The Middle East has always been beset by conflict through the millennia. This overshadows the region's amazing array of both savory and sweet dishes.It's a shame because the recipes are so good and delicious. They should be the topic of conversation not war.
One of the tastiest (and my favorite )is za'arar. This is a mix of dried thyme, oregano, marjoram and cumin along with sumac cumin and coriander.OLive oil is added to create to create a smooth pesto like paste it can be made at home or bought at your store's spice section.You could easily use dry za'atar on chicken or steak for a flavorful roast .It CNA be spooned in egg dishes or vegetable sautes tot. However the best way to enjoy the melding of herbs is over hot , crispy fresh from the oven pita bread. It's sort of like a green pizza but with so much more flavor. Another delicious dish is tabouli.This is a salad consisting of chopped parsley , cucumbers and bulgur. Chopped scallions , tomatoes and garlic are also added. A dressing of olive oil, lemon coriander and cinnamon are whisked together.To give it cooling notes a handful of chopped mint tops off the tabouli.Serve with pita wedges or on its' own.Shawarma finishes off the Middle Eastern meal. This is roasted layers of lamb and beef and served with different sauces like tahini and garlic yogurt.
There are also sweets that shine in Middle Eastern cuisine.Baklava is made all over the eastern Mediterranean (including Greece).It is a labor intensive bake but so m=worth the work/It's ;Ayers of thin, crackly phyllo dough that can be made at home or bought. The layers are filled with ground pistachios and cinnamon The nuts are found in a blender or food processor and they and the spice are blended together . The phyllo dough has to be brushed with melted butter and then layered with the filling. At the end , the dough is scored into diamond shapes and baked in a 160 degree Farenheit oven. A sauce of honey, vanilla extract and lemon juice is made, cooked down into a syrup. This is poured over the cooled baklava and then served. Palestinian desserts , whether Muslim or Christian have religious meaning. Take Barbara named for Saint Barbara , whose resting place was a small village near Ramalleh.It looks a little like rice pudding but is made with wheat and different spices like anise and cinnamon.Raisins are added for texture.
The Middle East should be known for its' food not it;s conflicts. The world is missing out on delicious flavors molded together in tasty recipes. These should be known and enjoyed
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