COOKING SHOW
This thanksgiving we merge the flavors of the old and new worlds. Kibbe is a traditional Middle Eastern dish that is also popular in Mexico and Latin America, we use thanksgiving favorites turkey and sweet potatoes in this version and top it with frizzled shallots, toasted pine nuts and a cranberry pomegranate sauce.
COOKING SHOW
This Thanksgiving try our version of Cranberry Sauce, which includes pomegranates and jalapeno. It is a little bit sweet, a little bit tart, and a little bit spicy. Pomegranates are from the Old World, and made their way over to the Americas, and cranberries were eaten by Native Americans in the Northeastern United States. They combine perfectly for a Thanksgiving sauce!
COOKING SHOW
Chocolate is one of the many foods that the world gained from the discovery of America. It was sacred to the pre-Colombian peoples, and is worshipped around the world to this day. So many cultures use chocolate as a way of celebration, and this cake is just that. We combined nutty tahini and sour pomegranate molasses to achieve a complex and moist, yet simple-to-make chocolate cake. The garnish makes it look extra festive, so be sure to include the cream, pistachios, and pomegranate seeds.
TASTY TIP
Arab/American by Gary Nabhan looks at the cultural traditions that Arabs from Spain brought with them to Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Read about wrangling camels in the American desert, vocabulary used by the cowboys that originated in Arabic and native plants exchanged between deserts.
COOKING SHOW
This sundae is inspired by our favorite Lebanese singer Fairuz. For her sundae we take pistachio ice cream and layer it with stewed cherries and a creamy chocolate tahini sauce that has been flavored with a hint of cardamom.
COOKING SHOW
This Middle Eastern dessert highlights some of Nizar Qabbani's memories of his Damascene garden growing up. Halloumi cheese is great, not only because of its delicious taste, but also because it can withstand a lot of heat without melting. The burma dough, which is sold as kataifi in the U.S., creates a nice crunchy texture that contrasts exquisitely with the cheese. The jasmine honey reminds us of the Damscene gardens where Nizar grew up.
COOKING SHOW
You can easily bake or broil these healthy chicken kebabs in the oven for a result similar to a grill. Grilled meats are a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. While reminiscing about Damascus, Nizar Qabbani talks about the za'atar sandwiches his mother used to make for him. Za'atar is a spice blend that exists throughout the eastern Mediterranean region, although varying slightly from country to country. Here is my version, which has a lot of fresh thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds.
