Food Styling made easy
A dish that tastes pure bliss and looks so good. The roasted butternut squash slices with lightly caramelized edges look beautiful and contrast with couscous. I love the texture of pearl couscous, but you can also use regular couscous. Butternut squash tastes amazing with middle eastern flavors and spices. Salty feta cheese and sweet squash together make you come back for more.
I love making kebabs with cheese. Even though the usual choice is meat, fish, or veggies for a change, I tried halloumi cheese as the hero. Cheese is a relatively easy ingredient to work with, and it takes less time compared to others. I usually use Indian cottage cheese for making vegetarian kebabs. However, for a middle-eastern-inspired meal, I choose Halloumi. Honey and thyme roasted halloumi kebabs tasted perfect with couscous and salad.
When we decided to eat fewer carbs just for a week, I had to get creative. I rely on veggies and lean meat. Since the sweet potatoes are always a hit, I decided to pair them with whipped garlic yogurt sauce. Magic happens when they get roasted with a few herbs and spices. It is a perfect side dish, but we had it for lunch. Thyme roasted sweet potato is a delicious meal in itself and I am making some again.
It’s wonderful to meet people from different cultures and learn a bit about them. It opens our minds and helps us grow. I find food as an interesting way to connect. Recently I got introduced to a unique dip called muhammara made with roasted red bell peppers and walnuts.
Mahalabia is a Middle eastern rice pudding with a gorgeous texture. It is a dessert that has simplicity and elegance. Flavored with cardamom, orange blossom, or rose water, it tastes unique. It took me less than 15 minutes to prepare this dessert.
Turkish eggs are one of my favorite ways of eating eggs. Soft poached eggs with yogurt and some crispy bread make a great weekend brunch. I added a twist or two to make it better.
Hummus is addictive and easy to whip up. It’s filling and adds variety to your meals. There are so many different ways to include it in your meal. Here are a few assorted recipes from my archive to give you some ideas.
Couscous with baked salmon makes for a quick and delicious meal. Add some fresh thyme and cherry tomatoes to elevate the taste. Dinner post Iftar calls for a light, nutritious meal, and baked salmon with couscous ticks all the boxes.
Even though the classic falafel never fails to impress, I add a twist to keep the interest alive. Sweet potato falafels have a gorgeous color and taste delicious. Sweet potatoes help bind the falafel together.
Here is my take on a popular Middle East dish called Chicken Fatteh. A beautiful layered dish with loads of flavors and textures. The base is crispy pita bread, followed by the chicken with chickpeas layer and then the garlicky yogurt sauce.
Magic Ingredient 