my dinner plate every night In the heat of Middle Eastern summers. This condiment is called…… Continue reading The Mediterannean Summer Dip Worth Diving Into!
A Luxe Twist on Oreos: Dubai-Inspired Sandwich Cookies with Pistachio, Tahini & Kataifi Crunch
Want to serve something decadent, unforgettable, and just a little bit extra at your next get-together? Let me introduce you to my new favorite dessert: Dubai-inspired sandwich cookies—a luxurious twist on the classic Oreo, but with exotic flavors and textures! These cookies are a budget-friendly way to channel the richness of Dubai chocolate bars—without the…… Continue reading A Luxe Twist on Oreos: Dubai-Inspired Sandwich Cookies with Pistachio, Tahini & Kataifi Crunch
The Secret Story Behind the Hummus You Eat Before Becomming a Billion Dollar Dip!
While hummus has become the most popular dip globally, earning $1 billion a year annually, most people don’t know how hummus was invented! This year I shared the history of this dip at the RootsTech Conference in Salt Lake City. I gave out samples of the hummus to the audience, and I can’t tell you…… Continue reading The Secret Story Behind the Hummus You Eat Before Becomming a Billion Dollar Dip!
My Arab Father’s Wacky Take on Peanut Butter and Flavors of the Levant Part 2!
In part 2 of Flavors of the Levantom KQED, things got real! I talked about what it was like growing up Arab American in the United States, taking unconventional lunches to school and yearning for a standard sandwich of peanut butter and jelly. Little did I know there would be a massive transformation in how…… Continue reading My Arab Father’s Wacky Take on Peanut Butter and Flavors of the Levant Part 2!