Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin
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 …
I am a big fan of Middle Eastern food and koftas are one of my favourite things to eat! I love the traditional lamb koftas, stuffed in some pita bread with a fresh mint salad. But lamb is quite difficult to find in Berlin and can be expensive. I make mine using minced pork which is affordable and easy to find in any local supermarket. I add some chopped apple which gives it a lovely sweet kick….
I love Baba Ganoush and often make this chunky aubergine dip with some griddled pitta as a snack or a side dish. Typically this is made by smoking the aubergines – and if you want that full smokey taste then Babel on Kastanienallee serve up a pretty good version….
Ah, hummus! A pot of basic hummus, some pitta bread and a simple fresh salad were part of my staple diet as a student. And while German supermarkets do not often stock hummus there is certainly no shortage of it in the plentiful Turkish supermarkets or Berlin’s street food scene. Head out for a Falafel Teller and there will often be a dollop of hummus on the side. But it is Zula Café that serves the real hummus treat! A favourite of mine is the hummus with the goulash but I also love the Sabich – aubergine, hummus and a hard boiled egg all stuffed in fresh pitta bread….