The classic Jaffa orange – shamouti – was originally developed by Palestinian farmers in the mid-19th century and takes its name from the city of Jaffa – Yafo – where it was first produced for export. These are the oranges that I was given as the occasional treat when I was a child so the intoxicating aroma of…
Tag: Spinach
Santa Catalina White Beans with Greens and Manchego Polenta
Soft warm air shimmering its way up from the glittering harbour of Palma Mallorca, it was one of those early summer mornings when we could luxuriate in the almost certain knowledge that we had the whole day ahead of us with no plan other to explore the narrow streets of Santa Catalina as the pavement…
Horta, Greek Greens with Lemon and Garlic
Greeks traditionally forage for their greens and adapt this dish according to what’s in season. Here it’s not so easy to do that because we simply don’t have the same levels of abundance and variety. However, I have successfully made this dish using rainbow chard, foraged nettles, dandelion leaves and sorrel (in which case go…
Pera Garlicky Spinach with Yoghurt and Biber Salçası
After a dark and stormy day we literally fell through the doorway of Asmalı Cavit, a treasured wooden-fronted traditional meyhane in the centre of Pera in Istanbul. Here, the walls are lined with photographic portraits of people from a more glamorous age alongside vintage posters promoting wine, long forgotten theatre productions and the seaside resorts…
Raphael’s Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach and Feta Filo Tart with Wild Oregano and Dill
Yesterday I received a lovely package from my friends Zoi and Milton who spent several years living in Greece. They eventually moved to Bath when their son reached school age and started to import high quality extra-virgin olive oil from Milton’s decades old family olive grove in Chania, Crete. Like me, they are strong proponents…
Orecchiette with Pistachios, Hazelnuts, Parmesan and Mint
Sometimes I yearn for a pesto sauce that packs a bit more of a punch that the regular basil and pine nut version especially when the quality of shop bought basil can be patchy – who else has splashed out on a packet recently only to find that the leaves are all pretty much too…
Bebek Börek, a Spinach and Feta Filo Pie with Sweet Cicely and Dill
During the winter months, the beautiful Istanbul suburb of Bebek sits quietly on the European shore of the Bosphorus as if waiting for an errant lover. It was once the favourite resort of Ottoman aristocrats who built their grand summer houses here, dozens of beautiful white jewels glittering against a backdrop of verdant jade. Not many remain…
Hawaij Spiced Cannellini and Borlotti Bean Soup with Spinach and Greek Yoghurt
At Carmel Market in Tel Aviv – Shuk Ha’Carmel – all life is laid out for you to savour. Hemp sacks overflowing with dried fruit and nuts, small mountains of ultra-fresh fruit, vegetables and bunches of herbs tied up with string, hundreds of tiny kiosks providing shade for spice masters, street hawkers, bakers, florists, fishermen and…
Auntie Nadia’s Ftayer Sabanekh
To help us feel connected during the current lockdown, my friend Meg from Feeding the Rest and I are trying out each other’s recipes, adding our own twist and adapting them according to what’s available in the food stores. Yesterday, I used one of her beloved family recipes for her Auntie Nadia’s ftayer sabanekh, a small savoury…
Ligurian Basil Gnocchi with Broccoli, Spinach and Creamy Cheesy Sauce
This beautiful dish is perfect for these early autumn days because, although it’s comforting, it is ultimately still light and delicious. The recipe is a little more complicated than you’re used to from me but it all comes together quite quickly in the end. If you don’t fancy making the gnocchi, you can always replace them with large white beans or thinly sliced cooked…
Cardamom and Dill 