Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin
Summer is now in full swing over here in Berlin and I am kicking off the season with the perfect recipe for some al fresco dining – a Courgette, Feta and Tahini Dip! I am a huge fan of Middle Eastern food for its exciting flavours, use of fresh vegetables and it’s all things spice. I can eat Mezze all year but it feels that little bit more special during the summer months. I think it is because you can cook just a few items then pile a load of olives…
Sometimes I wonder what we all did before the likes of Yotam Ottolenghi introduced us to the delights of Middle Eastern cuisine. This baked eggs dish works just as well for dinner as it does for breakfast and is a pure joy to eat! It is also incredibly cheap and easy to make that it is no surprise it remains as one of the worlds most popular foods. In fact, I am sure there are students out there wondering why on earth Delia didn’t introduce this low-cost, super-fast dish back in the 80s when her recipes were geared towards simple and easy, so that their parents could hand this one down….
The last month or so I have been blogging more and more Mezze recipes and sharing my love for this delicious style of eating. I am constantly influenced by Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours and I am always finding new ways and styles to cook with different and exciting ingredients. And while I am pleased that my list of Mezze recipes are becoming varied, meaning that we don’t have the same small plates each time we want a little of that fresh and vibrant influence in our kitchen, they can get a little on the heavy side when wanting to make all of your favourite dishes…
I am a huge fan of Tabbouleh! There is no shortage of good quality Middle Eastern food here in Berlin and a well made tabbouleh has long been a favourite of mine. And while Berlin might be famous for it’s Döner Kebabs and slightly bland, cheap take out’s that serve cheap and greasy falafel, it is actually very easy to also find the good quality places! Babel, a laid-back Lebanese restaurant that serves the most delicious hummus and falafel plates or halloumi wraps is my favourite, especially on a warm summer evening….
I have made no secret of my love for Middle Eastern food. It is one of the most vibrant and delicious cuisines out there. The use of fresh spices and herbs such as turmeric and coriander and the heat from the chillies and paprika make for the most wonderful of seasonings for good quality meat and vegetables. I love the use of chunky, fat aubergines all ready to soak up plenty of olive oil. I am also a big fan of the sweet and spicy taste that you often get with Middle Eastern food, for example by using dates or sultanans…
I have made no secret of my love for Middle Eastern food. It is one of the most vibrant and delicious cuisines with a real taste of the spicy and sweet mix. Almonds and pistachios cooked with apricots and sultanas, slow roasted meats such as lamb cooked in tagines with roasted peppers, fresh spices, seasoned with plenty of chillies and all with plenty of heat and flavour. My personal favourite is an Iranian pilaf rice dish. Cooked rice seasoned with nuts and fruits and plenty of spices …
You just can’t beat the sweet and spicy taste you get from a tagine. It is also a great way to use up any leftover meats. A Turkey Tagine is the perfect dish to use up any leftover turkey and you can easily add any chicken from a Sunday Roast. Middle Eastern food is one of my favourite cuisines. I love the use of fresh spices such as turmeric, cumin and coriander and delicious vegetables such as aubergines and juicy tomatoes, seasoned with paprika and preserved lemons, the use of nuts such as almonds and pistachios …
A Turkey Tagine is a great way to freshen up all those leftovers. I am a big fan of Middle Eastern food. It is fresh, vibrant and full of flavour. It is also wholesome, rich, aromatic yet still healthy – it is no wonder that in recent years Middle Eastern cusine has become increasingly popular. Hummus, falafel, fattoush, baba ganoush and pitta are just a few of my favourite things! A plate of hummus (and not your supermarket kind, this has to be a smooth creamy texture and with plenty of tahini, lemon and garlic) served with …