Kibbeh Bil-Saniyeh / Baked Kibbeh Recipe

Kibbeh is one of Lebanon's great national dishes and until the arrival of the food processor, the meat was pounded by hand in a marble or stone mortar (jorn) with a wooden pestlem(m'daqqa). Because of the time and effort involved in its preparation, kibbeh was - and still is - a festive dish. It is a highly seasoned mixture of finely minced lamb, burghul and very finely chopped onion. When it is served raw, kibbeh is made with less burghul and a handful of crushed basil or mint leaves are added to give the meat a fresh, fragrant flavor. A little liyeh (fat from the sheep's tail) is also added to make it more velvety.

Ingredients

90g unsalted butter, plus extra to grease baking dish
60g pine nuts
500g large onions, finely chopped
200g lean minced
4 ½ tsp Adonis Kibbeh Spices
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
500g lamb from the leg, boned, skinned, defatted and finely minced 200g fine burghul
4 ½ tsp Adonis Kibbeh Spices
Unsalted butter

Cooking instructions

Melt the butter in a deep frying pan over a medium heat. Saute the pine nuts, stirring constantly until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a double layer of kitchen paper. Saute the chopped onion in the same butter until soft and transparent. Add the minced meat and cook until it loses all traces of pink. Keep mashing and stirring the meat with the back of a wooden spoon or fork so that it separates well and does not form lumps. Remove from the heat. Season with the Adonis Kibbeh Spices and salt to taste. Add the pine nuts. Mix well. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Set aside.

Put the quartered onion in a food processor and until very finely chopped. Add the minced meat, Adonis Kibbeh Spices and salt to taste and process together until smooth. Prepare a bowl of lightly salted water and have it on hand.

Wash the burghul in two or three changes of cold water. Drain well and add to the meat. Mix with your hand; dipping it every now and then in the salted water to moisten both your hand and the kibbeh. Knead until the mixture is well blended. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Grease a deep baking dish about 30x20x5 cm with a little butter. Preheat the oven to 180° C.

Divide the kibbeh in two equal parts. Moisten your hands in the salted water and pinch off a handful of kibbeh from one piece. Flatten it between your palms to a thickness of about 1 cm and place on the bottom of the baking dish, starting from one edge. Smooth it evenly with your fingers. Pinch off another handful from the same piece of kibbe. Flatten and lay next to the first piece, slightly overlapping it. Dip your fingers in water and smooth the pieces together until the joint disappears. Be sure to connect the kibbeh pieces well so that they do not come apart during cooking. Continue the above process until you have covered the bottom of the pan. Go over the whole layer with moistened fingers to even it out.

Spread the stuffing evenly over the kibbeh and make a top layer, using the other half of the kibbeh and laying it over the stuffing in the same way as with the bottom layer. You may find the top layer slightly more difficult to do as you will be laying it over the loose stuffing instead of the smooth surface of the baking dish. Do not worry. You will soon get the hang of it.

Cut the pie into quarters, then with a knife make shallow incisions to draw a geometric pattern across the top of each quarter. The decoration work is time consuming and can be omitted without affecting the taste, although the presentation will be less attractive and less traditional. Press your index finger in the middle to make a hole. Place a knob of butter over the hole and one knob of butter over each of the quarters. Insert a round-pointed knife between the edge of the kibbeh and the side of the pan and slide it all alongside the edge to detach the kibbeh from the sides of the pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the pie has shrunk and the meat is just done. Serve hot or warm with a yoghurt and cucumber salad.

Baba Ghannouj / Grilled Eggplant Dip Recipe

Some tips to help you produce a superior Baba Ghannouj. Grilling the eggplants over an open fire will produce the smoky flavor that is so typical of this dish, though the smoky flavor will come through to a certain extent if you cook them under the grill in your oven. It is important to let the grilled flesh drain for a while to get rid of the excess liquid; and finally, once this done, you need to mash the flesh with the back of a fork to retain texture. The dip will be too smooth if you use a food a processor.

Ingredients

6 large eggplants (about 250g each)
4 tbsp Tahini
1 garlic clove, crushed (or ¼ tsp Adonis garlic powder)
Juice of 1 lemon, or to taste
Sea salt
Fresh pomegranate seeds (Ideally the sour type)
Extra virgin olive oil

Cooking instructions

Prick the eggplants in several places with a small knife to stop them from bursting during cooking. Place them on a non-stick baking sheet and cook under a hot grill for 25 minutes on each side. The eggplants are ready when they have become very soft to the touch. By then, the skin should have become slightly charred for a smoky taste.

Remove the grilled eggplants onto a large chopping board. Cut each in half lengthways, and with a spoon, scoop out the flesh. Place the flesh in a colander to drain the excess liquid. Let it drain for a least half an hour.

Put the eggplants in a wide mixing bowl and mash with a masher or the back of a fork. Be sure not to crush them too much, as you want the dip to have texture. Add the tahini and salt to taste. Mix well. Then add the lemon juice and crushed garlic. Mix well. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Transfer the dip to a shallow serving bowl and with the back of a spoon; spread it the same way as with hummus. The garnish can be the same as that of hummus, using mint instead of parsley; or you can use pomegranate seeds, arranged in a star shape in the middle and at regular intervals along the edge. Olive oil is of course used with both garnishes.

ZAATAR MANAKEESH RECIPE

Zaatar Manakeesh – A popular bread from Middle East.

Manakeesh/ Manoosheh is a popular Middle Eastern bread which is originally from Labanon.It is a version of arabic pita bread topped with the very delicious and flavourful spice blend -Zaatar. Zaatar is a blend of different spices like -thyme, oregano, sumac,coriander,toasted sesame seeds,Marjoram,cumin and salt. This zaatar mix is mixed with generous amount of olive oil and applied on the zaatar mankeesh before baking.You can have this zaatar manakeesh any time of the day.It is a very popular any time breakfast and snack item of Middle east like the  Falafel sandwich.

Zaatar Manakeesh can also be served as a wrap filled with fresh tomato and cucumber slices,fresh mint leaves ,pickled jalepenos and olives or can be as experimental as you can,You can serve this with Muhamara ,tzatziki, with plain yogurt or with just a cup of tea or coffee.

You can make zaatar manakeesh either by applying zaatar mix on top or can top the zaatar with Halloumi cheese, akkawi cheese,kashkaval cheese,Feta cheese,or a mix of halloumi and mozzrella. Can make the topping with any of your favourite cheese mix . It taste almost like a cheese pizza and taste so awesome.

Servings 11 Manakeesh
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes

Ingredients

3 cup Refined Flour / Maida
2.25 tsp Active dry yeast
3 tbsp Olive Oil / Zeitoun Ka Tel
1/2 tsp Sugar / Chini
1 tsp Salt / Namak
Zaatar Topping
3/4 cup Zaatar spice Mix
1 cup Olive Oil / Zeitoun Ka Tel

Instructions

1. In a bowl add 1 cup of luke warm water and mix sugar and yeast.
2. Stir to mix and cover the bowl and keep aside for about 5 minutes or till it froth well.
3. Combine flour and salt in a bowl and mix ,now add the olive oil and mix well with your finger tips.
4. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture and mix it well.
5. Add some more water if needed to make a soft dough.
6. knead the dough for about 5-8 minutes till it turn smooth.
7. Keep the dough ball in a greased bowl and let it rest for about an hour or till it become double in size.
8. Preheat the oven at 200 degree C .
9. Make 11 equal size balls from the dough or depends on how big or small you want to make.
10. Let the balls rest for about 15 minutes till they become double in size.
11. In a bowl mix olive oil and zaatar mix for the topping.
12. Dust the dough balls with dry flour and roll to make a flat bread ,like a thin crust pizza.
13. Press it all over with your finger tips to make slight indentations to absorb the topping.
14. Spread zaatar mix all over it ,just leave the edges slightly.
15. Arrange in a baking tray and bake for about 7-10 minutes ,depending on the size and tempearture of your oven or remove as soon as the sides start turning golden.
16. Serve hot with your favourite dip or just with a cup of tea or coffee.

Recipe Notes

Note-

It can be served as it is and can also be served as a wrap filled with fresh tomato slices, cucumber, fresh mint, pickled jalepenos and olives

Source: maayeka

ZAATAR ROASTED POTATOES RECIPE

Zaatar Roasted Potatoes – Crispy stir-fried potatoes with Zaatar spice mix

Zaatar is a Middle Eastern spice mix which has very delicate tangy flavours. It is mainly used as a topping for different types of Middle Eastern bread. The most popular is Zaatar Manakeesh, the generous sprinkle of olive oil mixed zaatar takes this manakeesh to a different level.

Yesterday when I was planning for my lunch I didn’t have many vegetables in the refrigerator. I love the flavour of Zaatar spice so much but there are not many recipes to use the spice blend. I did have a few boiled potatoes, so I tried making stir fried potatoes with zaatar and it turned out so awesome. Everybody loves it so much that nobody waited till lunch and the potatoes are finished as a snack with labneh. Such an easy,quick and delicious recipe with just two ingredients!!

Zaatar spice mix is very easily available in the gulf region and in metro cities of India, if you want you can easily make this spice mix .

Crispy potatoes stir fried with zaatar spice mix

Servings 3 people

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

4 medium Potatoes / Aloo boiled
3 tbsp Zaatar spice Mix
To taste Salt / Namak
4 tbsp Olive Oil / Zeitoun Ka Tel

Instructions

1. Peel the boiled potatoes and chop into medium size cubes.
2. Heat oil in a heavy bottom frying pan.
3. Add the potato cubes and stir fry for about 2-3 minutes on medium heat till they get a nice golden colour (you can also deep fry the potatoes )
4. Now add salt and zaatar spice mix and stir for a minute on low heat.
5. Serve hot as a starter with labneh or your choice of tangy sauce.

Recipe Notes
Serving suggestion- serve as a starter or side dish .

Source: Maayeka

How To Make Zaatar Spice Mix

Zaatar – a popular and flavorful spice blend from the Middle East

Zaatar (or Za’atar) is a blend of different herbs commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine. Adding a small amount of Zaatar adds a unique dimension to dishes, and can turn a very simple dish to an interesting one. It is believed that Zaatar helps improve immunity and enhances mental function, making it a popular choice in households with children. Many parents make sure that kids consume zaatar before leaving for exams in the morning, to help them remain extra alert during the examination. It is also known for it’s anti-oxidant properties.

Zaatar is made with sumac, dried thyme, marjoram, roasted sesame seeds, oregano and salt. The ratio may differ from country to country, and household to household, depending on availability of quality ingredients, taste preferences, and prices. Popular zaatar blends available in the UAE are Palestinian and Syrian. You may be find blends from other countries too – and the only way to really find out what works for you is to buy a little bit of each and try them out. And remember it the next time you go shopping!

The main ingredient in zaatar is sumac which gives a tartness in the blend. Some varieties also have cumin, coriander, and fennel. In India – sumac is available in bigger metropolitan cities, and can also be ordered via Amazon. There is no good substitute for sumac but if you don’t have it then you may try using dried lemon zest.

If you are making your own spice mix then try to choose the freshest ingredients and then mix it in small quantities as fresh zaatar tastes significantly better. As a rule – do not buy this spice blend in bulk packaging. If you are making the blend at home – remember that the blend is coarse in texture and the sesame seeds are just pounded and added afterwards. Do not grind it in a fine powder.
Prep Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

1/4 cup Sumac
2 tbsp Thyme
1.5 tbsp sesame seeds /til
2 tbsp marjoram
2 tbsp Oregano
1 tsp Salt / Namak

Servings: 4

Instructions

1. Slightly roast the sesame seeds.
2. Mix everything and coarsely crush in the mixer or just pound in a mortar and pestle. Using a mortar and pestle is preferred.
3. Store in a glass jar and close it tightly and keep it in a cool place.

Source: Maayeka

TURKISH FLATBREAD WITH LAMB AND TOMATOES (LAHMACUN) RECIPE

Bake these Turkish spiced lamb and tomato flatbreads on a heated pizza stone in the oven so that the crust and topping cook evenly.

SERVES 4-6

Ingredients

1 tsp. sugar
1 (1⁄4-oz.) package active dry yeast
2 cups flour, plus more
1 1⁄2 tsp. Kosher salt, plus more
1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1 tbsp. minced flat-leaf parsley
1⁄2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1⁄4 tsp. ground cumin
1⁄4 tsp. sweet paprika
1⁄8 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 oz. ground lamb
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 plum tomato, grated
1 small onion, grated
1⁄2 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced

Instructions

Combine sugar, yeast, and 3⁄4 cup water heated to 115˚ in a small bowl; let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Combine flour and salt in a bowl and make a well in the center. Add yeast mixture and stir to form a dough. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth, about 6 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let dough rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Punch down dough, divide into 4 portions, and roll each portion into a ball. Transfer dough balls to a floured baking sheet. Cover with a damp tea towel and let rest for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the topping: In a large bowl, combine oil, tomato paste, parsley, cayenne, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon and stir vigorously with a fork. Stir in lamb, garlic, tomatoes, onions, and chiles and season with salt; set topping aside.

Put a pizza stone in bottom third of oven and heat oven to 475°. Working with one dough ball at a time, use a rolling pin to roll dough into a 10" disk. Brush off excess flour and transfer dough to a piece of parchment paper. Spoon 3–4 tbsp. topping onto dough and using your fingers, spread topping evenly to edges. Season with salt. Holding parchment paper by its edges, transfer to baking stone. Bake until dough is golden brown and topping is cooked, 6–8 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough and topping; serve warm or at room temperature.

KIBBEH (BEEF AND BULGUR WHEAT MEATBALLS) RECIPE

Middle Eastern kibbeh is a finely ground paste of bulgur, onions, and lamb or beef, which is formed into patties or balls, filled with coarsely ground, sweetly spiced meat, onions, and pine nuts, and deep-fried.

MAKES 16

Ingredients

For the Filling

1 tbsp. olive oil, plus more to garnish
1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
8 oz. ground beef sirloin
1 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄4 tsp. ground allspice
1⁄4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1⁄4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 tbsp. ground sumac, plus more to garnish

For the Shell

1 1⁄2 cups fine bulgur
1 tbsp. kosher salt
1⁄2 tsp. ground allspice
1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1⁄4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 1⁄2 lb. lamb shoulder, trimmed of all fat and sinew
Canola oil, for frying
Plain yogurt, for serving
Mint leaves, to garnish

Instructions

For the filling: Heat oil in a 12" skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add beef, and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Add salt, allspice, and cinnamon, and cook, stirring, until meat begins to brown, about 4 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl, stir in nuts and sumac, and let cool.

For the shell: Rinse bulgur, squeeze out excess water, and place in a large bowl. Add salt, allspice, cinnamon, pepper, and onion, and set aside. Grind lamb twice in a meat grinder, and add to bulgur mixture; knead mixture in bowl into a pliable paste, about 5 minutes. Cover bowl with a clean dish towel.

Shape about 1⁄4 cup of the bulgur-meat paste into a ball, moistening your hands with water as you work. Hold ball in one hand and insert index finger of other hand into center to form a hole. Shape ball into a thin-walled (about 1⁄4"-thick) oval with an opening at one end by molding ball around finger, gradually tapering closed end. Mend any cracks in shell with a moistened finger. Fill hole with 1 1⁄2 tbsp. of the filling. Moisten edges of opening, then gather edges together to seal. Gently form kibbeh into the shape of an egg, and keep moist under a clean dish towel. Repeat shaping with remaining filling and bulgur-meat paste to make 16 egg-shaped balls in all.

Pour oil to a depth of 2" into a 6-qt. Dutch oven, and heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 375°. Working in batches, fry kibbeh until browned all over, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Transfer to a serving platter, and spoon some yogurt on the platter alongside the kibbeh. Drizzle oil over yogurt, and sprinkle with more sumac. Serve with mint leaves on the side.

Source: Saveur

Chicken Shawarma Kibbeh Recipe

A chicken version (with a twist) from the beef kibbeh we all know. We added our Knorr Shawarma Marinade to make the flavour well balanced. Chef’s tip: 10% of minced lamb fat can be added for an extra moist chicken stuffing mix. View recipe below!

Ingredients

For the Dough

Bourghul, fine 350 g
Chicken Breast Mince 500 g
Onions, chopped 350 g
Mint leaves chopped 20 g
Salt 10 g
Ground black pepper 5 g
Cumin powder 5 g
Cinnamon powder 5 g

For the Filling

Knorr Corn Oil (4x5L) 520 ml
Chicken Breast Mince 500 g
Knorr Chicken Shawarma Marinade (6x750g) 20 g
Pine seeds 30 g
Knorr Mise en Place Pesto (2x340g) 5 g
Pomegranate Sauce 10 ml

Preparation

For the Dough

Wash bourghul and drain then cover and set it aside for 1 hour.

Combine in a mixing bowl the prepared bourghul, minced chicken breast meat, onion, mint, salt and spices. Mince the ingredients 3 times using the meat electric mincer (add some cold water to have soft dough if needed). Cover and set in the fridge.
For the Filling
Heat Knorr Corn Oil in a pan, add onion and cook until tender. Add the minced chicken meat and stir until cooked and brown in colour. Add the Knorr Chicken Shawarma Base, pine seeds, Knorr Mise an Place Pesto and pomegranate molasses and stir to combine well.

With wet hands, take medium sized pieces of the kibbeh dough mixture, form each portion into an oval shape, making a space in the centre by pushing your finger through from one end.

Stuff with some cooked chicken mixture, close by pressing firmly. Fry the kibbeh in hot deep oil until golden brown.

Garnish
With fresh tomato and lemon wedges, fresh parsley

Serve
Serve hot as an appetizers with green salad and fresh yogurt.

Source: Unilever Food Solutions

Grilled Kibbeh Recipe

Serves 4 Persons
Preparation Time 30 Minutes
Cook Time 20 Minutes
  
A great revisited Middle Eastern recipe prepared with a little hot sauce. It’s worth trying, check it now!

INGREDIENTS

 500 g ground meat
 250 g fine bulgur soaked in water for 30 minutes
 1tsp black pepper
 1tsp cumin
 1 halved onion
 1 tsp salt
 1 tsp cinnamon
 1 tsp dried mint
 1 tsp allspice
 Vegetable oil to grease the grill, as needed
 2 tbsp American Garden hot sauce Louisiana Style

PREPARATION

1- In a food processor, process the meat with the bulgur and onion.
2- Season with salt, black pepper, cinnamon, dried mint, all spice and cumin. Mix well until combined.
3- Knead the ingredients using hot sauce until the meat dough is homogenous.
4- Divide into medium-sized ball and shape into fingers.
5- Preheat the grill and oil it evenly.
6- Grill the kibbeh until done.

Note: Allspice is a mixture of spices and herbs widely used in the Middle Eastern cuisine. It can be prepared easily at home from different spices such as: cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, dried lime and curcuma. Use it to enrich your savory dishes!

Greek Mezze Platter Recipe

Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten
Show: Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics
Episode: Cooking for Jeffrey: Back to School Surprise

Total:4 hr 15 minActive: 15 min
Yield: 8 servings
Level: Easy

Ingredients

Marinated Herbed Feta, recipe follows
6 roasted red peppers, store-bought
8-10 stuffed grape leaves, store-bought
1 cup hummus, store-bought
1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted
Good olive oil
Toasted Pita Chips, for serving, recipe follows
4 sprigs of fresh thyme

Marinated Herbed Feta:

1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 pounds Greek feta, drained and sliced 1/2 inch thick
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 cup green olives with pits, such as Cerignola
1/2 cup good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Toasted Pita Chips:

4 loaves pita bread

Directions

Artfully arrange the marinated feta, red peppers, stuffed grape leaves and a small bowl filled with the hummus on a platter. Sprinkle the pine nuts over the hummus and add a drizzle of olive oil. Place the pita chips on the platter and arrange the sprigs of thyme over the red peppers, for decoration.

Marinated Herbed Feta:
Combine the dried thyme, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Lay the feta slices overlapping on a 9 × 9-inch square serving plate.

Sprinkle the feta with the entire herb mixture. Nestle the thyme sprigs and olives among the feta slices. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Serve at room temperature.

"Make It Ahead" by Ina Garten © Clarkson Potter 2014. Provided courtesy of Ina Garten. All rights reserved.

Toasted Pita Chips:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Slice the pita bread into 8 triangles and place them on a sheet pan. Place the sheet pan in the oven and toast the bread for 10 minutes.

Turkish Cheese and Herb Cigars Recipe

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...except when it is crisp, golden-brown phyllo wrapped around a mix of cheese and herbs. Then it's perfect party fare. Don't be tempted to overstuff the cigars: the smear of salty filling is just enough to balance the layers of phyllo, and excess filling will leak while baking. Rolling the cigars takes a little time, so try making them ahead and freezing them in an airtight container. Bake them right from the freezer, and eat them piping hot.

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen

Total: 55 min
Active: 30 min

Yield: 12 cigars

Level: Easy

Ingredients

4 ounces farmer's cheese
2 ounces feta, crumbled
1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
1 large egg
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped dill fronds
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Freshly ground black pepper
Six 16- to 17-by-12-inch sheets phyllo dough, thawed according to package directions (see Cook's Note)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

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Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Mash the farmer's cheese, feta and mozzarella together in a bowl using a fork. Work the egg in with the fork, then stir in the parsley, dill, chives, lemon zest and a large pinch of black pepper.

Put a damp, clean towel on your counter. Unfold the phyllo sheets on top and cover with another damp, clean towel.

Put 1 sheet of phyllo on a cutting board with the long side closest to you and brush lightly with butter. Top with another sheet of phyllo and brush lightly with butter. Top with a third sheet of phyllo and brush lightly with butter. Cut the phyllo in half crosswise, then cut each half horizontally into thirds. Place the rectangles on a baking sheet and set aside. Repeat with the remaining phyllo.

Working with one buttered phyllo stack at a time, spread a heaping tablespoon of cheese along the long edge of each rectangle, leaving a 1/2-inch border at each end. Fold the sides over the filling, then roll up from the bottom edge of the phyllo. Transfer rolled cigars to a baking sheet seam-side down and brush each with a little butter. Repeat with the remaining phyllo, filling and butter.

Bake the cigars, rotating the pan halfway through, until crispy and golden-brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.
Cook's Note

Phyllo sheets vary in size slightly. They come in large sheets like the one in the ingredient list above or half that size. The large sheets vary in size by an inch or two. Regardless of variation, the most important thing is that you get 6 equal rectangles out of each set of 3 large sheets.

Beef Mince “Sfiha” Recipe

Sfiha is an open Middle-Eastern baked pie that looks like a mini pizza and is topped with spiced beef or lamb mince.

Some of the fresh ingredients of “sfiha”, tomatoes and onions keep the mince moist, lime and mint give the mince lots of zing and complement the flavour of the spices. Adopted from The Amazing Flavours of Brazil.

Ingredients

Dough:

520g plain flour, sifted

2 tbs caster sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp instant dried yeast

250ml luke-warm milk

40ml extra-virgin olive oil

Topping:

700g full fat beef mince

3 tomatoes (about 400g), deseeded, roughly chopped

3 onions (about 450g), finely chopped

Juice of 2 limes

1 bunch mint, finely chopped

1 tsp ground coriander

¼ tsp of nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cloves

1 tsp chilli flakes

½ tsp ground white pepper

½ tsp cinnamon

3 tsp sumac*

1 tbs freshly ground sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Extra-virgin olive oil, to drizzle

Lime wedges, to serve

American mustard, to serve

Vegetable oil spray to grease

*Available from Middle-Eastern grocers or large supermarkets

 Instructions

1. For the dough, in a large bowl combine flour, sugar and salt. Make a well in the centre and add milk, yeast and oil. Using your hands combine all the ingredients until the mixture comes to a ball. Knead the dough for 10 minutes, make a ball and cover lightly with olive oil. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and set aside to prove in a warm draught-free place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

2. Pre-heat the oven 200°C, grill fan-forced. Line two large trays with baking paper. In a large bowl mix all ingredients of the topping and set aside for 15 minutes.

3. When the dough is ready make 20 balls of the size of a lime and place them on a clean bench dusted with  flour. Flatten a ball in the middle and push down sideways keeping the round shape. Spoon about 2 tbs of mince, squeeze tightly in one of your hands over a bowl (to remove excess juices) and spread the mince on top of the dough at the same time you flatten the dough to make a thin round mini-pizza shape of about 8cm diameter, leaving a little bit of crust on the edges then place it on a tray. The thinner the dough, the better the end results will be. Repeat with remaining balls.

4. Drizzle the sfihas with extra-virgin olive oil and bake in the middle shelf of the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the crusts are golden and the base is dry and crispy. Serve with lime wedges and mustard.

Makes: 20 sfihas

Za'atar Manoush Recipe

Za'atar Manoush

Za'atar manoush is the Lebanese pizza! What makes this dish a favorite for many is the delicious mixture (za'atar) that you spread onto the dough. This mixture is made of spices and roasted sesame (it smells heavenly) and can also be eaten with pita bread. We typically eat manoush for breakfast or lunch with tomatoes, cucumbers, and a Lebanese yogurt spread called labneh.

Za'atar Manoush Ingredients:

10-12 ounces of dough (depending on how thick you want)
Olive oil
Za'atar spread (can be found in most Middle Eastern stores or check out Eva's recipe for it below)

*Makes one pan or 8 slices

Za'atar Ingredients:

1/4 cup za'atar
1/4 cup sumac
2 tablespoons of sesame seeds
Teaspoon of salt
8 tablespoons of olive oil

Instructions (with Za'atar recipe):

1. Heat non-stick pan on low heat and once heated, add sesame seeds to toast. Be sure to stir often so they don't burn (this step should only take a few minutes)
2. Once the sesame seeds are toasted or have turned a brown color, add za'atar, sumac, and salt and toss them together for a few minutes over the heat.
3. Turn stove off and place mixture into a mixing bowl with 8 tablespoons of olive oil (more or less depending on how oily you want)

Now that you have your mix, here are the instructions for the manoush:

4. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
5. Butter the bottom of a baking pan
6. Spread out dough on pan as evenly as possible (like making a pizza)
7. If you bought your za'atar mix pre-made, add 4-8 tablespoons of olive oil
8. Spread za'atar mix over dough evenly and use your fingers to press down on the dough to avoid bubbles
9. Cook in oven for up to 20 minutes on the bottom rack or until the bottom is a golden brown and for up to 5 minutes on the top rack until top is golden brown (you can cook for longer depending on how crispy you want)
* Cook time may vary depending on your oven and how thick the dough is, you may have to turn your pan around as it cooks

Source: Eva's Lebanese Cooking

Mohamara Salad Recipe

Mohamara Salad

 

It is time for you to start preparing the famous Mohamara salad at home. Prepare it to your family to enjoy the special taste while gaining the benefits of oats!

Preparation Time: 15 minutes approximately
Serves: 4 persons

All you need

1 1/2 cups Ground Walnut
1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
1 cup al alali White Oats
2 tbsps. al alali Chili Powder
1/2 medium onions grated
2 tbsps. al alali Paprika
1 tbsp. al alali Tomato Paste
1 tsp. cumin
3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup al alali Tomato Ketchup

Directions

• Add breadcrumbs, al alali White Oats, al alali Chili Powder, onions, al alali Paprika , Tomato Paste, cumin to ground walnut
• Pour olive oil over the mixture, mix in a blender until smooth and spreadable
• Garnish Mohamara with walnut and olive oil
• Serve as an appetizer or with Kebeh and enjoy!

Source: alalali

7 Layer Lebanese Hummus Dip Recipe

7 Layer Lebanese Hummus Dip

A fun twist on everyone’s favorite appetizer, this Middle Eastern seven-layer dip is made with creamy hummus, crunchy vegetables, toasted pine nuts and a drizzle of olive oil and za’atar.

Ingredients

1 ten-ounce container Sabra Classic Hummus
½ cup diced cucumbers
1 roma tomato - seeded and diced
¼ cup scallions - thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced parsley
2 tablespoons pine nuts - toasted
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon za'atar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
pita chips to serve

Instructions

Spread hummus in a thin layer on a large plate or serving platter.
Sprinkle hummus with cucumbers, tomatoes, scallions, parsley and pine nuts.
Drizzle platter with olive oil, za'atar and lemon juice before serving with pita chips.

Notes
Calories do not include pita chips.

Nutrition Information
Serving size: ¼ cup Calories: 97 Fat: 8.6 g Saturated fat: 1.4 g Unsaturated fat: 7.2 g Trans fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 5.3 g Sugar: .5 g Sodium: 122 mg Fiber: 1.2 g Protein: 2.3 g Cholesterol: 0 mg

Source: The lemon Bowl

Baked Lebanese Kibbe Recipe

Baked Lebanese Kibbe

Yield 4 to 6 servings | Time 1 hour 20 minutes

The Middle Eastern way with ground lamb, or beef, for that matter, is in combination with cracked bulgur wheat and onion. There are hundreds of ways to turn this delicious mixture into kibbe, little football-shaped savory treats sold and eaten everywhere and made daily in homes throughout the region. (There are other kinds of kibbe, too, like fish, but that’s another story.) For a less labor-intensive version, kibbe can also be baked like a flat cake. It makes an extraordinarily fragrant meatloaf, adorned with long-cooked caramelized onions and pine nuts, to be eaten hot, warm, cold or reheated.

Ingredients

1 cup fine-grain bulgur
1 pound lamb shoulder, ground fine
¼ cup grated onion
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground, or 1 teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch cayenne pepper
Salt
pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for oiling the pan
2 cups sliced onions, 1/4-inch thick
½ cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
Greek-style yogurt, for serving

Preparation

1. Rinse the bulgur well, then cover with cold water and soak for 20 minutes. Drain well.
2. Put the drained bulgur, lamb, grated onion, cumin and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Season with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well with your hands to distribute the seasoning. With a wooden spoon, beat in about 1/2 cup ice water. The mixture should be smooth and soft.
3. Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and fry gently, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Raise the heat and add 1/4 cup of the lamb mixture. Continue frying, allowing the meat to get crumbly and the onions to brown nicely, another 10 minutes or so. Stir in the pine nuts and taste. Let cool to room temperature.
4. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a shallow 9-by-13-inch baking dish, then press half the remaining lamb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Spread half the onion-pine nut mixture over the meat. Add the rest of the meat to the pan, patting and pressing it with wet hands to make a smooth top. If desired, score the top with a sharp paring knife to make a traditional diamond pattern at least 1/2-inch deep.
5. Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden. Spread with the remaining onion-pine nut mixture. Serve warm, at room temperature or cool, with a dollop of yogurt.

Source: cooking.nytimes.com

Moroccan vegetables with halloumi recipe

 
The Hummus Recipes Kitchen (The Home of Middle Eastern Food Recipes) invites you to try Moroccan vegetables with halloumi Recipe.  Enjoy the good taste of Middle Eastern Food and learn how to make Moroccan vegetables with halloumi.

Serves 4
10 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook
300 calories / serving

Ingredients
 
1tsp cayenne pepper
2tsp ground cumin
2tbsp tomato purée
2 limes
3tbsp olive oil
2 red, yellow or orange peppers, deseeded and cut into chunks
2 small courgettes, sliced
1 small aubergine, cut into chunks
1 red onion, sliced into wedges
2 garlic cloves
200g (7oz) halloumi, thickly sliced
50g (2oz) green olives 

Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Mix together the cayenne, cumin, tomato purée, juice of 1 lime and oil. Place the peppers, courgettes, aubergine, onion and garlic in a roasting tin and drizzle with the tomato mix.

Put the squeezed lime halves into the tin. Roast for 20-25 minutes until the veg is golden and tender. Add the halloumi and olives and cook for a further 10 minutes until the halloumi is golden. Squeeze over the juice from the other lime just before serving. 

From Tesco Real Food 

More from the Hummus Recipes Kitchen:
 
Lamb and apricot kofta kebabs
Spiced koftas with lemon and houmous
Spicy Kofte
Lamb Chops with Tahini Sauce Recipe
Middle Eastern Carrot Salad Recipe
Swiss Chard with Chickpeas and Couscous Recipe   

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