Lentil With Dough

This is one of the very delicious Syrian appetizer, The receipe is for 5 person and require 2h between preparation and cooking.

Ingredients :

¤ 1 1/2 cups brown lentils
¤ 8 cups water
¤ 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
¤ 2 large onions, chopped (1/2 cup)
¤ 1 cup finely chopped fresh coriander
¤ 1/2 cup lemon juice
¤ 1 cup olive oil
¤ 2 tablespoon pomegranate thickened juice
¤ 1 head garlic, crushed with a dash of salt
¤ 1/2 cup vegetable oil
¤ 1/2 teaspoon of salt
¤ a dash of ground allspice

Steps :


1 - Dough: Put flour with 1/2 cup of water and some salt in a bowl. Knead dough and leave for 2 hours then sprinkle flour over it.
2 - Roll out the dough on a floured surface, till it becomes as thin as possible and round shaped. Fold about 7 cm at one end. Sprinkle flour and fold another 7 cm, same side. Repeat until dough is all layers.
3 - Cut dough into small squares then open them. Put half the quantity in a flat dish. Fry the other half in 1/4 cup of hot vegetable oil until golden. Use to garnish at the end.
4 - Lentil mixture:
5 - Pick small stones or dirt from lentils then wash lentils well, and place in a heavy pan with water. Bring to a boil. Cook on medium heat for 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Add lemon juice, pomegranate juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
6 - Fry sliced onions with 1/4 cup of vegetable oil until golden. Add half the quantity of onions to lentils.
7 - Fry in vegetable oil crushed garlic, coriander and add half the quantity to the lentils.
8 - Add unfried dough squares to lentil mixture. Keep stirring till dough is cooked (about 20 minutes).
9 - Serve hot or cold, garnished with fried onions, coriander and fried dough pieces.

Biryani Rice

Biryani Rice is one of the classic and popular rice dishes, perfect for lunches, buffets, and suppers alike. The receipe is for 5 persons, and require about 1h30 between preparation and cooking.

Ingredients :

¤ 1/2 kg (16 oz) shoulder meat, cubed
¤ 2 cups long grain rice (Basmati),washed
¤ 3/4 cup chopped onion
¤ 2 tablespoon shortening or butter
¤ 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, soaked in 1/4 cup of water
¤ 1 teaspoon ground dried coriander
¤ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¤ 1 teaspoon ground ginger
¤ 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
¤ 4 cups chicken stock
¤ salt (as desired)
¤ 2 bay leaves
¤ 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
¤ 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
¤ 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh coriander
¤ 2 tablespoon butter
¤ 1/2 cup fried onion rings, for garnish
¤ 60 g (2 oz) roasted cashew nuts
¤ 1/2 cup seeded raisins

Steps :

1 - Heat shortening in a pot over low heat. Stir in onions until golden.
2 - Stir in meat. Add coriander (dried and fresh), bay leaves, and spices (except saffron). Stir until meat becomes golden.
3 - Remove bay leaves. Add salt, saffron, chicken stock, and rice to the same pot (stock level should be 5 cm higher than rice level). Add butter. Cover pot. Cook over low heat until tender (and water evaporates).
4 - Mix mixture with a spoon. To serve, line a large serving platter with rice-meat mixture, sprinkle fried onion rings, cashew nuts and sultanas. Serve hot.

Mansaf, Official meal in Jordan

Last year jordanian friend invited me for a Mansaf, it was really a great meal !! Thanks to Iram for sharing this receipe with us, I'm sure that you'll love it.

Ingredients :

salt
pepper
1 kilo lamb, cubed
1/4 cup semne
1 teaspoon mixed Arabic spices
2 onions, chopped

Sauce Ingredients :

3 tablespoons cornstarch.
1/3 cup water.
3 cups yoghurt.
very thin Arabic bread(sajj).
1/4 cup parsley, chopped.
5 cups cooked plain rice.

Garnish:

browned pine nuts.


Steps :

Saute the lamb in the semne, sprinkle some salt and pepper and 1/2 teaspoon spices.
When the lamb cubes are little bit browned, remove them from the pan and cook the onions until softened in the same semne.
Return the meat to the pan, sprinkle with the remaining spices, and cover with water.
Keep them until they boil, then cover and keep until the meat gets well-done(about 2 hours).
Remove the foam and drain off all but 1/2 cup of broth.
Stabilize the yoghurt by dissolving the cornstarch in the water then adding it to the yoghurt, slowly bring it to the boil, stirring in one direction only, reduce the flame and keep it uncovered for 3 minutes.
Pour it slowly into the pot of meat.
Add the parsley and keep it over very low heat for a few minutes to blend the spices.
Sprinkle some salt and pepper if you want, and add a bit more broth if desired.
Toast the bread by putting it into a hot oven for 2 minutes.
Arrange the bread on a large platter and cover with the rice.
Put the lamb pieces over the rice and pour the yoghurt sauce over all.
Garnish with lots of pine nuts.

Remark: The original yoghurt for the Mansaf recipe is called (Jameed) but if you could not find it you can use the yoghurt recipe mentioned above instead.

Spinach Soup

This is the second receipe for today, I picked a Spinach Soup, A nutritious soup rich with minerals. Also for Ramadhan many preper to have a soup with the dinner. The receipe is for 4 persons and require about 1h for preparation and cooking.

Ingredients :

¤ 250 g (8oz) finely chopped trimmed spinach, washed and drained
¤ 6 cups water
¤ 10 kibbi balls baked for 10 minutes in a moderate heat oven
¤ 2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh coriander
¤ 1 teaspoon salt
¤ a dash of ground allspice
¤ 2 tablespoon shortening or butter
¤ 1 medium onion, finely chopped
¤ 3 cloves garlic, crushed with a dash of salt
¤ 1 tablespoon rice

Steps :

1 - Fry onion with shortening until soft. Stir in spinach.
2 - Place water in a pot. Add spinach mixture and spices.
3 - Stir mixture occasionally until it boils. Add rice. Cook for 15 minutes.
4 - Fry garlic and parsley with shortening for 5 minutes. Add to soup.
5 - Add kibbi balls to soup. Cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Serve hot.

Kabsah Or the Saudi Arabian Rice and Meat

If you visit to Saudi Arabia don't forget to try the traditional Kabsa, the main meal in the country. There is many variant of Kabsa such Mandi, Madhbi, Madfouna, Madhghoot most of them differ from the way to prepare the chicken or meat and the rice is different for each meal ... but this receipe is maybe the most common kabsa. I'll try to post in the future more receipes for other Kabsa variants. This receipe is for 10 persons and require about 3h30 for preparation and cooking.

Ingredients :

¤ 2 1/2 kg (80 oz) lamb leg or shoulder meat, large cubes
¤ 4 cups long grain rice
¤ 1/2 kg (16 oz) carrots, peeled and finely chopped
¤ 1 green pepper, seeded and finely chopped
¤ 1/2 kg (16 oz) green peas
¤ 1 kg (32 oz) red tomatoes, peeled and chopped
¤ 1 kg (32 oz) finely chopped onion
¤ 1 medium sized garlic head, peeled and crushed
¤ 1/2 teaspoon ground saffron
¤ 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
¤ 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¤ 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
¤ 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
¤ 1 tablespoon salt
¤ shortening for frying
¤ Fried almonds and pine nuts for garnishing

¤ Sauce:
¤ 2 cups meat stock
¤ 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
¤ 2 large tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
¤ 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
¤ 1 tablespoon tomato paste
¤ 1/4 cup chopped celery
¤ 1 teaspoon salt (as desired)
¤ 2 tablespoons shortening

Steps :

1 - Fry meat pieces till brown from both sides. Cover with water, bring to a boil then cook gently over medium heat for 2 hours or till tender. Reserve stock.
2 - Soak rice for 15 minutes. Drain, wash well, then drain again.
3 - Add shortening to a pot, fry on medium heat all ingredients except rice and meat. Cook on low heat for about 10 minutes, or until tender.
4 - Add rice to vegetables in pot, stir fry for 4 minutes on medium heat. Add stock meat until stock covers rice. Cover pot. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes or until tender.
5 - Serve rice in a large platter. Garnish with meat, almonds, and pine nuts.

6 - Sauce:
7 - Fry onion, garlic and tomato in shortening. Add tomato paste, salt, cinnamon and meat stock.
8 - Cook mixture on medium heat. When it thickens, add celery.
9 - Serve the sauce beside the Kapse platter.

Moroccan Chicken Pie

One of the best Maroccan main meals the Chicken Pie, to be served hot !! The receipe is for 4 persons and need 1h for preparation and cooking.

Ingredients :
¤ 16 sheets filo pastry
¤ 1 kg (32 oz) medium sized chicken, cut into 8 pieces
¤ 4 hard boiled eggs, halved
¤ 1/4 cup oil
¤ 1 kg (32 oz) onion, sliced into rings
¤ 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
¤ 1/2 teaspoon salt
¤ 3 cinnamon sticks
¤ 1 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
¤ 1/4 cup icing sugar
¤ 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (for garnishing)
¤ 2 tablespoon butter


Steps :
1 - Fry the chicken in oil with onion, cinnamon, salt and ginger.
2 - Add boiling water to cover ingredients. Cook over medium heat for 45 minutes till chicken is tender. Remove bones from it. Put chicken meat aside.
3 - Add parsley to stock. Simmer over low heat till it thickens.
4 - Brush a baking dish with butter and place 8 sheets of filo pastry in the dish. Brush filo with butter. Spread chicken, onion, parsley sauce, and the halved eggs over filo in dish. Place the other 8 sheets on top. Brush with butter.
5 - Bake on middle shelf in a moderate heat oven (180°C) till golden brown. Garnish with icing sugar and cinnamon.
6 - Serve hot.

Tunisian Salad

Tunisian Salad is the most popular in Tunisia for its ease to prepare. The receipe is for 5 persons and take just 5 minutes.

Ingredients :
¤ 2 red bell peppers, finely chopped
¤ 2 green bell peppers, finely chopped
¤ 2 cucumbers, finely chopped
¤ 1 spring onion, finely chopped
¤ 2 medium tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
¤ a dash of salt
¤ a dash of ground white pepper
¤ 1/2 cup lemon juice
¤ 1/4 cup olive oil

Steps :
1 - Mix well all the above ingredients. Serve immediately.

Humus or Chickpeas Puree

As you have requested in the forum, here is again the number one appetizer in the middle east : Humus or Chickpeas Puree. Receipt is for 4 persons and need just 20 minutes of preparation. Check also the previous Hummus receipe, even that I find this one more detailed and better explained !

Ingredients :
¤ 1 cup cooked or canned chickpeas
¤ 1/2 teaspoon salt
¤ 2 cloves garlic, crushed with a pinch of salt
¤ 1/4 cup lemon juice
¤ 2 tablspoon sesame paste
¤ 2 tablspoon parsley, finely chopped
¤ 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Steps :
1 - Drain warm chickpeas and reserve 1 tablspoon. Beat chickpeas in a food processor.
2 - Blend chickpeas with sesame paste, lemon juice, crushed garlic, and salt into a purée. Adjust flavor and consistency with lemon juice and salt if necessary (Hummus should be thick and smooth).
3 - Serve in Hummus bowls. Pour olive oil in center and garnish with the reserved chickpeas, chopped parsley and cumin.

Shawarma

One of the most popular arabic dishes especially in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey too, spread out around the world ! It is best eaten as sandwich. The preparation and cooking are about 2h30 and the receipe below is for 5 to 8 persons.

Ingredients:

¤ 1 kg (64 oz)fillets cut into strips (7 cm length 3 cm thickness)
¤ 200 g (7 oz) finely minced fat
¤ 2 large onions, peeled and sliced
¤ 1/4 cup vegetable oil
¤ 1/2 cup vinegar
¤ 1/2 tablespoon salt
¤ 1 tablespoon ground 7 spices for Shawarma (Lebanese spice)
¤ a dash of ground mastic
¤ 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
¤ 1 teaspoon cardamom pods

Steps :
1 - Soak sliced meat in 7 spices, salt, cardamom, mastic, nutmeg, vinegar, and oil for one night.
2 - Fry fat in a heavy pan on medium heat. When it melts, add meat. Stir until golden. Add onion, cover and leave on low heat for 40 minutes or until tender.
3 - Serve Shawarma hot with mint leaves, "taratour" and tomato slices

Lebanese Food Parsley Salad Or Tabbouleh

I agree that I wasn't very active on this blog, but I have some good news that we'll be moving very soon to a better website and certainly more receipes and forum to discuss arabic food in general. Today I wanted to introduce a very known lebanese food called "Tabbouleh". The most famous lebanese salad, made of parsley, tomato, mint and burghul. The receipe serves 5 persons and took about 40 minutes for preparation.

Ingredients

1/4 cup burghul, fine cracked wheat
2 cups finely chopped parsley

1/2 kg (16 oz) firm red tomatoes, washed and finely chopped

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon salt (as desired)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

a dash of all spice (as desired)

Steps

Wash chopped mint and parsley then drain well.

Wash the burghul several times and drain. Soak it in chopped tomatoes for 20 minutes.

Rub chopped onion with salt. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Add olive oil and lemon juice, toss the mixture well.

Serve Tabbouleh with crisp cos lettuce leaves, or fresh cabbage leaves.

Humus receipe

Humus have received the highest demand, so I wanted to start with the humus receipe. This is the ingredients to prepare :

• Tahini (1 tablespoon)
• one can of chickpeas
• one garlic clove
• some vegetable oil
• some water
• salt
• lemon juice

You can find tahini at asian shops, it is sesame seed paste. for convenience, to be more economical get your dried chickpeas, soak overnight, skim off any froth, and boil for two hours. Now you have the ingredients ready chuck the chickpeas, water, salt, lemon, garlic, Tahini and some of the oil in an electric blender, blend away, adding the oil, slowly, until the paste is just as chunky or as smooth as you like it. Taste as you go, adjusting the ingredients as required.


That's all, and your humus is ready, What makes different a humus from another it the amount used for each ingredient, it is not very detailed here but you can try a little of tahini and adjust ingredients until you get the best humus !

Welcome to the Arabic Food blog

Greetings all, Our community is becomming more and more larger everyday and I think it would be great if we had a blog and some good content about arabic food. You'll find here specially receipes, cooking ideas, ingredients and everything that could interest you. So I'd love to hear opinions and suggestions.

I'll post also picts from my mobile about food I do or I just like, yes sometimes I love to spend some time in kitchen cooking.

Everyone is welcome to post on this blog, to join us drop me a message to arabicfood @ gmail.com and I'll send you an invite to join Arabic Food blog.