Category Archives: breakfast and brunch

Dishes that are eaten for breakfast or brunch

Oatmeal date squares

My daughter is going to college full-time  and working (tutoring English in a remedial school here) and comes home famished; these oatmeal and date bars should help, don’t you think? By the way, if you have a Middle-Eastern grocer nearby, they most likely stock date paste in a package, saving you the trouble of making [...]
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Garlic scapes and egg

Fresh garlic is not a common sight, even in Lebanon where so much of the garlic available in stores is imported from China. These came from Ibrahim’s cart (see previous post) and were so fresh, we used the stems to make a delicious hash with eggs. It may not look like much but the taste [...]
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Eggs poached in tomato sauce (Bayd bel-banadoora)

 Proof that simple is best. Eggs are poached in a tomato sauce made with lots of onions, ripe tomatoes and some garlic; scooped up with pita bread. A mouthwatering luncheon or brunch item from the Lebanese rural cuisine. INGREDIENTS:  8 eggs, size small (depending on the size of the tomatoes) 2 large onions, chopped 4 [...]
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Armenian tahini galette (Tahinov hatz)

This Armenian specialty is a crispy, flaky, sweet bread that is slathered with tahini and doused in sugar prior to baking. You can make it at home like I did or buy it fresh in the Armenian district (Bourj Hamoud) in Beirut. Click here for the recipe. Bourj Hamoud is the place to explore if [...]
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Tunisian donuts (Ftira)

Beirut and Lebanon in general are  seriously  lacking in North African restaurants or foods from the Maghreb; it is easier to find a can of harissa in Dallas than in Beirut!  So imagine the thrill I felt when Leyth Hazgui,  from the resort town of Hammamet, flagged me about his native ftira, with a recipe [...]
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