Fish gyro/shawarma: This is a most delectable way to prepare fresh tuna fish. Somehow, it is a modified version of beef shawarma, without all the fat of meat. At only 290 calories per sandwich, each gyro is a pocketful of nutrients, packed with cholesterol-fighting niacin, antioxidant selenium, and a 200% daily value of vitamin B12—especially […]

So this is how a recipe evolves: my mom usually grills salmon with pomegranate sauce–one of our favorite ways of preparing this pink goodness. Then one day, we started adding some cracked black pepper, along with a pinch of allspice. Perfect. We recommended this recipe to my uncle, who, in turn, tells us to try […]

I have a special connection with this food: the first time my daughter said “yummm” was when she bit her earliest teeth into this sublime little thing. At that time, I was constantly devising new techniques to sneak in as many whole grains, proteins, and veggies together in one finger food. And this one was […]

Ok, so there may be a blessing in disguise here… While countless kitchens feature their own versions of killer banana breads, I find this version one good reason to go bananas–literally! I made a slight variation from my original gluten-free banana bread recipe, which turned out to make a whole world of difference–especially for ardent […]

I regard this as a precious endangered culinary specie. To my greatest dismay, I’m not sure whether this dish is popular in many areas of the Levantine region, as we tend to see it as “Grandma’s food”, tucked away somewhere in an ancient, aromatic kitchen in a countryside village. We don’t find it on many […]

This must be one of the best savory vegan creations in the kitchen–a crispy surface hiding a soft, chewy texture within amidst a herbaceous, nutty steam. One bite and you know that with the nutritional benefits equaling the taste in greatness, it must be too good to be true. But it’s a real deal! And what’s […]

Without cheese, wine may not really be your cup of tea (pardon the pun), but before finding yourself in the rut of a pining, craving vegan, it might be worth dishing out some other options–as an homage to fromage, of course. But this is no culinary doppelganger. There have been numerous attempts at making vegan […]

So what’s in a leaf? Well, technically, we all know that leafy greens are good for us, and we end up grooming them up for salads, stews, and stir fries. But how exactly is this particular leafy green beneficial? But first, let’s identify this leaf. In the Middle East, it is known as “Molokhia” or “Mloukhieh”, which […]

A dainty and enticing appetizer (or main, if you wish), this savory millefeuille features a unique combination of sweet and smoky—the sweetness coming from the apricot jam, blending into the light creamy cheese and pairing up with the oak-smoked salmon. The toasted pastry also makes a delightful crunchy start to any meal, and the peaty […]

Healthy Pumpkin Cake (Gluten-free, dairy-free) I borrow a line or two from my literary background and bring it into the kitchen from time to time. One that I found particularly useful the moment it fell on me came from W.B. Yeats (who, I’m sure, was completely unaware of his line’s bizarre culinary future):  “If there is a […]