A Week of Recipes (3/2-3/8)
Mashawi (Levantine style bbq), Levantine Cheese Rolls, Sfouf
Happy Sunday and happy day light savings? This time change really is not sitting well with me today lol. Like what do you mean I lost an hour of sleep? And why do I feel like I was hit by a train??
This week I shared a few recipes that are super unique to the Middle East. I’m on a journey to really learn and understand the foods that define my background. Not just Palestinian food but the foods across “Al Sham” or the Levantine region. They’re all very intertwined but also very unique from region to region. Being a Palestinian American, born and raised in the USA, I feel that this is the best way to connect with my roots without actually traveling. And sharing with everyone has been a wonderful way to build community as well. I realize not all the dishes I share are very practical. Some may take a while to make and others may have ingredients difficult to get your hands on. But I think it’s good to know they exist that way if you ever come across one at a restaurant or at a dinner party, you can say “I know this one!”
So buckle up, there’s a lot of very unique dishes coming out the rest of March!
The Mashawi is the Levantine style of bbq. You have lamb and chicken skewered kebabs and a ground beef kebab called Kafta. They’re very simple to do and have an aroma that just reminds me of summer. My favorite part is that first bit after pulling them off the grill and removing them with a piece of bread or dropping them into a bed of rice and all the amazing flavors get soaked up…it’s something you have to experience at least once in your life. Now I did these all in the oven because it’s been quite cold lately and not yet grilling season and they came out just as good. Don’t feel obligated to make all three meats either, one is more than enough!
The Levantine Cheese Rolls hold a very special place in my heart. I like to call them the mozzarella sticks cooler and hotter cousin. It’s not well known in the western parts of the world but every non-Arab friend that I’ve ever introduced this to has asked me where they can get it and where it’s been all their lives. It’s a salty white cheese similar to mozzarella mixed with herbs, rolled into a thin dough and deep fried. Like do I need to say more?
The Sfouf is also a very unique turmeric and semolina cake. It’s your coffee and tea’s long lost friend. There’s no yeast, or kneading, or proofing involved so I would say it’s a fairly easy cake to throw together. It shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to make and then another 25-30 minutes in the oven. They’re also more of a morning treat than an evening - the same way you might see coffee cake, croissants, or cinnamon rolls alongside your breakfast. They’re just like Basbusa if you’re familiar but a lot lighter and fluffier and also a lot less sweet. It’s not as common of a cake as well but I think it has the potential to take over the coffee and tea industry for a while.
Mashawi (Levantine Style BBQ)
This dish is getting me amped for the beautiful spring and summer days ahead of us. Mashawi, in Arabic, refers to something that is intended to be grilled. Whether they are meats or vegetables, if it’s going on the grill - Mashawi. Today I’m sharing how I make my three favorite mashawi meats - Skewered Lamb, Chicken, and Kofta Kebab. Now it’s not quite grilling season yet so this recipe shows you how all can be done in the oven, no grill necessary. It’s very easy to do, they come out just as good, and honestly it’s less hassle than a grill. Pair these with rice or bread, roasted vegetables, and maybe a fresh salad like Tabbouleh or Fattoush and you have yourself a wonderful meal.
Levantine Cheese Rolls
These are mozzarella sticks cooler and hotter cousin. They have a very special place in my heart and are unlike and other fried cheese stick you’ve ever had. They’re the best in the world and I’ll die on that hill. Middle Eastern cheese mixed with fresh herbs like parsley and green onion, rolled and fried with some sort of dough (Filo, Spring Roll, or Homemade). The flavor of these are something I really have difficulty describing but once you bite in them, you understand what I’m talking about.
Sfouf (Turmeric Cake)
Sfouf is your coffee and tea’s long lost friend. It’s a sweet treat that is typically eaten in the morning and has a similar texture to coffee cake but not quite as dry. It’s one of the easier cakes to make. It can all be done by hand in a large bowl with a whisk and silicone spatula. There are little pops of orange blossom that give this a nice floral …