A Week of Recipes (4/20-4/26)
Mohalabia, Saneyyet Batata w Lahma, & Yakhni Batata
Happy Sunday and welcome back to another week of recipes. I think these three up here are the most Arab sounding list of recipes I’ve ever sent out lol. I really try to write these names out as phonetically as I can! This week I’m sharing two new recipes and a third that is actually my most popular dish. It went viral on several platforms and for good reason. I actually spent the last week in San Francisco staying with a friend and made this dish for them and they absolutely loved it. So let’s get into it!
Mohalabia is an underrated dessert in my opinion. It’s a milk pudding infused with rose and orange blossom flavors then served with some crushed pistachios and honey (if you want extra sweetness). Some Middle Eastern restaurants will have this on their dessert menu but a majority don’t. They usually stick to the more common baklava or knafeh. But this one is really very easy to make, especially in big batches so I urge you to give this one a shot! It’s very smooth and creamy, floral, and light!
Saneyyet Batata w Lahma literally translates to a “Tray of potatoes and meat.” Straight and to the point, I love it. There’s actually something so charming about the translation to me. This is a dish my Mom would make growing up and she would say this is a “Khaleeji” dish meaning it’s from the Gulf. So one of those Gulf countries (idk which exactly) gets credit for this one. I made this for my in-laws last week and my picky 8 year old niece went for 2nd and 3rds and was literally licking her bowl clean she loved it so much. It’s a great dish to make a big batch of to share with family.
Yakhni Batata translates to “Stewed Potato.” For us anytime we call something “yakhni” it’s some sort of stew. This one specifically is a staple from my childhood. It’s a dish unlike any other mainly because of the fragrant aroma this one creates. It’s a strong mix of garlic and cumin that fills the house. It’s my go to comfort meal. It’s made up of broiled kufta meatballs & fried potatoes stewed together and topped with a generous amount of flash fried garlic, cumin, and parsley. This is the dish I always make for friends when introducing them to my world of food so I thought now would be a good time to bring it back after having just made it again.
Mohalabia
The wonderfully simple Levantine style milk pudding. This beauty is infused with aromatics of rose and orange blossoms, has a smooth consistency, and topped with lots of pistachio for texture. It’s not too sweet and very light. So if you’re looking for a sweet treat perfect for the spring and summer, this is a very simple one to try!
Saneyyet Batata w Lahma
This is a dish so good even my picky 8 year old niece went back for 2nd and 3rds and literally licked her bowl clean. It’s a middle eastern style baked tray of meat and potatoes that I honestly don’t know the country of origin. My mom made this for us growing up and she’d say it’s from the Arabian Gulf so one or all of those countries can take credit for this masterpiece. It’s a perfect example of how simple ingredients can come together to make the most amazing dish. I urge everyone to try this at least once! Either for yourselves or for a dinner party.
Yakhni Batata (Potato Stew)
This is a dish I have only ever seen at home. I don’t know if it’s something only my family does or if others make a variation of it but I do know it’s beyond delicious. This one specifically really wins my heart over. The aroma and flavor of this supercedes anything else for me. Give it a try!