Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Maha Salah
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Amardeen, watermelon and halloumi salad, and fish
Amardeen, a drink made from dried apricots, is a staple in Ramadan. Amardeen is basically a fruit leather usually produced in Syria and exported all over the world....
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Ouzi surar
Ouzi is a dish that looks fancy, complicated and time consuming, but it isn’t. I love this because you can make guests feel really special without having to spend hours in the kitchen, so it’s really a win-win situation. This is mainly a Syrian dish, although it is said...
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Kifta bil tahini
I suggest you dive into it armed with some hot pitta bread or rice and some olives or pickles and enjoy!...
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Maklouba
It's usually served to guests upside down on a serving platter, and if you are confident enough, you can flip it over at the table and give your guests a show!...
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Sahlab
Hi, I’m Maha Salah from Middle East Monitor, and today I’m going to show you how to make Sahlab....
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Koshari
This is one of the most famous Egyptian dishes, made of pasta, rice and lentils, topped with fried onions and a spicy tomato sauce. ...
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Makaronah bil laban
You’ll have it ready before any food can be delivered and, better yet, you won’t feel guilty after eating it!...
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Layali libnan
I make this dish and remember late summer night family gatherings in the Middle East and this cooling dessert....
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Batata mahshiyeh
Almost every culture has their version of meat and potatoes, and this is the Middle East’s version. This form of the dish is mostly made in the Levant, but other areas do their own form and style of batata mahshiyeh, which literally translates to stuffed potatoes. The dish is...
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Basbousa
This recipe definitely takes me back to my grandmother’s house. Every time I make it, I can hear her yelling at us to stop eating it straight from the pan...
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Spicy chicken and sausage tray bake
The best part of this dish is that all of these ingredients can be thrown into a tray, even in advance if you like, and left to cook on their own...
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Ras al-hanout spiced lamb chops
For a quick and easy dinner that can feed 1 or a crowd, try these delicious lamb chops. I guarantee they are better than any takeaway you’ll pick up!...
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Date squares
If there were one universal ingredient used in the Middle East, it would have to be dates. The region is full of an amazing variety of dates and it is no wonder they are used in so many dishes, both sweet and savoury. We all have our family holiday...
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Kharshouf mahshi
Middle Eastern food seems to be a series of some delicious form of stuffed vegetable, and this recipe is no exception. ...
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Warbat
I love how these pastries, mostly made in the Levant and served at weddings and graduations, are super easy and quick. They are absolutely perfect for dinner parties because they can be made one or two days in advance and baked immediately before eating. The extra fine semolina used...
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Shakriya
Let me start off by saying this is one of my absolute favourite dishes. It takes me straight to my grandmother’s house and is the definition of comfort food for me. Although this is most famously a Syrian dish, some Jerusalemites (like my grandmother) make it regularly. The...
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Warak dawali
Just like most Arab dishes, the way grape leaves are prepared differs not only from one country to another, but also from one household to another. Even the name of the dish is different, as Palestinians and Jordanians call it warak dawali or warak enab (warak is the Arabic word for leaves while dawali is Arabic for grape vine and enab is Arabic for...
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Fatteh baitenjan
Fatteh is a classic Levantine dish that usually involves pieces of bread that are toasted, fried, stale, or fresh then covered with other ingredients. The name is derived from the Arabic word meaning crushed or crumbs while baitenjan is Arabic for aubergine. Every country, and even every household, makes...
