Green Garden Herb Basmati Rice with Dill, Cilantro, Rosemary & Chive and an unexpected trip home

Green Garden Herb Basmati Rice with Dill, Cilantro, Rosemary & Chive and an unexpected trip home

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Thanks everyone for the feedback on this recipe! Many of you asked for instructions on how to make our fragrant basmati rice without a rice cooker. We gave it a go and the results were equally wonderful with delicious tahdig (crunchy bottom) to boot! The recipe utilizes the same ingredients as the rice cooker version. Here, I used a nonstick standard pot. Instructions are below. Feel free to share your results and happy cooking!

Tuscan Inspired Lemon-Rosemary Chicken with Cannellini Beans & Roasted Squash-Arugula Salad

Tuscan Inspired Lemon-Rosemary Chicken with Cannellini Beans & Roasted Squash-Arugula Salad

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There is a universal feeling of satisfaction with roasted chicken. The warm aromas that fill the kitchen while it cooks just feel like home. There are endless flavor combinations of vegetables, herbs and spices for roasting chicken – but  somehow this Tusccan-inspired lemon and rosemary variation end up on rotation in my kitchen more often than others. A magical combination married with garlic and olive oil. You can develop deep flavors in this simple recipe. The cannellini beans are creamy…

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Versatile Salmon, done 3 ways

Versatile Salmon, done 3 ways

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Beyond being nutritious and tasty, salmon is also an incredibly versatile ingredient to work with. I only use wild caught salmon. Stay away from the farmed variety.  The diet the fish are fed are is bad for our bodies and pollute the water. They also have 1/10 of the omega-3 fatty acids which is one of the main reasons I like to have this nutritious protein in my diet. Here I highlight a few simple but elegant ways to prepare…

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Mint & Cannellini Bean Tuna Salad

Mint & Cannellini Bean Tuna Salad

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We all have busy schedules and not having the time to prepare satisfying meals on the fly can be challenging. That’s why I’m a fan of utilizing beans, veggies and herbs along with basic pantry products to make a nutritious, colorful and tasty meal! This filling and fancy tuna salad will do exactly that. And surprisingly, hummus is a great alternative to mayo!    

Fiesta Black Beans

Fiesta Black Beans

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A delightful vegetarian meal that is packed with flavor due to a generous use of spices, lots of garlic and tangy lime juice. Fresh green jalapeno can lend a welcoming heat which can be adjusted to taste. The warming medley of cumin, turmeric, smoked paprika and oregano is the flavor foundation of this dish, taking cues from my favorite Mexican recipes. Savoury and earthy flavors balanced with the fresh lightness of cilantro and bright citrus. You can play with the…

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Baklava

Baklava

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Like many other traditional foods of the past, the origin of baklava is difficult to narrow down. Every ethnic group with ancestry connected to the Middle East has some claim to this delicious pastry.  It seems generally accepted that Baklava was first made by the Assyrians around 8th century B.C.- who layered nuts with unleavened flat bread and drenched with honey. The type of nuts or syrup ingredients often suggest the origin of the recipe. Syrup with rose water and cardamom is most…

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Persian Cucumber Salad with Red Onion & Thai Basil

Persian Cucumber Salad with Red Onion & Thai Basil

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This salad is light n’ lovely. It’s aromatic and refreshing. It’s also a great choice when you need lots of flavor but don’t have a lot of time. I use Persian cucumbers because the fresh and fragrant taste is  an important part of the success of this dish. The basil’s slightly sweet, lemony and minty aroma delightfully compliments the green and fruity fragrance of the cucumber. If you don’t have Thai basil, sweet basil works great too.    

Beer + Basil Braised Brisket

Beer + Basil Braised Brisket

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Brisket is one of my favorite dishes to cook for my family. It’s warming and satisfying and one of those meals that’s wonderful to share. As we bunker down for the cold days of winter in NY, it’s the perfect hearty meal for a family dinner or for entertaining during the holidays. There are many flavor combinations you can use for the braising liquid and aromatics. In this recipe I combined beer an basil and it was fabulous! Tonight’s menu also included…

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Healthy Eggplant & Egg Pita Sandwich (Sabich!)

Healthy Eggplant & Egg Pita Sandwich (Sabich!)

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There are many delicious vegetarian sandwiches which originate from the Middle East and Sabich is one of my favorites! Possibly even second to Falafel which is so wonderful. Sabich is inspired by Iraqi/Israeli street food and is dense with flavor. The chopped salad and pickles in brine offer a nice textural contrast to the softer eggplant and hard boiled egg. The hummus ties it all together. Similar dishes like this exist in other Mediterranean cultures. In the Persian home I grew up…

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