Maza, Appetizers and Dips
Avocado Hummus
Avocado hummus takes the best of two worlds–smooth, luscious hummus and silky, healthy avocado–to create flavor and texture magic! Find chickpeas with the peels already removed, along with excellent tahini and sumac, at my online shop here. I’ve always been a critic of anything labeled “hummus” that doesn’t include the very basis of hummus: chickpeas.…
Read MoreFeta and Kale Fatayer
This is a delectable way to fill traditional Lebanese fatayer, with feta and kale for a flavor bomb to love! I’m still having relationship issues with fatayer, the little Lebanese pies that we all go crazy for. First off, it’s bothered me that my spelling of fatayar is different than what I’m seeing elsewhere as…
Read MoreBest Lebanese Fatayer Recipes
Lebanese fatayar, or fatayer, (fuh-TIE-uh) are savory pies with delectable fillings. Fatayar are found in bakeries everywhere in Lebanon and in Lebanese bakeries in our communities around the U.S. Here are my best fatayar recipes so you can bake and enjoy this special tradition. Growing up, my mother and grandmothers used various techniques to bake…
Read MoreKiller Kofta Bites
Killer Kofta Bites are a play on one of the all-time greatest spiced meats of the world, kofta kebab. Kofta is typically loaded onto a skewer, grilled, and eaten with tahini sauce or toum, bread and trimmings. My kofta bites are loaded with fresh herbs and spices (find them in my shop here!) and baked.…
Read MoreHow to Make Great Tahini Sauce
Great tahini sauce finds itself on so many of our favorite dishes, from Lebanese shawarma to falafel. Learn how to make tahini sauce with the method that results in a smooth, glossy, delicious sauce. Shop my online market here for excellent tahini (not all are created equally!). You would think that making tahini sauce is…
Read MoreEasy Figgy Baked Brie
This is a must-know appetizer, Easy Figgy Baked Brie. Make for an elegant cocktail party or a quiet party of a family few. Always festive, fun, delectable. And easy! We love to have an evening of cocktails and “heavy apps.” This means the food will be so sumptuous, so inviting and satisfying that no dinner…
Read MoreZa’atar Crackers
If you love za’atar flatbread but want an easier way, Za’atar Crackers are for you! Perfect for a cheese plate or to dip in hummus, labneh, or muhummara red pepper-walnut dip. Here’s the thing about za’atar crackers: they are in essence a shortcut to the most traditional way to eat za’atar, which is man’oushe flatbread.…
Read MoreAsparagus Pickles with Grape Leaves
Asparagus pickles with grape leaves in the jar go extra-crisp! The grape leaves deliver tannins that impart more crunch. These are refrigerator pickles, quick and easy. So delicious for your cocktail hour or on the buffet. This recipe is as much about the humble grape leaf as it is about the grand pickled asparagus. I…
Read MoreMediterranean 7 Layer Dip
This recipe takes the classic 7 Layer Dip and goes Mediterranean, with hummus, avocado, labneh and more. Dip your pita chip in 7 layers of Mediterranean flavors and you’ll be in 7th heaven. I’m a big fan of the idea that hummus ought to be a foundation, holding up the greatness of other toppings like…
Read MoreGarlicky Whipped Feta Dip
Two ingredients and you’re good to go with this garlicky whipped feta dip. The flavor is addictive. Plus, it comes together very quickly and easily. My niece Victoria announced recently that we have 12 Sundays left until Christmas. Her friend Hannah said so. Since then, we’ve dropped to 11 Sundays left ‘til Christmas. I’ve always…
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