Couscous in Morocco is traditionally eaten on Fridays during lunch time, following the Friday mid-day prayers, similar to the idea of a Sunday roast after church. It’s usually a family affair, and is eaten off of a giant central platter. If you’re good, you can eat it with your hands, forming a ball of veggies, […]
pressure cooker
Lamb Kufta with Eggs
These are meatballs for when your grandmother isn’t coming over. They are garlicky and full of spices, with jolly hard-boiled eggs for added satisfaction, providing a great mess of comfort food for a cold winter night. I got the recipe from Cracking Curries, and added the pressure cooker option, which makes the meatballs oh-so tender. The […]
Braised Shortribs
Sometimes you just want a pile of hot beef, and you don’t want to chew. This is the recipe for you. It can be made in the pressure cooker or slow cooked. The onions, carrot, and celery cook down and make a delicious gravy, which you could blend if you want it to be smooth. […]
Smoky Potato Leek Soup
Hard to believe we now have 300 posts, but no potato leek soup! This soup is almost elemental in its simplicity, and is unparalleled for winter-time comfort (and thrift). My version includes bacon and omits cream. Cream has a way of killing flavor–but you can stir in a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche […]
Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Soup)
Not a quick weeknight meal, but well worth it in the end! If you’ve ever ordered pho ga at a restaurant, you’ve probably found it to be an under-flavored, pale shadow of the classic pho bo (beef). Instead, try making it at home, where you can crank up the flavor and have as much garnish […]
Afghani Meat Sauce, Bulghur Pilaf with Spinach and Fried Onions, Yogurt Sauce
This meal is hearty, chock-full-of-nutrients, and fairly quick. The meat recipe is one I picked up along the way and the bulghur recipe is from the Almost Turkish blog. The yogurt sauce on the side is optional but it adds a nice balance to the meat. If you want to make the recipes separately, the […]
Beef with Kaffir Lime Leaf
This is one of those surprise recipes that emerged from what I had on hand and turned out both delicious and beautiful, much to my surprise. It’s a hybrid of a few of my favorite Thai recipes. If you’re able to find Kaffir lime leaf, you can keep it in the freezer and it still […]
Chili Black Beans with Roasted Brown Rice
I say: you can never have too many bean recipes! They’re cheap, filling, flavorful, and, um…euphonious. This one is enhanced by serving it with brown rice that has been roasted, to release the nutty flavor. Some hearty avocado slices make a nice addition too. This is based off a Whole Foods (gasp!) recipe. I have […]
White Beans with Bastirma
I got this wonderful recipe from the Almost Turkish recipe blog. Bastirma is a salted, highly seasoned, pressed beef product that you can find at the deli counter in Holy Land. I think it fulfills the role a pork product like bacon would fill in non-Muslim (or Jewish) cuisine. It has a complex, salty flavor, […]
Sherwa – Afghani Lamb Soup
This soup is simple and satisfying and turns out great in the crockpot or pressure cooker. It’s essentially a flavorful lamb-based broth with large chunks of root vegetables floating in it. It’s traditionally served with strips of flatbread immersed in it, which I think is even tastier when the bread is stale. You can use […]