Yoghurt is one of the most important components of the modern Mediterranean diet and there is rarely a table where it isn’t featured in some form or other; as part of a main dish, as a dip mixed with chopped herbs, in a dessert or even as a drink. On Mondays, our evening meal often consists of various…
Category: Mezzes
Small plates for the sharing table
Spanish Roast Potatoes with Garlic and Smoky Paprika
Although I loved our recent long weekend in Vienna and Bratislava, I get this kind of ‘eating out fatigue’ when we’re away and literally cannot wait to get back into the kitchen. This particular supper was inspired by the years I lived in Andalusia with a dish of piquant baked beans mixed with wilted spinach, new…
Shuk Ha’Carmel Pea and Mint Falafel with Tahini and Lemon Sauce
“Wait. You’re telling me that you have never – NEVER! – eaten falafel?” he exclaimed, narrowly missing the turning onto Boulevard Rothchild as we made our way to dinner one impossibly hot and humid evening in downtown Tel Aviv. “No!” I replied, “I have never – NEVER! – eaten falafel!“. He looked at me with that…
Andalusian Spicy Lemon-scented White Bean Dip
These sunny early spring days are all the motivation we need push open the French windows and think about creating lighter and vibrant dishes. The dip you see here is new to my repertoire and is inspired by a gorgeous little whitewashed cafe high up in The Andalusian mountains above Ronda where I was once…
Santorini Tomato Keftedes with Feta and Wild Oregano
At the beginning of my adult life, I spent a lot of time exploring the Greek Islands. I did pretty much all of them from Paxos and Corfu to the North to Santorini and Rhodes in the South. I was drawn to the azure sea, the oregano-covered mountains, the tiny beaches, the glamorously bearded Greek academics…
Greek Skordalia with Biber Salçasi-roasted Plum Tomatoes
Skordalia is simply a thick purée of waxy potatoes, an insane amount of garlic, lashings of vibrant Kalamata extra-virgin olive oil, a generous splash of white wine vinegar and finely chopped flat leaf parsley. Yes, it’s basically mash but not as you know it because this is rich, oozy and dairy free. Also, it’s served just warm – never…
Dimitri’s Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
It seems all sorts of crazy to post a recipe for a Greek Salad but then there are Greek salads and there are GREEK salads that zing so fresh that they deserve a little mention here. Years and years ago, I spent some time in the tiny fishing village of Gáïos on the verdant island…
A’isha’s Lemony Hummus with Cumin and Oregano
We sat under a pomegranate tree for shade. Our table was dappled with the shapes of leaves and ripening fruit as the sun played with the gentle breeze to create moving patterns that could never be captured. Laid across its white cloth were several large hand-painted plates and bowls within which vibrant food beckoned invitingly;…
Lebanese Lemon-infused Labneh with Zhoug
Labneh is a beautiful soft cheese made from strained yoghurt that can be eaten with pretty much everything but is especially good alongside rich and spicy mezzes and falafel. The good news is that it’s dead easy to make. All you have to be mindful of is the quality of the yoghurt you use so don’t be tempted…
Florentin Roast Garlic Hummus
‘Garlic is divine. Few food items can taste so many distinct ways, handled correctly. Misuse of garlic is a crime. Old garlic, burnt garlic, garlic cut too long ago and garlic that has been tragically smashed through one of those abominations – the garlic press – are all disgusting. Please treat your garlic with respect….
