This beautifully fragrant plate of roasted chickpeas and tomatoes infused with saffron is inspired by ingredients I picked up at Marché Forville which is positioned at the at the bottom of the Le Suquet district in Cannes just a stone’s throw from the Old Port. The market itself is very traditional and focused entirely on local…
Category: Spices
Greek Roasted Red Peppers with Cannellini Beans, Beluga Lentils, Kalamata Olives and Basil Oil
When we walk through Corfu Town I make it my mission to find truly authentic tavernas and by far the best one we came across ticked every single box. A simple whitewashed interior featuring a dusty clock and iconic paintings of Christ. Old family photographs fighting for our attention as they danced around a collection…
Patatosalata, a Greek Potato Salad with Rocket and Wild Oregano
Many many years ago before Santorini had been exposed to mass tourism, we arrived at the small village of Oia via a hired Jeep in order to witness the legendary sunset over the Aegean Sea. Here, the island’s nutrient-rich volcanic soil – which had formed a smoky film of dust over every cell of our…
Greek Feta, Romano Pepper and Tomato Saganaki
In Greece ‘saganaki’ is a term used to describe a variety of small dishes made in a traditional two-handled frying pan (the name being derived from the Turkish word ‘sahan’ meaning a copper dish). Very often, the same word is used to describe cheese cooked this way – namely kasseri, kefalotyri or kefalograviera – which…
Aleppo Muhammara, a Spicy Red Pepper and Roasted Walnut Dip
It was coming to the end of a long and sultry day as I languidly eased myself upon a heap of vintage embroidered cushions, the candle-lit lanterns flickering in the warm early evening breeze of an Istanbul night. The background music was haunting as if it were calling me from a far away place. I…
Levantine Labneh with Green Harissa, Roast Cherry Tomatoes and Dukkah
The nearer to Christmas it gets, the further East I travel for recipe inspiration. I suspect that this is greatly influenced by the boxes of dates we used to be given as a child. You may know the ones I mean, the box had a lacy paper lining and a bright label depicting the three…
Sami’s Koosa Mahshi, Stuffed Peppers with Golden Sultanas, Pine Kernels and Amba Spice
A few years ago, I made a lone trip to Ephesus, a port city in Turkey which was once revered as the most important and largest metropolis of the old Mediterranean world. As I gingerly walked its dusty streets, my sandalled feet slipping on stones worn down by time, I noticed the signs etched into…
Santorini Fava with Lemon and Capers
In Greece, fava is a dearly beloved dish of puréed yellow split peas the most prized of which come from Santorini, an island that is also justly proud of its incredible tomatoes – check out my recipe for tomato keftedes – and its wine. You can thank the volcanic soil for that. Served at room temperature on a summer’s…
Amba-spiced Roasted Carrots with Buttermilk and Greek Yoghurt
This is a beautiful dish for your summery get togethers which, once you’ve released the spicy fragrances, comes together in minutes. I’ve used Honey and Co’s amba spice mix here because it’s very good but you can make your own or simply swirl a couple of spoonfuls of my amba sauce into cool Greek yoghurt….
Haricots Beurre Marocain, Butter Beans with Rose Harissa, Saffron and Sumac
This beautifully fragrant dish is inspired by one we ordered for supper in a tiny North African restaurant set on a cobbled side street just off the Canal St-Martin in Paris. It makes for a perfect year-round lunch served with grilled pain de levain rubbed with garlic and a glass of red wine. Or, serve…
Cardamom and Dill 