Which countries are part of the Middle East varies depending on who you ask. From a food perspective, the flavours of Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine (the Levant), Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, The UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar (the countries of the Arabian Gulf), Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt (North Africa) all have a lot in common. The influences crosses borders to neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Xinjjiang in China, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Sudan, Somalia, Zanzibar and Greece too; as well as the Middle Eastern/Arabic influence on Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines.
Baba Ghanoush Like baba ghanoush? You’ll love my online Lebanese cooking class! There are two names for a Middle Eastern dip made from eggplant that’s been heavily roasted – ideally over an open fire or charcoal to give it an addictively smoky aroma – mutabbal and the better known baba ghanoush. Whether they’re different names […]
Lamb & Bean Soup Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Lebanese cooking class! I made this lamb and bean soup to use up some lovely rich lamb stock leftover from braising lamb shanks. It really is important to use homemade stock for this soup as that’s what gives it such great flavour. Beyond that […]
How to Prepare Saffron Master Kitchen Basics & Explore New Cuisines & Ingredients with My Online Cooking Classes There are two ways to prepare saffron for use in cooking: brewing (with hot water) and blooming (with ice). Brewing is the traditional way. Blooming is a modern technique created to preserve as much of the saffron’s […]
Turkish Tuna ‘Meatballs’ (Balik Köftesi) Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Turkish cooking class inspired by Somer Sivrioglu! I learnt to make Turkish köfte (meatballs) from my friend Somer Sivrioğlu, who owns one of Istanbul’s best restaurants as well as several in Sydney. Traditionally he makes them with a combination of lamb and beef, […]
Turkish Stuffed Dried Eggplant Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Turkish cooking class inspired by Somer Sivrioglu! Strings of hollowed small eggplants drying in the sun are a common sight in south eastern Türkiye – and in markets across the country, like Istanbul’s spice bazaar. Hollowing and drying summer vegetables to store for stuffing […]
Muhammara Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Turkish cooking class inspired by Somer Sivrioglu! Muhammara is an easy Turkish capsicum and walnut dip that’s so delicious you’ll be whipping it up to serve alongside everything. It’s especially good with seafood and a wonderful addition to a mezze table. I like to oven roast capsicum […]
Sigara Borek (Turkish Cheese & Herb Rolls) Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Turkish cooking class inspired by Somer Sivrioglu! Börek filled with cheese and herbs is one of my favourite food experiences from my travels in Türkiye. I remember arriving early one morning in the eastern town of Tatvan having caught the overnight […]
Borani Laboo (Persian Beetroot & Yoghurt Dip) Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Persian cooking class! Persian food is colourful, tasty and healthy. Borani (sometimes written burani or boorani) are Persian vegetable dips made with a tangy yoghurt base, that fire up the appetite for what’s to come and also cut through the rich […]
Persian Minced Tuna Kebabs Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Persian cooking class! Persians love all sorts of kebabs and these minced tuna kebabs are a great alternative to the lamb-based kabab koobideh so popular in Persian cuisine. Cooking time will depend on how thinly you roll the mince and on the heat of […]
Prawns with Persian Split Pea Stew Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Persian cooking class! Prawns with Persian split pea stew is a seafood version of the classic Persian dish, khoresh-e gheymeh, in which lamb is braised in a rich sauce with yellow split peas. For me that dish is really all about the […]