A creamy eggplant dip with the bite of garlic and an almost airy fluffiness, accented with nutty olive oil – sound familiar? Think of Mutabel as the fraternal twin of Baba Ghanouj: nearly identical ingredients, expressed just a bit differently. If you didn’t have them side-by-side, one could easily mistake them for one another. This…
Tag: #recipes
Bourbon Brown Sugar Caramel Ice Cream
Looking to America for culinary inspiration, I bring you an ice cream to wow your friends or guests. Brown sugar, caramel, and cream accentuate the Southern charm of bourbon. Crumbled caramel-cashew cookies add buttery sweetness and crunchy texture to this grown-up dessert. I wrote my first blog post several months before the launch of The…
Curried English Pea Soup
Fresh, green English peas evoke memories of spring. A healthy dash of curry powder and cayenne pepper give this soup enough of a kick to make one curious for more. Substitute vegetable broth for chicken and your meal is vegetarian friendly, also. This soup is not photogenic (“Pea green” has its reputation to uphold). Yet…
Omani Halwa-Inspired Cardamom-Pistachio Gelato
Cardamom, nutmeg, and pistachios bring the exotic taste of Arabia to your kitchen and guests in this sophisticated, refreshing gelato, perfect for spring and summer. Many kabobs and savory dishes in Middle Eastern cuisine are subtly spiced; the desserts not so much. Spicy cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, rose water, and lavender are a few unmistakeably exotic…
DIY Turkish Iskender Kabob
Bring Turkish cuisine into your home with this recipe for homemade Iskender kabob that is so easy, even for those chefs whose kitchen expertise is largely confined to opening take-out! In my last post, I shared my first experience with the Turkish Iskender kabob. Roasted meat, toasted flatbread, tangy tomato sauce, and tart yogurt combine…
Belgian-inspired Speculoos cookie ice cream
Winter and ice cream certainly aren’t synonymous, but this ice cream, inspired by a house-made ice cream at one of Brussels’ trendiest restaurants, is perfect for a cozy winter dinner party or indulgent treat. When I created this recipe, I was surprised at how well the flavors and textures melded together; I would count this…
Redefining the salade chèvre chaud
I crave salads. I adore cheese. So for me, few salads – or entrees for that matter – can top the contrasting, yet complementary mix of flavors in a salade chevre chaud (hot goat cheese salad), ubiquitous in France and, actually, much of Europe. The traditional French salad typically consists of large-leaf lettuce (like…
New Year’s Resolution: Eat Latvian honey cake!
New Year’s resolutions are so yesterday. I mean, I really would appreciate it if everyone staggered the start of their resolutions so I could get mat space at yoga and a parking spot at the gym. Thanks! Just kidding…sort of (really, has anyone ever tried to get into a gym the second week of January?…
The Culinary Diplomat 