Arabic Food Made Easy

Pumpkin Kubbeh [Vegetarian]

categories: Arabic Food Made Easy, Posts, Recipes, Vegetables & Sides

Pumpkin Kubbeh [Vegetarian]

It’s officially pumpkin season! Well, in the U.S. anyway. Here in Jordan, not so much. The big bright orange pumpkins I’m used to seeing saturating every single store front and outdoor market are few and far between in October. I was surprised to see them at the Vegetable tent mid-summer. I’m talking Big Bright Beautiful Pumpkins all over mid-summer. What a strange sight to see. The Fall fanatic in me, however, couldn’t quite comprehend and waited until mid-October to start incorporating all things pumpkin into my weekly menus. Luckily Cozmos carries fresh pumpkins, and I found pumpkin Puree at Safeway. (more…)

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Middle Eastern Puff Pastry Meat Pies

categories: Appetizers, Arabic Food Made Easy, Breads, Posts, Recipes

Puff Pastry Meat Pie

I’m all about simplicity. Mainly simplicity when it comes to cooking. Because really, who wants to spend more time making delicious food, like let’s say middle eastern meat pies, when you can cut that time in half? This girl right here. That’s me! I have no patience. I openly admit it. It’s something I’ve been actively working on for 30 years. However, the truth is, patience does not come easily to me. I have a hard time waiting for just about anything. So it’s no surprise that bread making is a serious test of my patience. I have made various breads in the past. I tested out some sesame bread that didn’t make it onto the blog, as well as Zaatar Bread, and Irish Soda Bread. (more…)

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One Pan Middle Eastern Roasted Chicken and Vegetable Bake

categories: Arabic Food Made Easy, Chicken, Posts, Recipes, Vegetables & Sides

Middle Eastern Roasted Chicken and Vegetable Bake

Middle Eastern Roasted Chicken and Vegetables is one of my favorite comfort foods. Comfort food by definition is, ” food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal.” For most, that means lots of carbs and lots of sugar. For me, comfort food really does fit the Merriam Webster definition, that is, a traditional dish that brings back childhood memories. So what is it about One Pan Middle Eastern Roasted Chicken and Vegetable Bake that makes me nostalgic? I have so many childhood memories of being at my Tayta’s around dinner time. She’d whip up her chicken and vegetable bake. She always had a way of making even the hardest dish seem easy to pull together. It must be all her years of cooking for 8 children. Yes, eight. The apartment always smelled amazing. It was wafting with aromas from a mix of garlic, onion and Arabic spices that made me practically drool as I waited not-so-patiently in the family room watching TV. (more…)

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Labaneh Rounds

categories: Appetizers, Arabic Food Made Easy, Posts, Recipes

Labaneh Rounds If you haven’t had labaneh (لبنة) then you’re in for a savory treat! I grew up on labaneh, as did most Arab-American kids. It’s a staple in most Arab-American households. There’s always a container in the fridge. Breakfasts and brunches include some form of labaneh with olive oil and zaatar for dipping, usually alongside olives, freshly slices cucumbers and tomatoes, and in most cases boiled eggs.

When we were kids, my mom used to make us labaneh sandwiches on Arabic bread (that’s what we call pita bread at our house). It’s, hands-down, my favorite dairy product. I still make myself labaneh on toast in the mornings. (more…)

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Karawya [Sweet Caraway Pudding]

categories: Arabic Food Made Easy, Desserts, Posts, Recipes

Karawya

My coworker’s wife just had a baby. Everyone in the office had been counting down, waiting for their precious bundle of joy to arrive. A few months ago, we combined his birthday desk decorations with a guessing game of whether they’d be having a boy or a girl – complete with a chalkboard tally. When we found out they were having a girl, everyone had some advice to give. As a father, I can only imagine the excitement and some of the fear of having a daughter. As a mother, I’m positive his wife was ecstatic to have a mini-me. I have to say, she is the most adorable little nugget. Their lives changed overnight and in the most incredible way.

As a matter of Arab tradition, when a baby is born, the family holds a Mubraka where friends and family come over to visit the mother and new baby. I’ve seen very small gatherings, and very large gatherings. It’s a way to meet the new baby and wish well for the family. A special dessert is served called Karawya كراوية. The reason they serve karawya is pretty good, actually. Despite it being a dessert, it has nutrients and energy that are supposed to be good for a nursing mother. (more…)

Arayes

categories: Arabic Food Made Easy, Posts, Recipes, Sandwiches

Arayes

We all know there are smells and sounds that take us back to a certain place or time. The minute a particular song makes it through your shuffle lineup, you’re transported back to a place, a person, an event. It’s either a good memory, or one you want to pretend never happened [in which case you next that song like it’s nobody’s business]. Or you’re walking through the mall, or outside and all of a sudden you catch the scent of perfume, or cigarette smoke, or even home cooking and someone, something, some place pops right into your mind. (more…)

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