Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Maha Salah
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Mabrousheh (grated jam tartlets)
How many times have you craved something sweet or were you in the mood to bake, but didn’t have the ingredients? This has happened to me countless times and we used to have the luxury of running out to the shop and quickly picking up whatever we needed, but nowadays,…
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Yakhni sabanigh (spinach stew)
Given the current situation around the world, everyone it trying to stay healthy and what better way to do so than to boost our immune system. This dish, Yakhni Sabanigh, meaning spinach stew, is the perfect way to eat well, without feeling like we are taking medicine. It has spinach,…
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Recipes to welcome Ramadan
As we welcome Ramadan here are a few quick and simple, delicious recipes which you can make. The dishes in this video are great because in addition to being delicious and easy, they require basic ingredients, many of which are pantry staples. Our first recipe, falafel, is a crowd pleaser.…
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Shawarma
A street food, it is hard to walk past a huge shawarma spit and not order a sandwich! It is eaten all over the Middle East and has even reached the West. Many countries around the world have a version of shawarma, like the Greeks with their gyros and the…
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Bukhari rice and chicken
Whenever Arabs get together for big gatherings, there is usually some variation of rice and chicken or rice and meat. This is probably for several reasons; most people like rice and meat, it is easy to make it for a crowd, and it is not time consuming or labour intensive.…
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Samak bil tahina
Although I love meat, I could happily be pescatarian. I absolutely love seafood in all of its forms! I especially love having seafood cooked in a Middle Eastern style, and in the Levant, it usually involves having a tahini-based sauce on the side. Whether in the form of a dipping…
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Elmali kurabiye (Turkish apple cookies)
The first time I tried these elmali kurabiye, or apple cookies, my Turkish friend had made a huge platter and brought them over. I cannot tell you how melt-in-your mouth these cookies are. The apple cinnamon filling is a thing of dreams. I fell in love immediately and knew I…
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Shakshuka
Shakshuka is another Middle Eastern dish that has made its way to several restaurants around the world. The name shakshuka is said to have come from the Arabic word “shak” meaning to combine things together, and this combination of hearty tomatoes, spicy chilies, and oozy eggs are sure to please.…
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Baitenjanah ala Baitenjanah (eggplant on eggplant)
When I think Middle Eastern ingredients, one of the first things that come to mind is aubergine or eggplant. We fry it, grill it, stuff it and do countless other things with it, but no matter how it is prepared, it is always delicious. This dish, baitenjanah ala baitenjanah, or…
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Baid o Batata (eggs and potatoes)
Many Middle Eastern dishes are named after the ingredients in them or the way they are prepared and this dish is no different. Baid o batata, or eggs and potatoes, is one of the simplest and most delicious breakfast dishes you can have and you can enjoy it at any…
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Roz o Bazella (rice and peas)
We all have our go-to dishes; the ones we make on autopilot and make sure we always have the ingredients on hand for. For me, roz o bazella is one of those dishes. I love it, my husband loves it, and my kids love it… what’s not to love? Did…
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Cilbir (Turkish eggs)
When we think Turkish breakfast, we think of a lavish spread consisting of eggs, a variety of cheeses, jams, olives and much more. However, while this dish, çilbir, isn’t very popular in the touristy areas like Istanbul, it is a staple in eastern Turkey. Many Turks say this is the…
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Zaitoun: Recipes and Stories from the Palestinian Kitchen
It is currently olive harvest season in Palestine, which makes it the perfect time to talk about Yasmin Khan’s book Zaitoun, which translates to “olive” in Arabic and is the essence of Palestinian cuisine. There are very few dishes in Palestine that are not either started or finished with a…
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Fig and Ishta Basbousa
Figs are my absolute favourite fruit and I try to eat as much of them as possible while they are in season. While I love eating them as they are, I also like to incorporate them into other dishes. This recipe takes the typical and beloved basbousa and elevates it…
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Hilbeh (Fenugreek cake)
Makes 20–24 squares Ingredients 2 tbsp fenugreek seeds, soaked overnight in water (refresh the water a couple of times to remove any bitterness) 250g medium coarse semolina 50g plain flour 50ml olive oil 50ml melted butter 2 tbsp milk powder 80ml warm water 7g instant yeast 1⁄2 tsp baking powder…
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Kubbeh Scotch egg
I enjoy fusing food and culture together and taking inspiration from the countries I have lived in to make tasty new creations. This dish is the perfect example of how I combine my Middle Eastern background with my life in the UK and come up with something a little Eastern…
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Shay bil Miramiya cake
Shay bil miramiya translates to tea with sage and it is a really popular drink in Palestine. In fact, it is one of my favourites, especially with breakfast. This cake is my own personal homage to this beautiful drink and to Palestine. Adding sage to tea isn’t just delicious, it…
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Freekeh Salad
Freekeh is a very traditional grain used mostly in the Levant and very much so in Palestine. We usually make it into a soup or use it as a substitute for rice. The name for Freekeh comes from the Arabic word “farek”, which means to rub, and this tells us…
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Madkooka
I know I always claim to have quick and easy recipes up my sleeve, but this one definitely takes the cake! Madkooka is a traditional Iraqi dessert, or snack that is usually served with traditional bitter coffee. There are many similar “coffee desserts”, as they are called in the Gulf,…
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Tashreeb
Tashreeb is the name given to any dish with broth-soaked bread topped with meat or vegetables. This is because the word “tashreeb” in Arabic means “to soak”, making it a very fitting name! It is a very rustic Iraqi concept that started out as a dish made by the poor…
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Shourabet Adas (lentil soup)
I think almost every culture or nation makes some version of lentil soup and, even within every household, people make it differently. This version is my own, quick and basic version and when I make it, it signals the start of winter. It is thick, warm, fragrant and smooth, just…
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Ghraibah
If you love buttery cookies like shortbread then you will definitely love these. They are very simple and once you learn to make them, you’ll be making batches every week! They are that good. These cookies are usually made as Eid treats, and variations are made in the Levant and…
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Mujaddarat burghul
Something many people don’t realise is that although Middle Eastern food does have some meat-heavy dishes, there are also many vegetarian dishes that are so good you don’t miss the meat. One of my favourite vegetarian dishes is mujaddara. Mujadara is a Levantine dish that can either be made with…
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Halawet el-jibn
Honestly, for a long time, I didn’t think the awesomeness that is halawet el-jibn could be made at home. No one I knew had ever made it and everyone just bought it, especially during Ramadan, which is when you see it absolutely everywhere! It wasn’t until I got married and…