Category Archives: legumes and beans

Red lentil and bulgur pilaf

I feel very fortunate to be able to escape from the hustle-bustle and super charged atmosphere of Beirut into the mountains every weekend; there, only 35 minutes away at 3000 feet altitude, lies a peaceful town surrounded by nature. After spending some time with a seasoned farmer who offered to show me where to find ( [...]
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Shawarma on hummus

One of the biggest advantages of living in Beirut is this: I can order this at my favorite deli. It comes with all the trimmings. The flavor is superb and I did not spend a second in the kitchen.  If you are looking for a classic hummus recipe, click here.  A beef shawarma recipe, click [...]
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Mung beans and potatoes (Mash wbatata)

On a job assignment recently, I met a group of people who all worked for the same company (a mega chain of restaurants and hotels in the Middle-East); they were all native Lebanese, but each one came from a different region. One (the chef) was from Akkar in the North, another was from the South, [...]
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Sprouted fava casserole (Foolyieh)

  I had lunch with Kamal Mouzawak at his Tawlet restaurant recently; while we were on the topic of his exquisite cookbook, he let it slip that the foolyieh was his favorite recipe. Fool is fava beans in Arabic.  I figured the dish was probably Egyptian since this is where fava beans are eaten in [...]
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Chickpea soup (Lablabi)

It has been really cold in Lebanon the last few days and this soup which is sold by cart vendors in Bagdad (Iraq) is hearty and simple to prepare. My Iraqi friend Wafa’ gave me her recipe during her annual visit to  Lebanon  this past Summer. She said she loves it most with a squeeze [...]
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