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İmam bayıldı
emointhekitchen Oh my goodness, have you ever heard of “İmam Bayıldı”?And the best part? It’s super easy to make! İmam bayıldı (“the imam fainted”) is a dish in Ottoman cuisine consisting of whole aubergines stuffed with onions, garlic and tomatoes and stewed in olive oil. Aubergines were introduced into Turkish cuisine during the Seljuk period by the Arabs and within a few years became one of the most beloved vegetables of Ottoman cuisine. The first recipe for the olive oil-based dish was published in “Melceü’t Tabbahin” by Mehmet Kamil in 1844. It is no surprise that the meatless dish became popular throughout the region and even reached Greece. The name…
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Hummus
emointhekitchen This Levantine dip is very simple to make. Hummus can be found at almost any Middle East table. These days the popularity of this simple meal extends beyond its region of origin and it is enjoyed all over the world. During my study stay in Israel, I was surprised, at how much of this spread the locals are able to consume. The recipe below is traditional but you can also experiment with different flavours and different spices. Spices such as cumin, coriander seeds, sweet pepper, dried chilli or zaatar (this spice mixture is frequently used in Israeli and Palestinian cuisine) could be used. You may also stumble upon hummus…
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Baba Ghanoush
emointhekitchen Baba Ghanoush is a dish of mashed baked eggplant mixed with tahini (sesame paste), olive or sesame oil, and various kinds of spices. Slightly differing versions of this dish can be found in the traditional cuisines of Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Armenia, Greece and even Iraq. It is served either alone as a starter with pita bread, in Armenia with their traditional Lavash or as a side dish to accompany various vegetables and the like. This eggplant dip was one of the first dishes that I prepared for my husband. By then, his diet consisted of bread with mustard, sausages and other culinary specialities of a single man. It has…
