Lohz Spiced roast almonds

Serves 6–8 with drinks
3 tbsp sunflower oil
1½ cups whole blanched almonds
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground chili powder
½ cup brown sugar
juice of ½ lemon
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Heat a heavy frying pan over mediumhigh
heat. Add the oil, almonds, cumin, cinnamon, chili powder, and twothirds
of the brown sugar. Toss the nuts in the sugar to coat thoroughly. Continue
to sauté until the nuts are caramelized and the sugar has melted. Stir in the
lemon juice and remove from the heat.
2Transfer the nuts to a bowl, and season well with salt and pepper, stirring
to mix. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes, just to
let them dry out. Sprinkle with the remaining brown sugar to taste.
3Serve warm or at room temperature. They will keep in a clean, dry airtight
container for a couple of weeks without spoiling.
Grinding and refreshing spices Grinding your own spices from whole pods and
seeds is so simple it is worth making this a habit. The reward far outweighs any
extra time and effort involved, as freshly ground spices have much better flavor
and aroma than store-bought versions do. Invest in an electric coffee grinder or
a wooden one that has a small drawer. Grind a batch as small or as large as you
want, then sieve to get rid of any tough husks. (Don’t make too large a batch if
you are not going to be using it within a relatively short period of time, as it will
only become stale.) Store the spice mixture in an airtight glass jar with a tightfitting
lid, and use as needed. To refresh ground spices, place the quantity that
you want to use in a dry frying pan or skillet, and heat over low-medium heat
for a couple of minutes until the spice becomes fragrant.

SPINACH À LA BRACONNIÈRE

SPINACH À LA BRACONNIÈRE
Cook two pounds of well−washed spinach; drain it, and pass it through a sieve; or, failing a sieve, chop it very
finely with butter, pepper and salt. Do not add milk, but let it remain somewhat firm. Make a thick bechamel
sauce, sufficient to take up a quarter of a pound of grated Gruyère, and, if you wish, stir in the yolk of a raw
egg. Lay in a circular dish half a pound of minced ham, pour round it the thick white sauce, and round that
again the hot spinach. This makes a pretty dish, and it is not costly.

A DISH OF HARICOT BEANS

A DISH OF HARICOT BEANS
Put the haricots to soak for six hours in cold water. Boil them in water with one carrot, one onion, salt, two
cloves, a good pinch of dried herbs. Drain off the liquor from the haricots. Chop up a shallot, and fry it in
butter; add your haricots, with pepper and salt and tomato purée. Stir well, and serve with minced parsley
scattered at the top.

Salatet bil s’banegh joz Spinach and walnut salad

Serves 4
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
½lb (225g) fresh spinach leaves, rinsed,
stems discarded, and coarsely chopped
¼ cup walnut halves and pieces
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
½ cup Greek-style yogurt
20 fresh mint leaves, coarsely chopped
seeds of ½ pomegranate (see method
on p36)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Heat the olive oil in a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat, and cook
the onion for 4–5 minutes until pale golden. Add the spinach and stir for a
couple of minutes to wilt. Remove from the heat. In a separate pan, dry-roast the
walnuts over medium-high heat for a few minutes, then coarsely chop. Crush
the garlic with a little salt and add to the yogurt.
2Season the spinach with salt and black pepper. Drain off any excess liquid
and place on a serving dish. Pour the yogurt and garlic mixture over the top.
Scatter with walnuts and mint, and garnish with the pomegranate seeds.

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH BEANS

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH BEANS
Halve and empty the tomatoes, and put a few drops of vinegar in each. Cook your beans, whether French
beans or haricots or flageolets, and stir them, when tender, into a good thick bechamel sauce. Let this get cold.
Empty out the vinegar from the tomatoes and fill them with the mixture, pouring over the top some
mayonnaise sauce and parsley.

CABBAGE AND POTATOES

CABBAGE AND POTATOES
Boil the cabbages in salted water till tender. Chop them up. Brown an onion in butter, and add the cabbage,
salt, pepper, and a little water. Slice some potatoes thickly, fry them, and serve the vegetable with cabbage in
the center, and the fried potatoes laid round.

STUFFED CHICORY

STUFFED CHICORY
Make a mince of any cold white meat, such as veal, pork or chicken, and add to it some minced ham; sprinkle
it with a thick white sauce. In the meantime the chicories should be cooking; tie each one round with a thread
to keep them firm and boil them for ten minutes. When cooked, drain them well, open them lengthwise very
carefully, and slip in a spoonful of the mince. Close them, keeping the leaves very neat, and, if necessary, tie
them round again. Put them in a fire−proof dish with a lump of butter on each, and let them heat through.
Serve them in their juice or with more of the white sauce, taking care to remove the threads.

CHICORY À LA FERDINAND

CHICORY À LA FERDINAND
Boil and chop in medium−sized pieces the chicory, mince up a few chives according to your taste and heat
both the vegetables in some cream, adding salt and pepper. Pour on a dish and decorate with chopped hard−
boiled eggs.

APPLES AND SAUSAGES

APPLES AND SAUSAGES
This dish comes from the French border of Belgium; it tastes better than you would think. Take a pound of
beef sausages, and preferably use the small chipolata sausages. (What a delightful thing if the English would
make other kinds of sausages as well as their beef and pork ones!) Fry then your sausages lightly in butter,
look upon them as little beings for a few moments in purgatory before they are removed to heaven, among the
apples. Keeping your sausages hot after they are fried, take a pound of brown pippin apples, pare them and
core them. Cut them into neat rounds quarter of an inch thick, put them to cook in their liquor of the sausages
(which you are keeping hot elsewhere), and add butter to moisten them. Let them simmer gently so as to keep
their shape. Put the apple− rings in the center of the dish, place the sausages round them. This dish uses a
good deal of butter, but you must not use anything else for frying.

CHIPPED POTATOES

CHIPPED POTATOES
Take some long−shaped potatoes, peel them and smooth them with the knife. Cut them into very thin rounds.
Heat the grease pretty hot, dry the slices of potato with a cloth, put them into the frying basket and plunge
them into the fat. When they are colored, take the basket out, let the fat heat up again to a slightly higher
temperature, and re−plunge the basket, so that the slices become quite crisp. Serve with coarse salt sprinkled
over.

Kofte kebab Lamb kebabs with white bean and tomato salad

Serves 4–6
2 garlic cloves, halved
a little olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1lb (450g) ground lamb
handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves,
coarsely chopped
handful of fresh cilantro leaves,
coarsely chopped
½ cup unsalted pistachio nuts,
coarsely chopped
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the salad
1 cup dried cannellini beans
2 garlic cloves, peeled but left whole
½ bunch of flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked
and chopped (stalks reserved)
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
2 ripe tomatoes, cut into ½in (1cm) dice
1To make the salad, soak the beans overnight in a large bowl of cold water.
Drain and rinse under cold running water. Put into a large heavy pot, and
cover with fresh cold water. Add the garlic, reserved parsley stalks, and a splash
of olive oil. Do not add salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for
1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, or until the beans are tender but still
slightly firm to the bite. Drain off the liquid. Stir in the vinegar, extra virgin olive oil,
and cumin to the beans. Season well with salt and pepper. Let sit for about 20
minutes to blend the flavors. Stir in the tomatoes and parsley just before serving.
2To make the kebabs, soak the bamboo skewers in cold water for at least
30 minutes so they do not burn. Crush the garlic with a little salt to make a
paste. Heat a little oil in a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the onion
for 4 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, cumin, paprika, and cayenne, and cook
for a couple of minutes longer, or until fragrant. Remove from the heat, transfer to
a bowl, and let cool for 5 minutes. Add the lamb, parsley, cilantro, and pistachios.
Season well. Mold the lamb mixture onto one end of the skewer, making a cylinder
of meat around roughly half its length. Heat a little oil in a large heavy frying pan
over medium-high heat. Cook the kofte kebabs in batches until golden brown all
over. Drain on paper towels. Serve with the salad and lots of fresh crusty bread.

Lahem bil ajine Lebanese lamb pizza

Makes 15–20
1 recipe of yeast dough (see p164),
kneaded until elastic and shiny
2 tbsp olive oil
4 onions, finely chopped
8 large plum tomatoes
1lb (450g) ground lamb
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp Lebanese spice mix (see p218)
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
1 tsp brown sugar
3½oz (100g) pine nuts
small handful of fresh cilantro,
coarsely chopped
small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley,
coarsely chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Greek-style yogurt or tahini, for serving
lemon wedges, for serving
1Prepare the dough following the instructions on p164. To make the
topping, heat the oil in a large heavy frying pan, sauté pan, or Dutch oven,
over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for 4 minutes until soft but
not too brown.
2Meanwhile, cut the tomatoes in half. Hold one of the halves with the skin side
in the palm of your hand. Using a large grater, grate the flesh of the tomato.
(This is a great way of making tomato pulp without having to blanch and peel the
tomatoes; the skin remains in your hand and can be discarded.) Set aside.
3Add the lamb to the onion mixture, and cook for 4–5 minutes until browned,
breaking up any large pieces of meat with a spatula. Season with the spices
and a good amount of salt and pepper. Add the grated tomato pulp, tomato
purée, pomegranate molasses, and sugar. Cook for another 5 minutes or until any
liquid has evaporated. Stir in the pine nuts, cilantro, and flat-leaf parsley. Taste and
adjust the seasoning as needed. Remove from the heat, and let the mixture cool.
4Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Break the dough off into
15–20 equal-sized balls. Roll each ball into rounds or oval shapes on a
floured work surface. Lightly spread the meat and pine nut filling onto the rolled
pastry, leaving a border around the edge. Place the pizzas on one or more oiled
baking sheets, and bake for 12–15 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and
golden. Serve at once, with a little yogurt or tahini spooned over the top, or
simply served with a wedge of lemon.

Qesbur sharmula hut Coriander marinated fish

Serves 4–6
1 large white firm-fleshed fish such
as bass, snapper, or sea bream
(porgy), about 4½lb (2kg)
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
3 tbsp olive oil
½ cup finely chopped onion
3 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
2 fresh green jalapeño or serrano chilies,
seeded and finely chopped
1 bunch cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
4 lemons
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Clean the inside of the fish and season
with salt and pepper, a little of the garlic, and some of the spices, rubbing
inside and out. Heat a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat and add a little
oil. Cook the fish quickly on both sides until golden brown. Carefully lift from the
pan and place in an ovenproof dish.
2Add a little extra oil to the same frying pan, and cook the remaining garlic
and spices. Add the onion and tomato. Add most of the chopped cilantro,
the green chilies, and the juice of 3 of the lemons. Cook for 3–4 minutes. Stuff
the fish with the onion mixture; spoon any remaining mixture over the fish.
Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes until cooked through,
depending upon the size of the fish. To check, insert a fork into the dense
meat at the back of the head. If the meat is white and flaky, the fish is done.
(Remember, when a piece of fish or meat is taken from the oven, it will
continue to cook from the residual heat.)
3To serve, garnish with the remaining chopped cilantro and the juice of the
remaining lemon. The spices, green chilies, and lemon work together to cut
the richness of the fish. This dish is delicious whether eaten hot, warm, or cold,
accompanied by freshly cooked vegetables and salads, and freshly-baked bread.

POMMES CHÂTEAU

POMMES CHÂTEAU
Take twenty potatoes, turn them with a knife into olive shape, boil them in salted water for five minutes; drain
them and put them on a baking−tin with salt and butter or dripping. Cook them in a very hot oven for thirty
minutes, moving them about from time to time. Sprinkle on a little chopped parsley before serving.

Labneh Yogurt cream cheese dip

Serves 8 as a dip or part of a mezze
3½ cups sheep’s or goat’s milk yogurt
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil
paprika or ground cumin, to garnish
1Place the yogurt in a bowl with the salt. Whisk together to blend. Place
a colander in the sink, and line with a clean fine-weave wet cloth such as
muslin or cheesecloth, or even a finely woven dishcloth. Pour in the yogurt, and
tie the corners of the cloth around the faucet. Let the liquid drain from the cloth
for about 12 hours or overnight.
2To serve, transfer the drained yogurt to a serving bowl. Mix the olive oil, and
scatter a little paprika or cumin over the top as a garnish. Enjoy as a dip
with lots of fresh bread or as one of a number of dishes served mezze-style.
Don’t be deceived by the simple recipe and method; the flavor of the yogurt is
completely transformed.

Shlada al falfla hamra al khizzou Carrot and orange salad with paprika dressing

Serves 4–6
3 tbsp sesame seeds
3 or 4 generous handfuls of arugula or
lettuce leaves
1lb (450g) carrots, peeled and grated
2 oranges, peeled, bitter white pith
removed, and flesh cut into segments
juice of 1 lemon
30 fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves,
coarsely chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Paprika dressing
1 tsp honey
¼ tsp salt
1 tbsp water
½ tsp paprika
1 tsp mustard
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
freshly ground black pepper
1Roast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over medium-high heat for a few
minutes; take care they do not burn. Remove from the heat.
2Arrange the arugula in a bowl with the carrot and orange segments. Season
with salt and pepper. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top, and sprinkle
with the flat-leaf parsley.
3Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid,
add 1 tbsp water, and shake to blend thoroughly. Pour over the salad, and
garnish with the toasted sesame seeds.

Harira Spicy bean soup

Serves 6
½ cup dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
½ cup dried cannellini beans or fava beans
or butter beans
½ cup dried split green peas
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
2 small dried chilies
1 tsp ground cloves
½ tsp cayenne pepper
2in (5cm) piece of fresh ginger, peeled
and grated
3 garlic cloves
olive oil for cooking
1 cinnamon stick
3 onions, finely chopped
8 ripe tomatoes, coarsely grated (see tip
in method on p173)
½ cup red or yellow lentils, picked and rinsed
juice of 1 lemon plus a little extra to finish
½ bunch of fresh cilantro, leaves coarsely
chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Soak the chickpeas and cannellini beans overnight in plenty of cold water.
The split green peas need only be soaked for 2 hours. Drain and rinse the
chickpeas and beans. Put in a large pan, cover with lots of cold water, and add
the baking soda. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat, and simmer
for 40–60 minutes until the beans are cooked, but not mushy. As they are
simmering, skim off any scum that rises to the top. Drain and rinse.
2Meanwhile, using a pestle and mortar, grind the coriander seeds, cumin
seeds, and dried chilies into a fine powder. Add the cloves, cayenne pepper,
ginger, and garlic, and work into a paste. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a heavy pan over
medium-high heat. Add the spice mixture and cinnamon stick. Cook for
2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Reduce the heat to medium, add the
onion, and cook for about 10 minutes until the onion starts to brown. Add the
tomato pulp; cook until any excess liquid has evaporated. Rinse the split green
peas, mix into the tomato mixture with the lentils. Next add 7 cups water. Bring to
a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the rinsed chickpeas
and beans. Mix together. Season well and add the lemon juice. Add half the
cilantro. Let the soup sit off the heat for 5 minutes, then check the seasoning.
3To serve, garnish with the remaining cilantro and a little extra squeeze of
lemon juice. This soup can be eaten hot or warm at any time of the year.

Baba ghanoush Smoky roast eggplant dip

Serves 4–6
3 eggplants
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
pinch of salt
1 tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)
½ tsp cayenne pepper
juice of ½ lemon
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp crème fraîche
or Greek-style yogurt
freshly ground black pepper
1Place the eggplants either directly on a preheated grill or under a very hot
broiler. Roast the eggplants for 10–12 minutes until the skin is blistered and
charred on all sides. Keep turning the eggplants with tongs while they are
cooking. Remove from the heat and place in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and
let cool. (As the eggplants cool, steam is trapped, which in turn continues to
cook the eggplants and helps loosen the charred skin.) When the eggplants are
cool, remove from the bowl and pull away and discard the blackened skin. Cut
the peeled eggplants into chunks.
2Crush the garlic with a pinch of salt. Put the garlic and eggplant flesh into
the food processor. Add the tahini and season with the cayenne, salt, and
pepper. Process until smooth, then add the lemon juice. With the motor running,
gradually add the olive oil in a thin, steady stream to make a paste (similar to
making mayonnaise). When it is all combined, stir in the crème fraîche.
3Check the seasoning. There should be a smoky sweetness from the roasted
eggplant, while the tahini and salt provide a savory component. The lemon
juice and crème fraîche are sour, and the black pepper is hot and peppery. Adjust
the seasoning as necessary. Serve in a bowl as an accompaniment to other
dishes, or as a dip with lots of fresh bread.

GOURMANDS' MUSHROOMS

GOURMANDS' MUSHROOMS
There was a man in Ghent who loved mushrooms, but he could only eat them done in this fashion. If you said,
"Monsieur, will you have them tossed in butter?" he would roar out, "No−−do you take me for a Prussian? Let
me have them properly cooked."
Melt in a pan a lump of butter the size of a tangerine orange and squeeze on it the juice of half a lemon. The
way to get a great deal of juice from a lemon is to plunge it first of all for a few minutes, say five minutes, in
boiling water. When the butter simmers, throw in a pound of picked small mushrooms, stir them constantly,
do not let them get black. Then in three or four minutes they are well impregnated with butter, and the chief
difficulty of the dish is over. Put the saucepan further on the fire, let it boil for a few minutes. Take out the
mushrooms, drain them, sprinkle them with flour, moisten them with gravy, season with salt and pepper, put
them back in the butter and stir in the yolk of an egg. Add also a little of the lemon juice that remains. While
you are doing this you must get another person to cut and toast some bread and to butter it. Pour on to the
bread the mushrooms (which are fit for the greatest saints to eat on Fridays), and serve them very hot.

Fatayer bisabanikh Spinach pastries

Makes 25–30 pastries
For the pastry
2 envelopes (¼oz each) active dry yeast
3½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
For the filling
2lb (900g) spinach, stems discarded,
rinsed, and drained in a colander
1 pomegranate
3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely grated or very finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
¾ cup pine nuts
¾ cup walnuts
1 tsp ground sumac (optional)
juice of 1½ lemons
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1To make the pastry, mix the yeast in a small bowl with a spoonful of the flour
and a small amount of water to make a paste. Stir in ½ cup lukewarm water,
and let sit in a warm place for 10 minutes. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl.
Make a well in the center, add the oil and the yeast mixture, and mix together.
Gradually add another ½ cup lukewarm water until incorporated. Turn the dough
onto a floured surface. Knead for 15 minutes until shiny and elastic. Form into a
ball, and place in a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean
towel. Let rise in a warm place for about 2 hours until it doubles in volume.
2Chop the spinach leaves and squeeze dry. Remove the seeds from the
pomegranate (see tip on p36), and put in a bowl with the juice. Heat the oil
in a heavy pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–5 minutes
until soft. Push to one side of the pan. Add the garlic, pine nuts, and walnuts.
Increase the heat to medium and cook the garlic and nuts until golden brown.
Mix the nuts into the onion mixture, and reduce the heat. Add the spinach and
cook for 2–3 minutes until wilted. Add the sumac (if using), pomegranate seeds,
and lemon juice. Check the seasoning. Remove from the heat and set aside.
3Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Break off the pieces of dough and form
into 25–30 equal-sized balls. Roll into thin discs on a floured work surface.
Put a teaspoon of filling in the center of each disc (don’t include too much liquid).
Bring up the sides of the dough to form a three-sided packet, pinch the edges
together firmly, and place on an oiled baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes,
then reduce the temperature to 350°F (180°C). Bake for 15 minutes longer.

Kebab b’il karaz Lamb meatballs with sour cherry sauce

Serves 6–8
¾ cup pitted dried sour (tart) cherries
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
juice of 1 lemon
For the meatballs
2 garlic cloves, halved and any green inner
shoots removed
2 small dried red chilies, finely chopped
2 tsp ground coriander
pinch of salt
a little olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1lb (450g) ground lamb
½ bunch flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
freshly ground black pepper
1Put the dried cherries in a heavy pan. Add 1 cup water and the sugar and
pomegranate molasses. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer
gently for 30 minutes until the sauce is thick and syrupy. When reduced, add the
lemon juice and taste, adjusting the seasoning if necessary (bearing in mind that
the meatballs will be salty, rich, and peppery-hot).
2Meanwhile, make the meatballs. Crush the garlic, dried chilies, and ground
coriander with a pinch of salt to make a paste. Heat a heavy frying pan over
medium-high heat and add a little olive oil. Cook the paste for about 2 minutes
until fragrant. Add the onion and sauté quickly, stirring, for 4 minutes. Remove
from the heat, and transfer the onion mixture to a bowl with the lamb. Add the
parsley and season well with salt and pepper. Roll the meat into small balls
about the size of cherry tomatoes.
3Heat a clean heavy pan over medium-high heat. Add a little olive oil, and
cook the meatballs in small batches until golden brown all over. Drain on
paper towels. Add the meatballs to the cherry sauce. Cook for a couple of
minutes to blend the flavors. Serve as part of a large meal, as one of many
dishes of simple grilled and marinated meats, vegetables, with lots of bread.
Sour cherries The fresh sour cherries that are traditionally used for this dish
are of such good quality that they are a bit difficult to come by unless you have
a good Persian, Iranian, Turkish, or Lebanese grocer nearby. Dried sour cherries
make a perfect substitute and are available from supermarkets.

Dzhazh garfa pilaf bil iluz Eastern jeweled pilaf with cinnamon and almonds

Serves 8
¼ cup olive oil
3 cinnamon sticks
6 green cardamom pods
10 black peppercorns
3 onions, finely chopped
1 cup tomato juice
2 medium chickens, each disjointed into at
least 4 pieces
3 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed
½ tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cardamom
1½ tbsp butter
½ cup almonds
½ cup raisins
¼ cup chopped dates
½ tsp saffron threads, crushed
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Preheat the broiler until medium-hot. Heat a heavy pan over medium-high
heat and add 1 tbsp of the olive oil. Add the whole spices—cinnamon sticks,
cardamom pods, and peppercorns—and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring,
until fragrant. Add about one-third of the onion and cook until soft and barely
golden. Add the tomato juice and 3½ cups water, season with salt, and bring to
a boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and add the chicken pieces; cook
gently for about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken from the broth, sprinkle the
chicken with half the ground spices, and set aside.
2Pour the rice into the broth. Cook over high heat until the liquid is almost
absorbed, then reduce heat to low and continue cooking until tender.
Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, until needed.
3Place the chicken on a baking sheet, and cook, turning once, under the
broiler until golden brown all over. In a separate frying pan, melt half the
butter and fry the almonds until golden brown. Transfer to a small bowl. Cook
the raisins and dates in the same pan. When soft, add to the almonds. Melt the
remaining butter, and cook the remaining onion until golden brown. Add the rest
of the ground spices and the saffron to the onion. Season with salt and pepper.
4To serve, stir the onion mixture into the rice with half the almond and fruit
mixture. Place the rice in a dish with the chicken pieces on top. Scatter
the remaining almond and fruit mixture over the top.

STUFFED CAULIFLOWER

STUFFED CAULIFLOWER
Pick over a fine cauliflower, and plunge it for a moment in boiling water. Look over it well again and remove
any grit or insects. Put it head downwards in a pan when you have already placed a good slice of fat bacon at
the bottom and sides. In the holes between the pan and the vegetable put a stuffing of minced meat, with
breadcrumbs, yolks of eggs, mushrooms, seasoning of the usual kinds, in fact, a good forcemeat. Press this
well in, and pour over it a thin gravy. Let it cook gently, and when the gravy on the top has disappeared put a
dish on the top of the saucepan, turn it upside down and slip the cauliflower out. Serve very hot.

Salatet semsum Sesame salad

Serves 6 as part of a mezze
1 garlic clove
large pinch of sea salt
½ cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 tbsp white vinegar
3 cucumbers, cut into small cubes
4 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced
30 flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
½ tsp coarse-ground black pepper
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
juice of ½ lemon
2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
1Crush the garlic with the salt until smooth. Add the tahini, and stir in the
white vinegar until the mixture reaches the consistency of yogurt. Stir in the
cucumber, scallions, parsley, and pepper. Add the remaining olive oil and the
lemon juice, tossing gently to mix.
2Serve alongside kofte kebab or grilled chicken, garnished
with the toasted sesame seeds.

COOKED LETTUCE

COOKED LETTUCE
Very often you will find that you cannot use all your lettuces, that they have begun to bolt and are no good for
salad. This is the moment to cook them. Discard any bad leaves and wash the others carefully. Boil them for
twelve minutes, take them off the fire, drain them and dry them in a clean cloth so as to get rid of all the
water. Mince them finely, then put them into a saucepan with a lump of butter, pepper and salt. Stir till they
begin to turn color, then put in a thimbleful of flour melted in milk. Stir constantly, and if the vegetable
becomes dry, moisten with more flour and milk. Let it simmer for quarter of an hour, and turn it out as a
vegetable with meat.

Salatet kousa Zucchini salad

Serves 4–6
21⁄4lb (1kg) small zucchini, ends trimmed
(they should be not much longer than a
man’s index finger)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tsp paprika
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp chili powder
3 tbsp lemon juice
30 flat-leaf parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Cut the zucchini into quarters lengthwise. (Do not use zucchini that are
too thick because the inside will not be firm, but rather full of watery seeds. If
small zucchini are not available, cut the outside flesh away from the central core
of the zucchini and discard the central core of seeds.)
2Heat a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Add a little oil and cook
the zucchini in batches until golden brown on both sides. (Cooking in
batches helps to ensure that the temperature of the pan does not drop, which
would result in the vegetables steaming or boiling in their own juices. Also, do
not overcook, otherwise the zucchini will be soggy.)
3Meanwhile, crush the garlic with a little salt and combine with the spices,
the remaining olive oil, and the lemon juice. Place the cooked zucchini in
a bowl, and cover with the dressing. Let sit for 1 hour to blend flavors before
serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, then garnish with the parsley.
Serve with grilled meat or fish, or as part of a selection of mezze to start the meal.

Turshi zardak Carrot pickle

Makes 4 large jars
1 tbsp olive oil
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 fresh red jalapeño or serrano chilies,
seeded and finely chopped
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground allspice
6½lb (3kg) carrots, peeled and finely grated
2½ cups sugar
2 cups malt vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Heat the oil in a heavy Dutch oven or other large saucepan over mediumhigh
heat for 2–3 minutes. Add the garlic and chilies, and cook for a couple
of minutes until fragrant. Sprinkle in the cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander, and
allspice. Cook for another minute or two. Add the carrot, sugar, and vinegar, and
simmer gently over low heat for 40 minutes to 1 hour, or until the excess liquid
has evaporated and the mixture is thick and syrupy. Season with salt and pepper.
The pickle should be hot and spicy, but sweet with a pronounced sourness.
2Spoon the pickle into sterilized glass jars with tight-fitting lids. Seal while the
pickle is still hot, to create a vacuum. Let sit at least 24 hours for the flavors
to blend before using. Store in a cool, dark place.

Fattoush Toasted pita bread salad

Serves 4–6
2 large pita bread, broken into pieces and
toasted lightly
juice of about 1½ lemons
2 garlic cloves
4 ripe plum tomatoes, halved, seeded, and
cut into ½in (1cm) dice
1 cucumber, halved, seeded, and cut into
½in (1cm) dice
1 tbsp ground sumac (available in
Middle Eastern markets)
4 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced
handful of fresh arugula leaves
½ bunch of flat-leaf parsley leaves
½ bunch of mint leaves
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1Place the toasted bread pieces in a large bowl. Add the juice of ½ lemon,
and season well with salt and pepper.
2Crush the garlic cloves with a little salt until you have a smooth purée. In
a small bowl, combine the tomato and cucumber with the garlic purée.
Season with salt and pepper, the sumac, and some more lemon juice. Add to the
toasted bread, along with the scallions, arugula, parsley, and mint. Drizzle in the
olive oil and toss gently to mix.
3Taste the salad, adding more lemon if needed. It should be sour from the
lemon juice and peppery hot from the arugula and seasoning. The tomatoes
and cucumber will be sweet, and the sumac is a grand spice that is purple in
color and provides an essential lemony, peppery element to the flavor of the
salad. Serve at once, as the lemon juice will begin to discolor the greens.

ASPARAGUS À L'ANVERS

ASPARAGUS À L'ANVERS
Clean a bunch of asparagus and cook it in salt water for fifteen minutes. To do this successfully, tie the bunch
round with some tape and place it upright in a pan of boiling water. Let the heads be above the water so that
they will get cooked by the steam and will not be broken. Simmer in this way to prevent them moving much.
Meanwhile, hard−boil three eggs and chop some parsley. Lay the asparagus on a dish and sprinkle parsley
over it, place round the sides the eggs cut in halves long−ways, and serve as well a sauce−boat of melted
butter.

RED CABBAGE

RED CABBAGE
Take half a red cabbage of medium size, chop it very finely and put it in a pan; add a little water, salt, and
pepper, three or four potatoes cut in fine slices and five lumps of sugar. Let it all simmer for two hours with
the lid on. Then take off the cover and let it reduce. Before serving it, add either a bit of fat pork or some
gravy, with a dessert− spoonful of vinegar. Stir it well before sending it to table.