#vegetarian

Mai

Jul 20, 2020
2 min

Summer Tomatoes Maftoul Salad

Similar to couscous of Morroco and mughrabieh of Lebanon the Palestinian version is called maftoul. Maftoul is made of bulgur wheat, whole grains that are parboiled, dried in the sun, then cracked, and hand rolled in durum flour. This process is long and time consuming but it gave the maftoul its name. As the word maftoul in Arabic means "rolled". These practices are common among Palestinian women, and products like this are essential in the Palestinian pantry. Traditionally

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Almond and Fig

Apr 6, 2020
2 min

Alayet Bandoura.. Pan Seared Tomatoes

A delicious simple perfect as a side. Utilizes the season's best most delicious tomoatoes.

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Almond and Fig

Apr 1, 2020
3 min

قدسية حمص وفول Jerusalem Ful

قدسية حمص وفول Jerusalem Ful Foul Mudammas is often served at breakfast but not any breakfast. Growing up it was a dish reserved for weekend brunch with the whole family. Arab weekend breakfasts are often elaborate, and a time to mingle around the table for hours. The whole family will feast and nibble on all sorts of little dishes that are scattered all over a long table. Many of the dishes come from the pantry. Like olives, pickles, zaatar, jams and halaweh (halvah). And a

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Almond and Fig

Mar 16, 2020
3 min

Vegan Kibbeh Nayeh

The traditional recipe for Kibbeh Nayeh uses raw meat, usually with the freshest best lamb you can find mixed with bulgur and spices. Nayeh translates to raw in Arabic and is the steak tartare of Lebanon and Syria, where eating Kibbeh Nayeh is a revered ritual. So, Vegan Kibbeh Nayeh sounds like an oxymoron. But do you want the raw truth?! I neither eat raw meat or meat all together, so this is a vegan spin on the traditional raw meat “Kibbeh Nayeh." It has loads of flavors f

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Almond and Fig

Feb 24, 2020
3 min

Hummus Crackers

Imagine eating hummus in a cracker not just dipped with a cracker! This hummus cracker recipe is super easy, and so nutritious. Hummus flour is so creamy, and lends a sweet yet nutty and rich flavor to these crackers. Hummus beans are loaded in protein, fiber and a great source of iron. This recipe is made with hummus flour. Although hummus flour is so easy to find nowadays it’s also easy to make your own. Hummus flour is made from dried chickpeas or hummus. Hummus is the Ar

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Almond and Fig

Feb 19, 2020
3 min

Braised Wide Green Beans in Olive oil

Contrary to what most people think Palestinian food is rich in vegetables. Some of the humblest dishes are my favorites like this green beans stew in tomatoes and olive oil. This dish is a Middle Eastern vegetarian one-pot dish. In Lebanon it’s often called (Loubia bi al zeit and in Palestine Fasoulia bi al Zeit) The Beauty of these one pot dishes is the simplicity of the preparation process and the humble ingredients that yield to delicious comforting flavors once cooked to

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Almond and Fig

Jan 6, 2020
3 min

Red Lentil Creamy Dip

Red lentil dip is so creamy, slightly lemony and earthy from the lentils. The kids are back to school this week so this will be a great addition to their lunch boxes, slathered in a sandwich or after school served with cut up veggies. This dip has the consistency of creamy hummus Although nothing will ever replace traditional hummus in my book (certainly never chocolate hummus), But this recipe tastes so close to regular hummus that’s usually made with chickpeas. But when I

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Almond and Fig

Dec 22, 2019
3 min

Bulgur & Herb Mahshi Tomatoes

During this busy and festive time of the year it's important to take time to think about what the holidays really mean. For many of us, that means celebrating culture-based traditions with our loved ones many of which revolve around delicious food! Stuffed meats and vegetables “Mahshi” are the anticipated dishes during the holidays growing up in Palestine. They are made with patience and love and fill your home with the most delicious aromas. The word mahshi in Arabic means “

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Almond and Fig

Nov 22, 2019
3 min

Tahini Vegetable Ratatouille

The vibrant autumn shades of these vegetables and the way they are layered make for a beautiful eye catching dish on your holiday table. My mom got me hooked on gratins. She loves assembling and making them every time we have company over or extra produce in the fridge. She loves to make hers with extra tomatoes and onions. I substitute the tomatoes sauce for a tahini one in the winter months. I love how the earthy flavors of tahini play so well against the natural sweetness

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Almond and Fig

Aug 20, 2019
2 min

Ruby Summer Salad

The strawberries and watermelon are at their peek in the summer. They are so sweet and delicious. So we are going summer strong with one of my new favorite salad combos. Growing up we always ate watermelon and cheese together. It was the most perfect light and refreshing treat. The watermelon was always seeded and the cheese was always Nabulsi. Nabulsi cheese is a salty, briny cheese studded with nigella seeds and flavored with mastic and mahleb. The balance of sweet and salt

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Fattoush Salad with a Mint Sumac Dressing

Almond and Fig

Aug 7, 2019
2 min

Fattoush Salad with a Mint Sumac Dressing

Fattoush is a “bread salad,” something like the Italian Panzanella, using stale or a day old bread. Fattoush salad is consumed all over the Middle East. The salad was built on the idea that farmers would use leftover stale bread and soak it with seasonal vegetables and herbs to create a more hearty fulfilling & rather an inexpensive meal. Bread plays an important part of meals in the Middle East. Its absolutely delicious warm to dip in a plate of creamy hummus, to make a fala

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Almond and Fig

Jul 30, 2019
4 min

Tita's Famous Misalwa مسلوعه

Everything my TITA (grandma) makes is my favorite ok minus the stuffed lamb liver.. She loves to cook and feed everyone, no one ever goes home hungry. And if you are not there when she makes something you bet that she will save you a portion or 3 you know to "share with your friends" as she would say. Feeling so blessed to spend last summer with her. I hung with her in the kitchen, her favorite spot in the house doing what she loves most, cooking for her family. I loved watch

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Almond and Fig

Jun 29, 2019
5 min

Vegetables & Herbs Stuffed Grape Leaves

Every time I make stuffed grape leaves I am reminded of home back in Palestine. It was always at the beginning of spring and summer where my grandmother will set to pick all the tender leaves from our vines. My grandfather transformed these grape vines into an architectural natural gazebo. In what we call عريشة the vines grew tall on top of 4 pillars creating the most beautiful natural shade and the grapes hung under it like little lamps. My Tita will prep bottles and bottles

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Crispy Cauliflower Salad in a Tahini Lemon Sauce. Topped with a Fresh Cilantro Gremolata & Hazelnuts

Almond and Fig

May 6, 2019
2 min

Crispy Cauliflower Salad in a Tahini Lemon Sauce. Topped with a Fresh Cilantro Gremolata & Hazelnuts

One of my favorite things growing up is eating the cauliflower my mom fried for ma’loubeh (an upside down rice, and veggies dish). Although I love love fried cauliflower but not a fan of frying anything at home. Frying somehow makes your home. So I baked these cauliflower in my air fryer for crispy results without using much oil. The cauliflower turned out so crispy with only 2 tsp of oil and cooked so fast. So here we go I present to you a Crispy cauliflower salad with a Tah

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Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Tahini Sumac Crema

Almond and Fig

Jan 15, 2019
2 min

Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Tahini Sumac Crema

You know what day it is!!!! yep, its taco Tuesday. One of my kids favorite foods and days of the week. And since my kids absolutely love cauliflower I decided to make cauliflower tacos. My kids love cauliflower in every way they eat it raw, but they espically love it even more when roasted. One time, I roasted a head of cauliflower as a side dish and they all fought over it (no, like literally) I had to equally divide the pieces between the 3 of them. So I told them next tim

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Almond and Fig

Oct 18, 2018
2 min

Pumpkin Fall Granola

Fall is so pretty in Chicago, the leaves are changing colors. Red, orange yellow and purple all over the place. This crisp cool weather makes me want to bake all things fall. Currently crushing on all things apples and pumpkins. My kids love granola on top of their yogurt bowls in the morning. So I gave this family favorite a fall makeover to fit the season. It makes for a great seasonal breakfast or snack. The best thing about making granola at home is that its so easy, no s

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Almond and Fig

Apr 22, 2018
2 min

How to build an amazing Mezze Platter

delicious appetizers served family style. its a fun dining experience for the meat loves and vegetarians alike. There is something for every

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Almond and Fig

Apr 17, 2018
2 min

Fire Roasted Baba Ghanouj with Tomatoes

This is my grandmother's smoked tomato Baba Ghanouj. This is similar to the traditional Baba Ghanouj but instead of tahini you add tomatoes. The smoked creamy Aubergines, the sweet summer tomatoes and a nice zesty kick from the fresh garlic and jalapeños makes this dip addictive. It's often served part of a mezze platter or spread or as a dip accompanying grilled meats with lots of charred pita bread. Its also great as a dip with vegetables, and crackers and also delicious on

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Almond and Fig

Apr 3, 2018
4 min

Creamiest Hummus

Hummus in Arabic literally means chickpeas. The word hummus describes the legume itself. Hummus is a staple in homes all over the Middle East. Every family and every Hummus café takes pride in their recipe. But hummus is humble and made from basic ingredients. and perhaps its the most popular dip to travel all the way from the Middle East to the U.S. This staple is eaten with most of meals in Arab homes. Its definitely key at the brunch or breakfast table. My mom often packed

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Almond and Fig

Apr 2, 2018
3 min

The humble Falafel

The Best Falafel is crispy on the outside, bright green on the inside, loaded with flavors both from green herbs like cilantro and parsley and spices such as coriander and cumin. Growing up I ate my weight in falafel especially in my High school days. Everyone I know has their own favorite falafel stand yes falafel is a street food and it’s all over the Middle East. Everyone takes pride in their recipe and the long lines that form in front of the stand. Falafel is a sandwich

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