When you wake up to hear crickets singing, there’s only one thing it can mean, and that is it’s summer! Alright, I lie, it’s only spring, but springs Down Under can get so hot, you lose yourself between the seasons, and activate Summer-Time mode immediately. : With summer, you get fresh peaches, nectarines, and all … Continue reading »
![addictive ajwa [date stuffed shortbread cookie]](http://fatisrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/mg_0240.jpg?w=160&h=120&crop=1 "addictive ajwa [date stuffed shortbread cookie]")
Sadly, today is the last day of my summer break. Very sadly. Tomorrow as I head off to uni, I know I’ll be missing all the moments I had in the kitchen during my holidays. And definitely wishing I had experienced some more. I learned, however, that although I’ve bookmarked, discovered or written down 10s … Continue reading »
This classical Arabian dessert was posted back in May of 2011… I’m revisiting it for a couple of reasons, first of which is the photography, then ingredients… I remember that time I made it, I had used a pancake mix because I was out of time… and the photography was a shocker because I had … Continue reading »
![gallant grape leaves [yabraq]](http://fatisrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/mg_0159.jpg?w=160&h=120&crop=1 "gallant grape leaves [yabraq]")
Yabraq was something I grew up watching my mum and granny do… as kids, we were never allowed to roll grape leaves with them, but sometimes, if we were behaving extra good, we were allowed to take a leaf and filling and ‘pretend roll it’, meaning it never got into the pot after all – … Continue reading »
Ehm… I-L-O-V-E-F-A-T-A-A-Y-E-R! If it helps to read it like this, then: I LOVE FATAAYER! I can’t explain to you how much I love this fat-full, carb-full, little delight. Back home in Syria, on the days you feel like it, you wake up, wash up, wear your clothes and head down to the “bakery” and order … Continue reading »
![nightingale nests ['ish al-bulbul]](http://fatisrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/mg_0331.jpg?w=160&h=120&crop=1 "nightingale nests ['ish al-bulbul]")
These little nests have always been a childhood favourite. I still love them, but I love so many other Arabian sweets, too, I don’t think I have a one-and-only-fave any more. In Arabic, these are called ‘ish al-bulbul where ‘ish means nest, and bulbul is the Arabic name for Nightingale. The pistachios within the kataifi … Continue reading »
Vic… Vic… Vic… WOW! When you told me you loved knaafeh, and would love to have some when you come over for brunch, I got super excited. Maybe because I’ve been wanting to make it for AGES, and maybe because it had also been AGES since I had last seen you (remember, the picnic at … Continue reading »
As I once promised Charles over at Five Euro Food, today’s post is my super-simple truffle recipe. I love making the recipe when I’m short on time, but want something cute and presentable. These truffles also make a great present for any loved ones, especially those with a sweet tooth! I call them teasers, because … Continue reading »
Today I have a few announcements to make. I’ll get to the point straight away, so that you can find yourself enjoying the easiness of this post’s recipe quickly. Announcement no. 1: This is my 99th post. It appears the norm is that every 100th post, something special is done. I thought of making my … Continue reading »
Now that the semester is slowly coming to end, my classes have started to drop, and scramble time for exam study is shining bright. In the hours that I once spent sitting in lectures, I’ve decided to trash study and prep for my great Eid morning tea/lunch, and a Saturday iftar dinner party. All this … Continue reading »
Simon Wright. What can I say? Your recipe looked a lot more promising than Al’s….but hey, it still didn’t work out! But if anyone’s to blame, it’d be me this time, because there were some mistakes I made which I should have been more careful of. a) I forgot to turn down the oven – it … Continue reading »
Serves: 8 Ingredients: 350g (or 4 cups) ribbed penne pasta (can use elbows, or other shapes… if you’re using gluten free pasta, just skip the breadcrumbs) 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 3 tbs butter 3 tbs plain flour 1 1/2 cup milk 2 cups shredded cheese (your favourite type will do) salt, pepper, baharat Method: In a … Continue reading »
We saw her get freshly pressed for it. We read her creative idea. Now it’s time for her destructive turn. Yields: ~ 70 Ingredients: 2 cups grated Colby cheese (the type you use does make a difference) 1 cup plain white flour 4tbs butter 1/2 tsp onion salt/powder 1/2 tsp ground black pepper orange food colouring … Continue reading »
Serves: 4-6 Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs 4 medium-large potatoes 2 medium-large onions 5 tbs oil (olive, rice bran, vegetable, canola, doesn’t matter) 1 1/3 cup water salt, pepper, baharat Method: Remember to defrost the chicken thighs. Begin by washing and peeling the potatoes. Slice the potatoes. You want them a little bit thick, about 0.8 cm … Continue reading »
So a few weeks ago, it was time for my grandmother, who is filled with the most delicious traditional recipes one can’t find anymore, had to go back to her home country after a couple-month stay here at Down Under. And boy was it hard say goodbye. I didn’t know how I should let … Continue reading »
Yields: ~ 10 Ingredients: Lasagne: 2 – 4 lasagne sheets (depends on the size) grated cheese (I used tasty) Meat mixture: 150 – 170 g minced meat 1 large onion, finely diced 1 1/2 tbs tomato sauce 3 tbs barbecue sauce 1 tsp soy sauce 3 tbs tomato paste salt, pepper, baharat, paprika is optional … Continue reading »
Alluring Artichokes – Colourful and healthy Serves: 4-5 Ingredients: 1/2 kg artichoke bottoms (I think you can get a packet of frozen ones which have up to 10 bottoms) 1/3 cup pine nuts 150-180g minced meat 1 med-large carrot, finely diced into cubes 1 cup pea pods 1 medium onion, finely diced citric acid, salt, … Continue reading »
Shish barak with coriander in the yoghurt Serves: 6 Ingredients: Shish Barak Dough: 2 1/2 plain or wholemeal flour (or a combination of both) 1/4 cup water 1 egg 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp sugar Shish Barak Filling: 180g minced meat 10 sprigs coriander, finely diced 1 medium onion, finely diced salt, pepper, mixed spice … Continue reading »
Makdous. Magdous. Maqdous. Call it what you want. So long you eat it. This dish is based on the olden day methods of storing food for winter when little produce was available. Basically, it’s eggplant stuffed with capsicum and walnuts, cured in oil to produce the most divine tangy taste eggplant could ever give the … Continue reading »
A tempting tisqeeyah is a mix of hummus, pita bread, sesame paste, ghee and parsley… Can’t go past it. Can’t live without it. I take no blame for any cardiatric related health problems that occur as a result of the excessive consumption of ghee-drenched tisqeeyah. Apparently tisqeeyah means “quenching” Serves: 6 Ingredients: 1 cup cooked garbanzo beans/chickpeas/hummus … Continue reading »
Yummy yoghurt & cucumber salad – perfect for any hot day! Serves: 8 Ingredients: 8 heaped tablespoons of Greek-style yoghurt (or your favourite yoghurt) 1-2 medium cucumbers 1 clove garlic, crushed (optional) pinch of salt, dried-crushed mint Method: Add the yoghurt into a serving bowl. Peel the cucumber and slice in half vertically (better if … Continue reading »
Serves: 8 Ingredients: 1 bag (375g) curry simmer sauce – I used butter chicken flavour 800g breast chicken (approx 4-5) 3 large potatoes 300 mL coconut cream [can substitute with sour cream, Greek yoghurt, coconut milk, etc] 2 cups water 1 tbs tomato sauce 1 tbs tomato paste 1 tbs barbecue sauce The spices: pinch … Continue reading »
For even more chocolaty muffin goodness, top this cupcake recipe with choc chips and devour! This is my second “recipe request” post. The dish – double-choc muffins. The recipe card – below. Serves: 12 Ingredients: 1 3/4 cup plain flour (I think I may have accidentally used self-raising which made some muffins look funny) 1 cup sugar (only … Continue reading »
This is my first “recipe request” post. The dish – marble cake. The recipe card – below. Serves: 8 Ingredients: For an 8 inch round baking tray: 1 1/4 cup plain flour 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup vegetable oil or butter (when solid) 2 tsps baking powder 1 tsp vanilla extract powder (+ any flavouring … Continue reading »
![omnipotent [stuffed] okra](http://fatisrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_2466.jpg?w=160&h=120&crop=1 "omnipotent [stuffed] okra")
Stuffed okra – couldn’t get a decent photo of them Everyone was in a hurry to eat! Serves: 4 Ingredients: 12 large okra 100g minced meat 1/4 cup pine nuts (optional) 2-3 tbs tomato paste 1/3 cup fresh coriander, finely diced 2 cloves garlic pinch of: salt, pepper, mixed spice Method: In a pan, add the … Continue reading »
Try not to eat them all before you share with others…. Serves: 15 Ingredients: Awaamah dough: 4 cups plain flour or 3 1/3 cups plain flour and 2/3 cup wholemeal flour 3/4 tsp yeast dissolved in 1 cup warm water 1 tsp black onion seed or sesame seeds 1 3/4 cup warm water 1 tsp sugar … Continue reading »
Serves: 8 Ingredients: Dough: The recipe for the dough can be found here 1 egg for glazing Stuffing: 1/2 bunch spinach, roughly chopped 1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped 1 tbs cumin pinch of salt, pepper, mixed spice Method: In a large pan, add the spinach, onion and 1/4 cup water. Cook through for a minute. … Continue reading »
What can I say? My last post was about deceiving drumsticks. And now, conterfeit croissants. WARNING: this recipe is not to be made by fussy croissant-loving eaters. Only for those who are on a low-fat, low-on-time, low-on-resources diet. If you can’t afford croissants from the shops, or afford to make them over a period of … Continue reading »
The only remaining drumstick. They ate the rest before I could even take a photo! Serves: 8 Ingredients: 1 1/2 chicken breast, diced [1] 1 1/4 cup breadcrumbs 4 puff pastry sheets 1 egg 2 large potatoes 1 carrot, grated 1 medium onion, diced 1 clove garlic (optional) 1/8 wong bok or any cabbage (optional), diced … Continue reading »
Use the “Golden Dough” recipe to make an even tastier bread roll! Serves: 6 Ingredients: 3 cup plain flour 1 cup warm water 1 tbs yeast 1 tbs sugar 1 egg 1/2 tbs salt 1/2 cup oil[1] 1/2 tps honey 3 Kiri cream cheese pieces[2] 6 pitted dates[2] black onion seed (optional) Method: Combine the … Continue reading »
Serves: 5 Ingredients: 200g mince meat (lamb or beef, I used lamb) 6 tbs tomato sauce 6 tbs bbq sauce 2 tbs tomato paste salt, pepper, mixed spice paprika (optional) 1/4 large lettuce 1 tomato 1 cucumber 2 carrots 5 roti parathas – I started buying a 2kg bag of frozen roti paratha because it … Continue reading »
