Venison (or Beef or Lamb) Shawarma

I’ve posted about Maui Nui Axis deer before here. In short it’s a delicious and densely nutrient and protein packed meat that is sustainably “raised” (since it is mostly wild) and harvested on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The leg roast is consistently my favorite cut due to its versatility and -relative to other cuts-…… Continue reading Venison (or Beef or Lamb) Shawarma

Taratoor – Lebanese Tahini Sauce

If you’ve ever had a good lamb shawarma wrap or have been to any Lebanese restaurant, chances are you have tried this simple sauce. It’s delicious on almost everything. Dip some fried cauliflower in it, roasted potatoes, grilled beef or lamb kebabs, fried fish, drizzle it on spiced rice and ground beef pilaf….the sour, nutty,…… Continue reading Taratoor – Lebanese Tahini Sauce

Lebanese Okra and Beef Stew

This one is not going to win any beauty contests, that’s for sure but it is a delicious and very emblematic of many Lebanese home-style stews that I grew up eating. Funny enough this one, really any okra based dish, was never my favorite when I was a kid. Yet, now, along with eggplant okra…… Continue reading Lebanese Okra and Beef Stew

Kafta – Ground Meat with Onions and Spices

Kafta is a Lebanese kitchen cornerstone. Like Kibbeh it’s a dish, a recipe and a staple that can be made into various preparations. For minced meat to be Kafta it has to be spiced and flavored with onions and plenty of parsley. I am sure this is not written in stone anywhere and someone else’s…… Continue reading Kafta – Ground Meat with Onions and Spices

Hummus bil Tahini – Creamy Chickpea, Lemon and Sesame Paste Dip

Having grown up eating chickpeas (hummus in Arabic) mashed with garlic, lemon juice and the all-important sesame paste (Tahini or Tahina) on a regular basis it was really interesting seeing how this dip took off in the last 10 years or so. It’s everywhere now, on every other restaurant/pub/diner/health food restaurant’s menu. This is both…… Continue reading Hummus bil Tahini – Creamy Chickpea, Lemon and Sesame Paste Dip

Mung Beans with Burghul (Burghul M’ash)

Until my mom visited recently and made this dish I had only used mung beans in a couple of simple soups and southeast Asian desserts. I never really thought of the mung beans with their Arabic name, M’ash. The traditional Lebanese way to use it is to cook it with lots of browned onions and cut…… Continue reading Mung Beans with Burghul (Burghul M’ash)

Kibbeh Nayeh – Raw minced Beef and Burghul with Spices and Herbs

Almost more than any other Lebanese dish, I crave Kibbeh Nayeh the most and immediately request that my mom or grandmother make a plate of this iconic dish as soon as I am back home visiting. Growing up this was our typical Sunday lunch. Back then I honestly did not appreciate it as much and would’ve…… Continue reading Kibbeh Nayeh – Raw minced Beef and Burghul with Spices and Herbs