It’s-all-in-the-pantry fish cakes

Is it me or does back-to-school frenzy feel like it was yesterday and is Christmas shopping season imminent? Life’s been busy and as you’ve noticed, my time spent testing new recipes and eating my way through new healthy trendy foods has been reduced to sipping matcha lattes from the Starbucks drive-thru. So today I share […]

Comforting Mediterranean veggie bake

I always feel like I should be in a Mediterranean farmhouse kitchen when I make this rustic dish. It’s filled with warmth and flavor while also nourishing that part of the soul that needs comfort food. The eggplant, courgette and mushroom combination really deliver on the taste and texture side, while the tomato sauce and […]

Flash two-tomato quinoa

Using a tomato base to cook quinoa instead of water is a ridiculously easy way to change up the trendy grain and gives it a nice Southern mediterranean twist. Here I’ve served it with some chopped fresh tomatoes, basil and a swoosh of olive oil but you also keep it simple and serve it as […]

Ode-to-autumn brown rice risotto

I love a good risotto. But I also like getting lots of fiber in my diet, so as much as I’ve poopooed quinoa and brown rice versions in the past for their lack of onctuosity compared to Italian arborio or carnoli varieties, I am jumping on that bandwagon. Why the change of heart? Because I have […]

Lemon olive chicken tagine

Back in the early 1970s, my parents were living in Morocco where my mom, a curious and talented cook, discovered North African cuisine. She especially liked the region’s legendary tagines, made of meat or poultry that’s been braised with fruits and/or vegetables in a traditional conic-shaped claypot. Her favorite one had chicken, green olives and […]

Fried rice Mamma-style

Stir fries are one of the best ways to recycle leftover rice. I make this particular recipe a lot because you can put any veg you’ve got in the fridge, children really dig it and the whole affair requires all of 15 minutes. If you want you can add some leftover chicken, prawns or whatever […]

Crowd-pleasing poulet basquaise

I love making stews when we have friends over because it allows me to prepare everything in advance and spend most of my time with the guests instead of slaving in the kitchen. Unfortunately, only a few can truly be appreciated in warmer Dubai weather – and Poulet Basquaise is one of them. It originates […]

Mom’s grilled chicken brochettes

Perfectly cooked rice, salad and these chicken brochettes are regulars at my parents’ place. The only challenge has always been to get the exact marinade recipe from my mom, who tends to toss in her spices using her experience and senses rather than measuring instruments. So this year, I paid closer attention as she prepared […]

The Poke bowl

Poke bowls are a great way to serve healthy fast food at home. We have make-your-own-poke nights regularly on weeknights and it’s a hit with the kids. As long as you have a few basic Asian ingredients in your pantry, you’re all set. Traditionally, they are topped with fresh raw fish, but since we’ve got […]

Moorish calamari with chickpeas and chorizo

The minute I tasted this mouth-watering dish at a friend’s house the other night, I knew I was going to have to attempt recreating it at home. And I did. Twice. Because it was that good. Adding chorizo to anything will make you feel like you’re eating at a lively tapas bar in the streets […]