This is a dish enjoyed throughout most of the Arab countries. Originating in Egypt, we in the Levant have adopted this dish and never looked back. It's essentially a lasagna made with penne pasta and a red meat sauce seasoned with our very favorite Arabic 7 Spice. It's beautiful, it's to die for, and best of all, it's a crowd pleaser. If you love pasta but want to switch things up, macarona bechamel is the move!

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Macarona Bechamel:

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Ingredients

Meat Filling

• 2 lbs Ground Beef (10% Fat)

• 16 oz Tomato Sauce

• 1 Yellow Onion

• 1 tbsp Olive Oil

• 2-3 tbsp Arabic 7 Spice

• Salt to taste

Bechamel

• 6 cups Whole Milk

• 8 tbsp Unsalted Butter

• 8 tbsp All Purpose Flour

• 2-3 Bay Leaves (Fresh or Dry)

• 1 tsp Black Pepper

• 1 tsp Nutmeg

• Salt to Taste

• 1.5 lbs Penne Pasta

Instructions

We’ll start by preparing the meat filling. Dice the yellow onion and set aside. Place a 4qt saute pan on high heat for a couple minutes then drop to medium. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil and then the diced onion. Saute for a few minutes stirring often until the onions become soft and almost translucent.

Add the ground beef to the pan and break up into small pieces. Let it sit and cook for a while until a majority of the pink is gone. Continue breaking into small pieces as it cooks. When all the pink is gone, season with 2-3 tbsp of Arabic 7 Spice and salt to taste. Mix really well so the spice is evenly distributed throughout.

Add 16 oz of tomato sauce and a splash of water, no more than a half cup. Mix well, cover, and simmer on the lowest setting for about 20-30 minutes. Then remove from the heat and set aside.

For the bechamel you’ll need two pots (one large, one small). In the small pot add 6 cups of whole milk and the bay leaves. Simmer on low heat stirring often to not burn the milk. The goal here is to infuse the milk with the flavor of the bay leaves. This should take about 10-15 minutes. Once the flavor is infused, remove the bay leaves and remove the milk from the heat.

In the large pot add 8 tbsp of butter and let it melt down on low heat. Once completely melted, add 8 tbsp of all purpose flour. Whisk the flour into the butter until fully incorporated creating a roux. Then continue cooking, whisking often, until the mixture begins to bubble and spread. From here you can slowly begin adding the milk 1 cup at a time.

Add 1 cup of milk and whisk until it’s fully absorbed by the flour. This happens quick so be attentive. Continue adding milk 1 cup at a time and whisking until fully absorbed. With each cup of milk added the bechamel will grow in volume and become thinner in consistency. Repeat this process until you have used all of the infused milk. The bechamel consistency should be able to coat the back of a spoon.

Season the bechamel with 1 tsp of black pepper, 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, and salt to taste. Mix well and that’s your bechamel. Divide this in half by scooping half the bechamel into the small pot used to infuse the milk.

Heat a large pot with salted water and boil the penne pasta according to the packet instructions. Then strain and add the pasta to half of the bechamel and mix. Be sure to coat the pasta as best you can with the bechamel.

Get a 9x13 or 10x14 inch baking dish and begin assembling. Layer the pasta first, then meat filling, and repeat until you have filled the tray. Top the tray with the other half of reserved bechamel. Place in a 350F oven for 40-50 minutes. You can also broil at the end for a few minutes until browned on top. Keep an eye on it because it burns quick. Remove from the oven and allow it 10 minutes to sit untouched. Then serve and enjoy.

Sabanikh is the Arabic word for spinach and that's exactly what this dish is. Lots and lots of spinach cooked down with plenty of onion, garlic, ground beef, and a nice touch of lemon juice to bring this all together. It's a beautiful and simple dish that really defines a Levantine home. Of course our Lebanese, Syrian, and Jordanian neighbors also share this dish but with their own touch. I highly recommend this one, I actually make this for myself quite often because it's easy and a healthy option to throw together.

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Sabanikh:

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Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs Ground Beef

• 1 Yellow Onion

• 10 Garlic Cloves

• 1 large pack Spinach (2.5 lbs)

• 0.5 cup Lemon Juice

• 1 tsp Salt

• 1 tbsp Zawi Arabic 7 Spice

• 1 tbsp Olive Oil

• 1-2 Red Onions

• 1-2 cups Hot Water

• 1-1.5 cups Vinegar

• 1 tsp Salt

• 1 tbsp Sugar

Instructions

Slice the root and tail off of the red onions. Slice rings out of the onions and separate them as best you can. Place them all in a large mixing bowl. Add a cup or two of boiling hot water and 1 to 1.5 cups of vinegar, 1 tsp salt, and a tbsp of sugar. Mix that all together really well and let it sit for as long as possible. The longer it sits, the better the pickle becomes. These can also be stored in an airtight container for several weeks in the fridge.

Dice the yellow onion and separate each garlic clove from the skin and slice the large ones in half lengthwise. Place a large heavy bottom pot on high heat for a couple minutes then drop to medium. Add the olive oil and allow it a minute to heat up. Add the diced onion and garlic cloves. Saute stirring frequently until the onions soften and the garlic begins to brown (about 5-7minutes).

Add the ground beef and cook down and break into small pieces until a majority of the fat renders out. Then season with the salt and Arabic 7 spice. Mix well and continue cooking for another minute or so.

Add the spinach, cover, and give it time to cook down and release its water. Stir occasionally and continue until the spinach is small and wilted. Repeat until you’ve all the spinach in the bag.

Squeeze enough lemons until you have about a half cup of lemon juice (less if you prefer). Add to the pot, mix well, and cook for another minutes uncovered. Then remove from the heat and set aside.

Plate with some vermicelli rice, garnish with Aleppo pepper, pickled red onions, and enjoy.

Homemade Pita has been an absolute game changer for me. It completely outweighs the convenience of store bought. Once you taste it, you'll notice the flavor, texture, and overall feel is just unmatched. It's really a simple and straightforward recipe with the most difficult part being patience. Take your time, don't rush, and you'll forever change the way you see pita.

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Authentic Levantine Pita Bread:

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Ingredients

• 5-6g Active Dry Yeast

• 500g Bread Flour

• 10g Salt

• 300g Water (Warm)

Instructions

Weigh out 5-6g of Active Dry Yeast. Place in a small bowl. Add 100g of warm water. Whisk well and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes to bloom.

In a large mixing bowl weigh out 500g Bread Flour and set aside. Then grab a small bowl and weigh out 10g of salt and set aside.

Once the yeast has bloomed, add it to the flour along with another 200g of warm water and the salt. Begin mixing until you have a shaggy looking dough.

Turn the dough over onto a clean surface and begin kneading. If you like, add a bit of olive oil to your hands while kneading to help prevent the dough from sticking.

When the dough becomes sticky (2-3 minutes in), use the slap and fold method for kneading. Do this for about 5 minutes until it’s not sticky anymore. Then continue rolling/kneading for another few minutes. In total you will be kneading for 10-12 minutes.

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and set aside for at least 90 minutes to rise. In this recipe I let mine rise for 2.5 hours. You can also cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to rise overnight.

Once the dough has rise, place on a clean surface. Shape the dough into a ball or sphere. Then cut into 8 equal size pieces. Shape each piece into a ball then cover and let them rest for 20-30 minutes.

Now the dough is ready to be rolled. Lightly flour your surface and rolling pin. Roll the dough in one direction then flip the dough upside down & 90 degrees and roll in the next direction. Continue rolling and flipping like this until the dough has become a nice round circle. Try not to create any creases otherwise you won’t get the nice puff/pocket. Once the all the dough is rolled, cover and let them rest another 10-20 minutes.

If using a home oven preheat the oven to 500-550F. If you have a pizza stone now would be the time to place in the oven so it can heat up. If not you can place a baking sheet upside down as well to act as your hot surface.

If using a pizza oven, preheat the oven for 30 minutes or until the surface temperature is at least 600F or hotter.

Place each piece of bread in the oven (you may need to work in batches) and let them bake for about 4-5 minutes. If using a pizza oven, be sure to reduce the heat to a medium low and you’ll need to rotate every 90 seconds. The dough will slowly rise and create a beautiful pocket. Remove from the oven and place under a towel to preserve the warmth.

Bake all the bread then serve immediately or keep in an air tight bag for about a week in the fridge.

Enjoy!

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Palestinian Mujaddara with Crispy Caramelized Onions

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Ingredients

Mujaddara:

• 1cup Brown Lentils

• 1 cup Basmati Rice

• 1 tbsp Cumin

• Salt to taste

• 3 Red Onions

• Neutral Oil (for frying)

Cucumber Yogurt:

• 3-4 cups Plain Yogurt

• 2-3 Persian Cucumbers

• 1 Lemon

• 2-3 Garlic Cloves

• Salt to taste

• 2-3 tbsp Zawi Salad Blend or Dried Mint

Salad:

• 1 head Romaine Lettuce

• 3 Roma Tomato

• 2-3 Radish

• 1 Lemon

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil

• Salt to taste

• Sumac to taste

Instructions

Scoop 1 cup of brown lentils and wash. Sift to make sure there are no stones or small rocks then set aside.

Scoop 1 cup of basmati rice and place in a large bowl. Wash and drain a few times until the water begins to run clear. Fill a final time with room temp water and set aside to soak for at least 20 minutes.

Take the three red onions, slice off the root and tail and remove the outer layer. Slice the onions in half then slice thick strips cutting from root to tail. Do your best to separate the layers and set aside.

Heat up a small pot with plenty of neutral oil (about 1 inch deep) and bring to 350F. This is the ideal temperature for frying almost anything. Drop the onions into the oil, as much as you can fit, and leave them to fry anywhere from 5-10 minutes. If you prefer them crispier, leave for about 7-10 minutes. If you prefer a softer onion, leave them anywhere from 4-6 minutes. Then remove the onions and place on paper towels to absorb the excess oil.

In a large heavy bottom pot, add the washed lentils and 1.5-2 cups of water - enough water to just barely submerge all the lentils. Place on low heat, cover, and let them cook for 15 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed.

Strain the soaking rice and then add to the pot. Season with cumin and salt to taste. Add another 2 cups of water or just enough to barely submerge everything again. Keep on low heat, cover, and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed. Then fluff up the rice, optionally you can add a scoop of the frying oil all over for extra flavor, then cover again and let it steam for about 10 minutes.

For the cucumber yogurt, add 3-4 cups of plain yogurt, 2-3 diced persian cucumbers, 2-3 minced garlic cloves, juice of 1 lemon, salt to taste, and either 2-3 tbsp of Zawi Salad Blend or 2-3 tbsp of Dried Mint. Mix really well and set aside.

For the salad, wash and thinly slice the lettuce, roma tomato, and radish. Place in a mixing bowl and season with 2 tbsp Olive Oil, juice of 1 lemon, salt to taste, and sumac to taste.

Plate everything together, top with the crispy onions and enjoy!

Fattoush is a salad I think most of us recognize to come out of the Levant. The beauty about Levantine food is that no one makes this recipe exactly the same. Each region, each city, even each household makes their recipes slightly different and this salad is a great example of that. Today I'm sharing the Gazan (Ghazawi) style of fattoush. It's everything you love about your typical fattoush with a little twist.

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Gazan Style Fattoush:

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Ingredients

• 1 Head Lettuce

• 3-4 Roma Tomato

• 3-4 Persian Cucumber

• 3-4 Radish

• 1/4 cup Fresh Mint

• 1/4 cup Green Onion

• 3-4 Pita Loaves

• 2 Garlic Cloves

• 1/2 Serrano Pepper

• 2 Lemons

• 1/4 cup Olive Oil

• 2-3 tbsp Zawi Salad Blend (or Sumac)

• Salt to taste

Instructions

Start by washing all your produce (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, radish, mint, and green onion) then dry really well and set aside.

Nest the lettuce leaves on each other and chop them into 1/2 inch thick pieces then place into a large mixing bowl. Slice tomato into quarters, remove the seeds and stem, slice each quarter in half and cut into half inch thick pieces. Slice the ends off the cucumber, slice into quarters, and chop into half inch thick pieces. Slice the ends off of the radish then slice circles as thin as possible. Place all in the bowl.

Nest the mint leaves on top of each other and slice thin strips. Trim the tips off of the green onion and chop as thin as possible. Add both to the mixing bowl.

Roughly chop the serrano pepper, add to a mortar with a couple cloves of garlic, add salt and grind into a paste. This can also be done in a food processor or with a knife. Add the paste into a small mixing bowl. Add the juice of the lemons, the olive oil, and the Zawi salad blend (or sumac), and salt to taste and whisk together really well then set aside.

If making pita chips at home, slice the bread into squares, place in a large baking sheet, and bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes. Toss them around every 10 minutes to get an even toast on them all.

Just before serving, add the pita chips to the salad, pour the dressing, and mix really well. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Falafel is something that brings me so much joy and happiness. One bite of this crispy and fluffy falafel and your world is forever changed. First you get the savory crunch and then a burst of herbs and spice fills your senses. It's a beautiful thing really and actually quite simple to do.

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Traditional Palestinian Falafel:

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Ingredients

Falafel

• 1 cup Dry Chickpeas

• 1 bunch Parsley

• 1 bunch Cilantro

• 1 Yellow Onion

• 3 Garlic Cloves

• 2 tsp Salt

• 1 tbsp Coriander

• 1 tbsp Cumin

• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional)

• 1/2 tbsp Baking powder

• Neutral Oil (For Frying)

• Romain Lettuce (Garnish)

• Fresh Tomato (Garnish)

• Shatta (Garnish)

• Pickles (Garnish)

• Pickled Turnips (Garnish)

Tahini

• 1/2 cup Tahini

• 1 Lemon

• Salt to Taste

• Water as needed (about 1/4 cup)

Instructions

Soak the dry chickpeas overnight. They must be dry chickpeas, falafel can’t be made with canned chickpeas. In the morning strain and rinse in cold water.

Wash and dry a full bunch of parsley and cilantro. Chop a medium yellow onion into large pieces and set aside a few peeled pieces of garlic.

Using a meat grinder or large food processor, pass chickpeas, cilantro, parsley, onion, and garlic through. Mix it all together and pass through a second time. The falafel mix should look very green at this point.

Season with salt, coriander, cumin, and cayenne (optional) to the falafel and mix well then set aside.

Place a small pot on high heat and fill 1 inch deep with avocado oil or some neutral oil with a high smoke point.

Just before frying, add a bit of baking powder to the falafel and mix well. Test the oil with a small piece of falafel. If it starts sizzling right away the oil is ready. Or you can use a thermometer and check the oil is close to 350F. Roll the falafel mix into a ball about the size of a golf ball or using a falafel mold and drop into the frying oil. Fry for about 4-5 minutes until nicely browned and crispy. Then remove and place on a wire rack to cool.

For the tahini sauce, mix the tahini, juice of 1 lemon , and salt to taste. Then slowly add water (1 tbsp max at a time) and whisk until it’s fully incorporated. Continue adding water and whisking until you have slightly runny but still viscous consistency.

Finally slice some fresh tomato, lettuce, pickles, pickled turnips, and extra parsley if you like. And for some heat a bit of shatta and enjoy!

Ruz bil Haleeb or Rice in Milk is the Levantine version of Rice Pudding. It's a floral, creamy, and refreshing dessert enjoyed warm or cold so it's the perfect year round treat. It's very simple to do , only 6 ingredients, and the payoff is incredible. It's the perfect introduction to Levantine desserts.

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Ruz bil Haleeb:

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Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Egyptian Rice

• 6 cups Whole Milk

• 1 cup Granulated Sugar

• 1-2 tbsp Orange Blossom Water

• 1 cup Water

• 1/2 tbsp Cornstarch

• 3-4 pieces Mastic

Instructions

Wash the rice until water runs clear. Add the rice and 1 cup water to small pot. Boil until all the water is absorbed into the rice (about 5-7 minutes).

Heat 6 cups of milk in a separate pot on medium low heat. Once it’s warm, add the half cooked rice, and drop to low heat. Let it sit and cook for 2 min then whisk for 1 min. This prevents the rice and milk from burning. Repeat the 2 min/1min cook & whisk for 30-40 minutes.

Take 3-4 pieces of mastic and a tsp of sugar and grind into a powder. Also measure out 1 cup of granulated sugar. Add both to the pot and gently whisk for another couple minutes until they’re fully dissolved.

If you like a thicker consistency, mix 3 tbsp of cold milk with 1/2 tbsp of cornstarch. Add to the pot and gently whisk for another few minutes.

Turn off heat, add the orange blossom water, and mix well.

If serving warm, scoop into serving bowls and garnish immediately to enjoy.

If serving cold, scoop into serving bowls, allow 30 minutes to cool, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results. Garnish just before serving and enjoy.

Every culture has their version of chicken and potatoes and they each have their own way of evoking feelings of comfort, nostalgia, and just pure joy. In the Levant we do a chicken and potato that's very similar to the Greek style. We go heavy on the garlic and lemon but with a few extra twists that make it unique to our region. It's another easy dish to throw together and will guarantee smiles all over.

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Jaj w Batata:

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Ingredients

Chicken & Potatoes

• 4- 6 Chicken Quarters

• 4-6 White Potato

• 1 Yellow Onion

• 3-5 Garlic Cloves (minced)

• 2 cups Plain Yogurt

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil

• 2 tbsp Tomato Paste

• 2-3 tbsp Zawi Chicken Blend

• Salt to taste

• 1 Lemon

Toum

• 20-30 Garlic Cloves

• 1-1.5 cup Neutral Oil

• 1/4 cup Lemon Juice

• Salt to taste

Garnish

• Shatta

• Pickles

• Pita Bread

• Aleppo Pepper

• Parsley

Instructions

Place the chicken in a large mixing bowl. Add the minced garlic, plain yogurt, tomato paste, Zawi Chicken Blend, salt to taste, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the bowl. Massage into the chicken until everything is evenly coated. Cover with plastic wrap and allow it to marinade overnight or at least 2 hours if baking the same day.

Slice the potato and onion into several thick wedges and set aside.

Lay the onions on the bottom of a baking tray. Place the chicken on top. Wedge the potatoes all over (it’s ok to overcrowd). Add a generous drizzle of olive oil all over. Place in a 400F oven for 70-90 minutes.

If making homemade toum, get a food processor and add all the garlic and a generous pinch of salt. Blitz the garlic and salt until a garlic paste forms. Then run the processor continuously while slowly adding neutral oil (1-2 tsp at a time) until all the oil is incorporated. Continue adding oil slowly until the emulsion holds and you get a fluffy white spread. This takes roughly 3/4 - 1 cup of oil to achieve.

At this point you don’t need to run the processor continuously. Slowly alternate between lemon juice and neutral oil also in 1-2tsp increments until each is fully incorporated. Repeat and taste test until it’s to your liking.

Serve the chicken and potatoes with toum, shatta, pickles, and bread.

Kufta B'Siniyeh literally translates to "kufta in a tray." Siniyeh is the Arabic word for tray and the "B" is short hand for "bil" which means "in" so literally kufta in a tray. This is what a majority of people like me grew up with. Some sort of oven baked kufta with potatoes, tomatoes, and sometimes onions. It's the most basic way you can prepare kufta so for that reason, I think it's also a very very easy way to step into the world of our cuisine. It's really quite simple to do and I hope you can give it a try.

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Kufta B’Siniyeh:

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Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef

• 1 lb Ground Lamb (10% fat)

• 1 Yellow Onion

• 1 bunch Fresh Parsley (minced)

• 2-3 tbsp Zawi Arabic 7 Spice

• 1 tsp Salt

• 1 tsp Black Pepper

• 3-4 Roma Tomato

• 3-4 White Potato

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil

• 2 tbsp Tomato Paste

Instructions

Peel and shred the onion using a large grater or food processor. Wash and dry the parsley then either chop by hand or mince in a food processor.

Place the shredded onion and chopped parsley in a large mixing bowl along with both the ground beef and ground lamb. Season with salt, black pepper, and Arabic 7 spice. Mix everything together until it’s evenly distributed.

Place the kufta mixture into a large baking tray that has some depth and evenly press it so it fills the whole tray and set aside.

Peel and slice the white potato into quarter inch circles. Slice the tomato into quarter inch circles as well. Place the potato and tomato all over the top, drizzle olive oil all over and into a 400F degree oven for 20 minutes.

Remove the tray from the oven. Scoop the tomato paste into a mixing bowl and pour the juices from the tray into the bowl. Whisk that together then pour back into the tray.

Place the tray back in the oven for another 30-40 minutes. You can also broil for an additional 5 minutes if you want some extra browning.

Serve with fresh parsley, aleppo pepper, and pita bread and enjoy.

I consider Shorabet Adas to be the most popular lentil dish to come out of the Levant. There's several close runner ups but from my perspective it's the most loved in the region and also the most recognized to the rest of the world. Shoraba is the Arabic word for soup and Adas is the word for lentils so really we just call it lentil soup.

This is also the recipe I grew up with that we consumed most during Ramadan. When we would break our fast it starts with a couple dates and then this soup so far that reason as well it's a very nostalgic dish for me. It's very simple to do and I hope you can give it a try!

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Shorabet Adas:

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Ingredients

• 1 Yellow Onion

• 1-2 Celery Stalk

• 1.25 Cup Red Lentils

• 2 Large Carrot

• 2-3 Gray Squash

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil

• 5 Garlic Cloves

• 1 tbsp Coriander

• 1 tbsp Cumin

• 1 tsp Turmeric

• 1 tsp Black Pepper

• 2 tsp Salt

• Pita Bread or Pita Chips (Garnish)

• Parsley (Garnish)

• Red Pepper (Garnish)

• Lemon Juice (Garnish)

Instructions

Dice the yellow onion, carrot, celery, and squash into equal size pieces. Keep the onion separate from the carrot, celery, and squash. Grind the garlic into a paste.

Place a large pot on high heat for two minutes. Drop to medium then add the olive oil. Add the onions next and sauté until they begin to brown (about 10-15 minutes). Then add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. And finally add the carrots, celery, and squash and sauté for an additional 5 minutes.

Add the lentils and mix around until they’re evenly distributed throughout the pot. Season with a tbsp of coriander and cumin and a tsp of turmeric and black pepper. Salt to taste ( I did about 2 tsp) and mix well until the spices are evenly coated throughout the pot (about 2 min)

Next add 7-8 cups of water and raise to high heat until it begins to boil. Then drop to simmer, cover, and let it ride for 30 minutes.

If you plan to make your own pita chips, slice up some pita into small pieces and lay them on a baking sheet. Place in a 350F oven for 30 minutes and toss them around every 10 minutes to get and even crisp throughout.

Once the soup is done boiling, use an immersion blender to pass through the pot and blend the soup into a nice thick consistency. You can also use a blender that is safe to use with hot ingredients to blend the soup. Bring the blended soup back up to a simmer for a final few minutes and you’re done.

Plate and garnish the soup with red pepper, parsley, a drizzle of olive oil, pita chips, and lemon juice and enjoy!

Bazaella is the first dish that comes to mind when I think of comfort food. It's a tomato based stew with green peas, carrots, and meat and is packed with lots and lots of flavor. It's a dish that takes me back to my early childhood and the excitement I'd have when I realized that this is what my mom was making for dinner. It's what I would call a foundational stew in our part of the world and I hope it can now be a part of yours.

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Bazaella:

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Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs Ground Beef (10% fat)

• 1 Yellow Onion

• 5-10 Garlic Cloves

• 1 bag Frozen Peas

• 2 Large Carrots

• 6 oz Tomato Paste (1 small can)

• 4 tbsp Olive Oil (divided)

• 2-3 tbsp Arabic 7 Spice

• 1 tsp Black Pepper

• Salt to Taste

• 2.5 cups Water

• 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

• Aleppo Pepper (Garnish)

• Parsley (Garnish)

Instructions

First step is to always start with the prep which will be cutting up all the veggies. Dice they yellow onion, peel and slice quarter inch thick circles out of the carrot, and grind all the garlic into a paste. If you do not plan on making the “Adha” at the end of the recipe, you can reduce garlic to 3-5 cloves instead of 5-10.

Heat a 4qt pot (or larger) on high heat for a couple minutes then drop to medium. Add two tbsp of olive oil and allow it to heat up for a minute. Add the diced yellow onion and saute for a few minutes or until they soften and look translucent (about 3-5 minutes). Add your garlic (reserve half if you plan to make the Adha) and saute for another couple minutes or until the garlic becomes very fragrant - about 2 minutes.

Add all the ground beef and break apart. Let it sit untouched for about 5 minutes then start breaking up into small pieces, then let it sit untouched to cook for another couple minutes. Repeat this process until all the meat is browned.

Add the peas and carrots and mix well. Let these cook all together for about 5 minutes or until you see the peas have become thawed and no longer look frozen. Add the tomato paste, salt, black pepper, and Arabic 7 spice. Mix these well until they are evenly distributed throughout the whole pot.

Add the water to the pot, bring to a simmer, cover, and let that cook untouched for about 20-30 minutes. After that your stew is ready to go. Optionally you can make the Adha in the next steps.

This dish is traditionally served with Vermicelli Rice which is linked down below but any rice you prefer works great.

El Adha:

Heat a small saute pan on high heat for a couple minutes then drop to medium. Add two tbsp of Olive Oil and give it a minute to heat up. Add the red pepper flakes and as soon as it starts to sizzle, add the remaining garlic saved from the prep work. Flash fry the garlic, mixing frequently, until the garlic becomes super fragrant and borderline begins to brown. Careful not to burn the garlic!

Once the garlic is starting to brown, immediately drop into your stew and mix really well.

Ruz bil Sha’aria:

Hummus is arguably one of the most iconic dishes to come out of the Levant. It’s creamy, it’s got a touch of lemon and garlic, it’s filling, and it’s just one of several mezze dishes we have. In Arabic, hummus just means chickpeas. So sometimes when we say hummus we’re talking about the dip I’m sharing today and sometimes we’re talking about the chickpea itself - it really just depends on the context.

I’m also a traditionalist. I love to learn the true recipes as they were intended to be made before I start playing around with new flavors or ideas. It’s the best way to establish a strong foundation. Overall hummus is a very easy dish to make but one note is that technique and patience matter. If you try to rush this you won’t get the result you’re looking for. So take your time, be patient, and I promise you’ll make an incredible batch of hummus every single time.

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Traditional Palestinian Hummus:

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Ingredients

• 2 cups Dry Chickpeas

• 1 cup Tahini

• 2-3 Garlic Cloves

• 2-3 Lemons

• 1-1.5 cups Cold Water

• Salt to taste

Instructions

First step is to start with dry chickpeas. Scoop 2 cups of dry chickpeas, place in a large bowl and fill with room temperature water. Let them sit and soak overnight until they hydrate and double in size. Then discard all the water and set the chickpeas aside.

Next we need to cook the chickpeas. They usually take an hour to cook but for hummus we want to overcook them so they’re really soft. So for this recipe we want to boil them for 2 hours. Then reserve a half cup of the boiled chickpea water and strain the remaining water out. Let the boiled chickpeas sit and cool for about an hour.

Once they chickpeas are at room temp, bring out your blender or large food processor. Add the chickpeas to the blender along with the reserved chickpea water, tahini, garlic cloves, juice of the lemons, and salt to taste. From here blend everything until you have kind of chunky consistency.

And last to make the humus fluffy and creamy. Slowly add small amounts of really cold water and blend. I add anywhere from 1/8 to 1/4 cup at a time. Each time you blend, check the consistency and repeat until you have a really nice smooth and creamy hummus. For my recipe I measured out 1 cup of cold water in total.

From here you can plate right away or store in an air tight container and it should last you at least 2 weeks!

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Tabbouleh: Video

Ingredients:

- 2 bunches Parsley

- 1/2 cup Green Onion

- 1/4 cup Fresh Mint

- 2 or 3 Roma Tomato

- 1/2 cup Bulgur

- 2 Lemons

- 1/4 cup Olive Oil

- 1 tsp Black Pepper

- Salt to Taste

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We pair this rice with basically all of our stews, sometimes with our bbqs, and maybe some of my Levantine friends here will know about Ruz w Laban which is rice and yogurt. Literally just this vermicelli rice and a scoop or two of plain yogurt. Sounds weird I know - it’s not a dish by any means, more like a “I’m hungry and that’s all I have in the fridge” meal but it hits so so so good.

This is the base for a majority of our cooking so I hope you can give this a shot and add a new style of rice to your home!

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Ruz bil Sha’aria: Video

Zawi Spices & Les Cousines Lebanese Olive Oil Promo Codes

Zawi Spices: https://www.zawispices.com/

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Use code “Waleed15” for 15% off your order

I never liked beets, and I mean never ever liked beets, but one bite of this salad and my life was changed forever. I now have an unhealthy obsession. I crave it always to a point where I did eat so much I was so bloated from the excessive amount of fiber lol. But overall this is a salad I just can’t get enough of and I hope you can become just as obsessed as I am.

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Ingredients

• 2 large Red Beets

• 1 Large Green Apple

• 1/2 cup fresh dill, finely chopped

• 1/2cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

• 2 green onions, finely chopped (optional)

• ½ cup fine bulgur

• 1 cup boiling water

• ¼ cup olive oil

• Juice of 1 lemon

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Start by peeling the beets and shredding with a large grater. You can also use a food processor and just pulse it until you have something that looks like you shred it.

Then shred the green apple and place both in a large mixing bowl.

Place the bulgur in another bowl and add the cup of boiling water. Mix around and let it sit for 10 minutes until the bulgur has soaked up all the water. Once done, add to the main bowl.

Crush the walnuts and finely chop your parsley and dill. Place all in the bowl. If you want green onion, finely chop and add to the bowl here as well. Season with salt and pepper to taste, lemon juice, and olive oil. Give it a good mix and let it sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes for all the flavors to melt together.

Then plate and enjoy!

Starting today I’ll be sharing weekly newsletters highlighting different recipes that are unique to the Levant and what better way than to start with the basics. Below you’ll find a video that steps through each and every item you’ll find in a Levantine kitchen, at least as many as I could remember lol.

If you have any questions please feel free to drop a comment here or on the video. I read them all!

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Basics of a Levantine Kitchen: Video

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Zawi Spices: https://www.zawispices.com/

Use “ZAWI10” for 10% off your first order of Zawi Spices

Les Cousines Lebanese Olive Oil: https://tastelescousines.com/products...
Use code "Waleed15" for 15% off your order

I’m a huge proponent of cozy meals - I love the idea of getting comfortable on the couch with a nice big bowl of something warm and cozy - and this cabbage stew does just that. It’s actually a very simple dish to throw together and goes great with a side of fresh bread or rice like I’ve done here. I actually made this and threw on a nice movie and it was the perfect night for my me and my wife. So I hope you can bring this into your home and enjoy the same!

Serves: 4

Time: 1 hour

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Ingredients

• 1 head Green Cabbage

• 1 Yellow Onion

• 1 Large Carrot

• 4-5 Garlic Cloves

• 2 cups Cherry Tomato

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil

• 2 tbsp Arabic 7 Spice

• 2 lbs Ground Beef

• 1 can Tomato Sauce

• Salt to Taste

Instructions

I’m all about efficiency so lets start with all the prep work. Thinly slice the onion, carrot, and cabbage. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and grind the garlic into a paste.

Heat a large skillet for a few minutes on high heat then drop to medium. I should note you’ll need a pan that has a lid that’ll fit on top. Add the olive oil to the skillet and drop in the onion and carrots and saute for a few minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant. Then add the sliced tomatoes and saute for another 2 minutes.

Add the ground beef and break up into small pieces. Once the fat starts to render out, season with Arabic 7 Spice and salt to taste. Mix well and let it all cook until a majority of the fat is gone.

Add the tomato sauce and a bit of water (I added 1/3 cup) and mix well. Cover and let it all cook together for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and add the cabbage, mix well, and cover again for another 10-15 minutes on low heat. And that’s it!

I served mine with a side of white rice and plain yogurt and dug in.

Enjoy!

Whenever I think of a side of potatoes, these are always the first that come to mind. Batata Harra is a very popular potato dish in the Levant, most common in Lebanon, and is loved by so many. It’s really a simple dish to put together and carries pops of lemon, garlic, and some good heat depending on your preference. Give it a go and I promise you’ll understand why this is the first that comes to my mind.

Serves: 4

Time: 1 hour

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Ingredients

• 2-3 Russet Potatoes

• 6-8 Garlic Cloves

• 1-2 tbsp Tomato Paste

• 1 bunch Cilantro

• 2 Lemons

• 3-4 tbsp Olive Oil

• 1 tsp Paprika

• 1 tsp Coriander

• 1/4 tsp Cayenne

• Salt to taste

• 1 tsp Baking Soda

Instructions

Peel the potato and cut into medium cubes. Place in a pot of boiling water for 5-7 minutes with a tsp of baking soda. Then strain, add to a large mixing bowl, season with salt and olive oil and toss together. Place on a baking tray and into a 450F oven for 30 min flipping halfway through.

Grind the garlic into a paste, mince the cilantro, and slice the lemons so they’re easy to squeeze.

Heat a skillet on high heat then drop to medium. Add the olive oil and allow it to heat up for a minute. Add the garlic and saute on low heat until fragrant. Add the tomato paste, paprika, coriander, and cayenne. Mix well and allow it to cook on low heat for about 3-5 minutes.

Add the juice of both lemons and half the cilantro and mix for 1 minute. Add the potatoes to the skillet and toss into the sauce really well.

Garnish with more cilantro and lemon juice and enjoy!

I think I’ve started to lose count how many chicken & rice dishes I’ve made but they’re each so good and so different so I don’t really see a problem. Here we have a warm, gooey, baked chicken and rice that is packed with with so much flavor, very simple to do, and is done all in one pot!

Serves: 4

Time: 90 minutes

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This is a recipe I pulled from an old family cookbook - I’ve never tried it before but I trusted the process and all the photos are from my first attempt at making it. Just goes to show how simple this dish really is! It takes a bit of time as any good soup does but flavor that develops over a slow cook like this is unmatched.

Serves: 6

Time: 2.5 hours

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