Tag: MediterraneanFlavors

Broccoli Tahini Pasta Salad

Broccoli Tahini Pasta Salad

Broccoli Tahini Pasta Salad is creamy, crunchy, and full of flavor. Tender pasta and crisp broccoli are tossed in a nutty, savory tahini dressing, creating a satisfying, make-ahead dish that’s perfect for lunch, picnics, or a light dinner. Prep time 30 minsCook time 10 minsServes 

Meatballs in Yogurt Sauce 

Meatballs in Yogurt Sauce 

Turkish Meatballs in Yogurt Sauce is a flavor-packed dish perfect for an easy yet impressive dinner! It’s made up of spiced meatballs nestled in a creamy, tangy yogurt sauce, finished with a drizzle of Aleppo pepper-infused olive oil. Pickled red onions add a pop of 

Tantuni

Tantuni

Making or buying a lavash bread that’s flexible enough to make the traditional U-shape is tricky, so feel free to fold it more like you would a burrito. You can even substitute with store bought flour tortillas to save time.

Prep – 10 minutes mins
Cook – 15 minutes mins
Serves – 6 thin wraps

Ingredients  

  • ▢ 1 small red onion, thinly sliced into half moons
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons sumac
  • ▢ Kosher salt
  • ▢ 3 Roma tomatoes, finely chopped
  • ▢ 1 bunch flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • ▢ 2 lemons
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper (optional)
  • ▢ 1 1/2 pounds flank steak
  • ▢ 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons paprika
  • ▢ 3/4 cup hot water
  • ▢ 6 sheets of homemade lavash (or substitute with burrito-size flour tortillas, see note)

Instructions 

  • Make the sumac onions. Into a medium mixing bowl, add the onion, sumac, and a small pinch of salt. Use your hands to massage the seasoning into the onions, softening them and working in the flavor.
  • Add more to the onions. Into the bowl with the onions, add the tomatoes, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon of the Aleppo pepper (if using), and more salt to taste. Juice in one lemon. Toss the ingredients together to combine, then slice the remaining lemon into wedges. Set the salad and lemon wedges aside while you cook the steak.
  • Sear the steak. Trim the steak of any fat and slice into small pieces, each about the size of a sugar cube. Add the olive oil to a medium pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering (but before it starts to smoke), add the steak pieces. Stir until they expel and reabsorb their water and become golden, about 8 minutes.
  • Finish the steak. Season the steak with the paprika, remaining 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper (if using), and a large pinch of salt (about 1 teaspoon). Stir to coat, then add the water. Turn the heat to medium and allow the mixture to simmer for 5 minutes or so to slightly reduce.
  • Soak the lavash. Turn the heat to low, keep the meat in the pan, and cover it with a piece of lavash. Carefully press with your hands or a spatula to encourage the bread to soak up the juice and soften from the steam. Be patient here give the bread at least 30 seconds to soak in the flavor. The bread should be a nice golden hue.
  • Build the wrap. Use tongs to transfer the lavash to your serving plate with the soaked side facing up. Spoon the meat in one thin line near the edge of the bread and spoon a little gravy from the pan over top. Add a line of the tomato and onion salad. Be careful not to overfill it.
  • Roll and enjoy. Roll the lavash over the steak and salad, pulling towards you and rolling from top to bottom to make a long, extra skinny burrito or tube. Gently bend into a U-shape. Enjoy from both sides, squeezing fresh lemon juice into the top opening as you go. Your final bite will be the base of the U where all the delicious juices have pooled. Note: Depending on your lavash bread, the U-shape can be tricky! If your lavash starts to break, simply enjoy it more like a standard wrap or wrap it like a burrito.
  • Repeat. Repeat the filing and rolling with the remaining lavash bread, enjoying the tantuni while it’s hot and fresh.

Notes

  • Store bought lavash tends to be brittle and dry. I’ve found tortillas to be the best substitute for this recipe.  That said, if you’d like to use a store-bought lavash, look for the softer versions that are on the thicker side. Sprinkle them with water and gently heat to soften. 
  • Give the bread plenty of time to soak in the gravy. This is what makes tantuni so special! Press down and be patient as it soaks in the flavor. 

Nutrition

Calories: 460.2kcal
Carbohydrates: 46.6g
Protein: 32g
Fat: 15.8g
Saturated Fat: 3.6g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.3g
Monounsaturated Fat: 8.8g
Cholesterol: 68mg
Sodium: 369.4mg
Potassium: 559.3mg
Fiber: 3.7g
Sugar: 3.4g
Vitamin A: 707.8IU
Vitamin C: 24.9mg
Calcium: 44.3mg
Iron: 5.4mg

Kumpir (Turkish Baked Potatoes)

Kumpir (Turkish Baked Potatoes)

Kumpir, Turkey’s beloved street food, are generously stuffed baked potatoes with irresistibly creamy interiors. This version is packed with garlicky sautéed mushrooms and peppers, sweet corn, and punchy quick-pickled red cabbage for the perfect balance of flavors and textures! Prep – 20 minutes minsCook – 

Summer Vegetable Soup With Pistou

Summer Vegetable Soup With Pistou

This soup is designed both for longevity and nutrition an easy option packed with lots of good things to get you through the week, especially the kind where something needs to give but you don’t want it to be a delicious, nourishing homemade meal. While 

Yogurt and Cucumber Soup

Yogurt and Cucumber Soup

As the heat of the summer ramps up, this luscious chilled yogurt soup, packed with fresh and dried mint, is an incredibly refreshing and cooling appetizer that makes me feel like I’m taking a dip in the cold mountainous streams of northern Iran. It’s one of those dishes that is initially met with some skepticism (yogurt soup? cold? with just cucumber?).

Recipe information

  • Total Time15 minutes (plus 1 hour for chilling)
  • Yield4–6 servings

Ingredients

½ cup (50 g) walnuts

2 cups (500 g) Greek-­style yogurt

1¾ cups (420 ml) cold water

1⅓ cups (200 g) finely diced Persian or regular cucumbers

3 Tbsp. chopped dill

3 Tbsp. chopped mint

1½ tsp. dried mint

3 Tbsp. raisins

1½ tsp. sea salt flakes (or 1 tsp. kosher salt)

Freshly ground black pepper

Ice cubes, for serving

Dried edible rose petals, for serving (optional, but very pretty)

Preparation

  1. Step 1Toast ½ cup (50 g) walnuts in a small pan over medium heat for 1–2 minutes, stirring, until glossy. Roughly chop and set aside.
  2. Step 2
    In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups (500 g) Greek-­style yogurt and 1¾ cups (420 ml) cold water. Stir in 1⅓ cups (200 g) finely diced Persian or regular cucumbers, 3 Tbsp. chopped dill, 3 Tbsp. chopped mint, 1½ tsp. dried mint, 3 Tbsp. raisins, toasted walnuts, and 1½ tsp. sea salt flakes (or 1 tsp. kosher salt) and a generous grind of freshly ground black pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  3. Step 3
    To serve, pour into cups or small bowls and add ice cubes and a pinch of rose petals (if using).

Notes

This soup is best made with Persian cucumbers, which are smaller, sweeter, and more intensely flavored, but regular cucumbers work fine too ­just peel them first. Be sure to use full-­fat Greek-­style yogurt (not strained or low-­fat), and I prefer to use sea salt flakes as they have a more pronounced mineral flavor. You can find edible dried rose petals in Iranian grocery stores or online; they aren’t essential, but a small pinch does make this soup take on a more elegant quality. This soup keeps in the fridge for about 24 hours.

Red Pepper–Anchovy Toasts

Red Pepper–Anchovy Toasts

Boquerones, or white anchovies, are marinated in an assertive vinegary brine. They come in a variety of containers but can usually be found in the refrigerated seafood section of many supermarkets. They have a fresher, brighter, and milder taste than the more common salt-cured, oil-packed 

Gambas al Ajillo

Gambas al Ajillo

A staple of tapas bars in Spain, this quick-cooking shrimp recipe could serve as a weeknight dinner all on its own serve it with a big green salad and some crusty bread. You could also go the route some choose for its Italian cousin, shrimp 

Baked Feta and Greens With Lemony Yogurt

Baked Feta and Greens With Lemony Yogurt

Vegetarian mains don’t have to take an hour to prepare. Warm feta, crispy chickpeas, and wilted hearty greens become a fork-and-knife entrée in about 30 minutes.

Recipe information

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 medium onion, sliced

2 bunches hearty greens, such as collard greens and/or Tuscan kale, ribs and stems removed, leaves sliced

1½ tsp. curry powder, divided

2 tsp. kosher salt, divided, plus more

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided

1 (½-lb.) block Greek or Bulgarian feta, sliced ½” thick

4 garlic cloves, crushed

1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, drained, rinsed

½ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Toasted country-style bread (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1Preheat oven to 350°. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large heatproof skillet over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6–8 minutes. Add greens in handfuls, letting wilt before adding another handful, and cook, stirring occasionally, until bright green and crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add ½ tsp. curry powder; season with 1 tsp. salt and ½ tsp. pepper. Stir to combine, then add 1 cup water. Lay feta over greens and transfer skillet to oven. Bake until feta is soft, 10–12 minutes.
  2. Step 2
    Meanwhile, heat remaining 4 Tbsp. oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant and just beginning to turn golden around the edges, about 2 minutes. Add chickpeas, season with 1 tsp. salt and ½ tsp. pepper, and continue to cook, tossing occasionally, until browned and crisp around the edges, 8–10 minutes. Add remaining 1 tsp. curry powder and toss to combine.
  3. Step 3
    Stir yogurt and lemon juice in a small bowl; season with a pinch of salt.
  4. Step 4
    Scatter chickpeas and toasted garlic over greens and feta. Dollop with seasoned yogurt. Serve with toast alongside.
Sheet Pan Chicken Gyros With Avocado Tzatziki

Sheet Pan Chicken Gyros With Avocado Tzatziki

Who doesn’t love a good sheet pan recipe? These easy throw-and-go dinners are colorful, flavorful ways to end the day. This Mediterranean Sheet Pan Chicken Gyro With Avocado Crema Tzatziki brings the heat not to mention a cool, creamy dip. Break out the Greek yogurt,