Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Maha Salah
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Fake knafeh
I am a firm believer in the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, especially when it comes to food. Most of the time, classics are classics, and they are perfect the way they are, so there is no need to try to change them. But every once in…
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Qudsiya
When we think of Middle Eastern breakfast, one of the first two things that come to mind are ful and hummus, but did you know that there is a dish that takes these two amazing foods and combines them into one? It’s called Qudsiya. Qudsiya isn’t as well-known as other…
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Lazy Cake
I don’t know about you, but our family avoids using the oven in the summer because the last thing you need during a heatwave is more heat! This was especially true during our summer vacation in Jordan, where growing up, there was no AC and we all crowded around the…
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Alayet bandora (fried tomatoes)
As a busy mum of three, sometimes I buy produce and forget about it, only for it to go soft, leaving me trying to find ways to use it up. The Alayet bandora, which translates to fried or sauteed tomatoes, this recipe is one of my favourite ways to use…
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Mshabak
There are certain foods that signal Ramadan and are pretty much consumed during that month and forgotten the rest of the year, like atayef and sambousa. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I think they make these dishes extra special. One of the desserts that is an immediate sign of…
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Jaj mahshi (stuffed chicken)
There is nothing more classic than a roast chicken, and it is something almost everyone loves. Usually it involves sticking a chicken in the oven and letting it do its thing, but today we are going to be making a fancier version of the humble roast chicken. We are making…
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Shish barak
Growing up, my dad called this dish “cat’s ears” and we loved it. Why the name never put us off is a mystery, but I assume it is because they tasted so good, we didn’t actually care what they were! This dish is actually called shish barak, and although it…
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Yalanji
There are some foods in the Middle East that most people love and appreciate whenever someone makes them, and one of the top favourites are stuffed grape leaves. If you ever want someone to feel special, you make them grape leaves, it is definitely a love language everyone in the…
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Kaykit tamr (date cake)
Many grandmas are great at cooking or baking, but not many are great with actually documenting their recipes or even quantifying them! Although this cake is so simple, it was actually one of the hardest to figure out and took a lot of trial and error to finally get this…
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Dawoud Basha
Meat and potatoes are a popular pairing. Almost every country has a variation of these two ingredients together, today we are going to be exploring the dish Dawoud Basha. This dish consists mainly of potatoes and meatballs, but what makes it special is the tangy tomato sauce it is cooked…
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Tamriyeh
We all have dishes we associate with specific people and many of my traditional recipes are associated with a grandmother, aunt, or another relative. Funnily enough, today’s recipe is not only associated with my grandmother – growing up I didn’t know many people who knew it – but it was…
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Shorbet shi’iriyeh bil lahmeh (vermicelli and meat soup)
Winter is upon us and that means its soup season. I am a lover of soup year-round and with Ramadan coming up soon, I am excited to keep soup season going well past this season. I often have just soup and something light on the side in Ramadan, and soups…
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Ajnihat jaj mashwiyeh (grilled chicken wings)
Growing up in the US, I definitely love myself a good chicken wing. Although fried wings smothered in Buffalo sauce or numerous other sauces were the popular option in the US, I always favoured the grilled wings on offer at the Middle Eastern restaurants. They were grilled to perfection, lovely…
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Mussa’at beitenjan
Mussa’at beitenjan is the Middle East version of the arguably better known Greek moussaka, which is popular in the US and Europe. The two versions are quite different, but have one main ingredient in common: aubergine. Moussaka has layers of aubergine, potato and meat topped with a thick bechamel layer,…
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Alayet bandoura bil lahmeh (tomato and meat stew)
In my opinion, there are two types of people in the world, those who prefer tomato-based stews and sauces and those who prefer cream or yogurt-based ones. There is no wrong or right group, but I myself usually prefer white sauces to red ones, as I somehow feel they are…
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Basbousa bil ishta
I don’t know about you, but in my life, different people have their signature dishes that they are expected to bring to every event or occasion, without even needing to be asked. For me, I know each of my friends’ favourites and will make it for them when I host…
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Shorbet adas bil hamid (lentil soup with lemon)
The colder the weather gets, the warmer the foods we crave, and with the current weather, I am definitely in the mood for soup. While I usually crave creamy and hearty soups, sometimes I want something light and bright and when I do, this is the soup I turn to,…
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Ful medames (Palestinian style)
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and in my opinion, the Middle East has some of the best breakfast foods out there. Even on the simplest of days, it is never just one dish, but rather an array of flavours, textures and foods, and you’re…
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Turkish pistachio baklava
When you think Middle Eastern desserts, the first that probably comes to mind is baklava. Versions of this sweet flaky dessert, stuffed with nuts, are made not only across the Middle East but also in Greece, the Balkans, and Central Asia, among other places. Many believe the version of the…
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A Taste of Gaza: Food and traditions from home
Growing up, taking a zeit and za’atar sandwich to school for lunch was not cool, nor was my humous and falafel sandwich. The delicious food my grandmothers, mother, and aunts made wasn’t something I’d see on television, restaurant menus, or cookbooks. I never thought there’d be a time when bookstores…
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Fatayer sabanekh (spinach pies)
I’ve said this once, and I’ll say it again, making dough is much easier than you would think. I used to think it was one of the hardest things to master. I would only have fatayer at my in-laws’ house or buy them from Middle Eastern bakeries, but after learning…
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Saffron cheesecake
When it is hot outside, no one wants to be overheating as they slave away at a stove! I personally want to do as little cooking as possible and will opt for cool and refreshing salads and desserts. Saffron cheesecake is ideal for any day you want to indulge but…
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Shish tawouk
We all know that summer is barbeque season, wherever you are in the world. Every country has its own barbecue foods and methods and I love trying the different flavours and methods. In the Middle East, chicken is a popular meat that we grill and perhaps the most famous recipe…
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Fruit Cocktail (Fakhfakhina)
Summer is here, and although it may not be super hot here in London, I am still craving refreshing summer foods, and when it comes to the Middle East, that includes fresh juices and lots of fruit! Although I am a lover of all things chocolate, in the summer, I…