Middle East and North Africa

Turkey & Sweet Potato Kibbe

emma — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:50:37 -0500

This healthy Middle Eastern recipe reflects the way that Arab migrations influenced the cuisine of the Americas. Kibbe (Kippe) is popular in many Latin American countries, especially Mexico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. It is a mixture of lamb and bulgur, which is then shaped into footballs and fried. However, it can take the form of a pie, which makes it easy on the home cook. We make this Thanksgiving version with sweet potatoes and ground turkey. We also include spices that are prevalent in the Mexican and Eastern Mediterranean kitchen. This is an easy recipe that can be eaten throughout the Fall and Winter seasons.

½ medium onion, roughly chopped
1 lb ground dark turkey meat
¾ cup fine bulgur (cracked wheat), rinsed
1 sweet potato, baked or boiled, and peeled
½ tsp salt
Black Pepper
½ tsp chile ancho powder
½ tsp cumin
¼ tsp cinnamon
This recipe is very fast, yet rich in flavor. In a food processor, puree the onion. Add the turkey meat and seasonings, puree. Then add the bulgur and puree until it is totally combined.
In a separate bowl, mash the sweet potato well with a fork or a potato masher. Add to the food processor and puree.
Transfer to a 10” spring form cake pan and bake at 375ºF for 30-40 minutes.
Serve with the Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce

Turkey and Sweet Potato Kibbe

emma — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:57:42 -0500

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.

Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce with Jalapeño

emma — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:53:28 -0500

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!

Chocolate Pomegranate Yogurt Cake

emma — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:48:15 -0500

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.

Read this book: Arab/American By Gary Nabhan

emma — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:39:52 -0500

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.

How To Open a Pomegranate

emma — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:31:09 -0500

This is a simple trick for getting the seeds out of a pomegranate.

The Fairuz Sundae

emma — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:55:10 -0400

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.

Halloumi Bundles of Love

admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:29:06 -0400

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.

Za'atar Chicken Kebabs

admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:27:51 -0400

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.