The best kitchari recipe
Nothing beats a really good kitchari recipe. It is the best thing to soothe your body and soul when you need healthy comfort food.
Persian eggplant stew – “khoresh bademjan”
Persian cuisine is popular for its “khoresh”, which are fragrant stews made from vegetables, sometimes fruits, meat and/or beans, and wonderful spices. They are traditionally served with basmati rice and my parents used to make them all the time when I was a kid. This particular one – khoresh bademjan – was one of my […]
Freekeh salad with pomegranate and herbs
Freekeh is made from green durum wheat that is harvested young, roasted, and then rubbed. Often used in Middle Eastern cuisine, this “ancient” grain is slightly chewy and has a unique smokey flavor. When living in Dubai, I used to see it occasionally served in warm dishes, much like rice, baked with broth, spices, and […]
Olive oil, feta, tomato & blackberry toast
In my Summer Dinners e-book, I mention that throughout the summer, we regularly indulge in a big tomato basil salad with a generous dose of olive oil vinaigrette. It’s a great, simple side or appetizer and if you dress it up slightly, an ideal light lunch. Depending on our mood and the harvest, I will […]
Provençal Tian (summer vegetable bake)
A Provençal Tian is probably in the top 5 ways I would suggest anyone use their late summer vegetables. Simple enough to make and prepare it is a wonderful side but also works well as a vegetarian main. Ingredients 1/2 cup/125 ml tomato coulis/tomato passata 3 medium-sized tomatoes, cut into 1 cm slices 1 onion, […]
Traditional French Provencal Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a Southern French recipe that can be loosely described as a late summer vegetable stew. And in some cases it is: many people tend to just saute onions, add eggplant, courgettes, bell peppers, tomatoes and then let the whole thing simmer until it is cooked and becomes “stewy”. But ratatouille is a little […]
French cod brandade
Cod brandade is a lovely traditional dish from the Nimes region in southern France. Like many traditional recipes, it has humble beginnings. Back in the 16th century, fishermen from the Brittany region in France would come to Nimes, a region known for its salt culture. They would use it to salt their fish (most often […]
Warm spring vegetable bowl
I love this sort of recipe because it is really versatile. It works perfectly as a main on days where I need something light and nourishing without having to take the salad route (because the veggies are mostly blanched or sauteed, they are super easy to digest and extra tasty!). It is also a glorious […]
A really good Spanish tortilla
I love tapas in general – and I especially affection a really good Spanish tortilla. But I must admit, my relationship with this potato-filled omelet is a love-hate one. The first time I made it was with a friend who had just spent a year studying in Spain who had become a pro at making […]
Creamy chestnut butternut squash soup
Butternut squash wasn’t so popular when I lived in France 10 years ago. Now, it is EVERYWHERE. And it is grown locally, all the more reason to get some to make comforting autumn recipes. The easiest thing in the world is to just cut it in half lengthwise and roast it with some salt and […]