Snacks & Sides
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Simple homemade cheese and aromatic crackers pair perfectly well together.
Sweet and salty, these are perfect two bite appetizers with a lovely crunch. Super easy to put together and great for pre- or post-dinner.
Aussie burgers with the Lot — Veggie style!
An easy to whiz up walnut- bell pepper dip with smoky spices.
Roasted nuts are one of my favorite party snacks. This combination of almonds and cashews roasted with a healthy coating of Za’atar seasoning is super quick and easy (and tasty).
These crackers are a bit chewy, have a slight kick of heat, and are perfect with a creamy spread like this Whipped Feta Spread.
Manakeesh (alternate spellings: Manakish or Manaqish) are sometimes referred to as Middle Eastern Pizza, they are basic flatbreads with a range of tasty toppings and are infinitely adaptable.
Coxinha are a popular street food snack in Brazil, this is a vegetarian twist with a savory mushroom filling, fried to perfection.
These little empanadas are a perfect snack. Packed with flavor from poblano peppers, corn, two kinds of cheese, and a simple spice blend. They can be served on their own or with a little side of salsa.
Labneh is a strained yogurt cheese from Turkey that is delicious as a dip, along with flatbread and herbs, or stirred into greens or even just spread on toast. To give it a little extra flavor boost, here I have added a quick mix of Za’atar and chopped pistachios.
With shredded cucumbers and a punchy herb kick from the fresh dill, this dip is perfect for dipping potato chips and works well with sturdy vegetables like carrots and bell pepper.
This is more of a concept than a recipe, but I want to share it nonetheless. It can be served as a starter along with flatbread, or set on the table alongside a main meal. Either way it brings lovely texture and flavor to any meal!
Spinach Borani is a delicious starter made simply with thickened yogurt and quick cooked spinach and fried onions. The sumptuousness of the dish belies the simplicity of the ingredients.
Fougasse is a beautifully shaped loaf, that turns out to be simple to make! Serve with some homemade Tapenade and a fresh salad.
Aloo Chop are a popular Bengali street snack but are also popular around the Middle East made with different spices, ingredients, and techniques. Also known as Aloor Chop, Alo Chab, and Alu Chop, by any name they are delicious.
This is a simple vegetarian piroshki, the filling of hard-boiled egg and fresh bright herbs is lovely inside the fluffy and crispy exterior.
Zakuski is essentially a Russian tapas, meze, or smorgasbord, but with vodka. The translation apparently means “something to bite after”, as in “something to eat after taking shots of vodka with your friends or family”. This is a meal I can get behind.
I’m sharing a simple Spanish Deviled Egg recipe with you that gets it punch from some smoked paprika and roasted red peppers.
The flavors in the fritters and the side salad are infinitely flexible to what you have on hand or is in season. Just roll with what you have and enjoy it!
Every year Austria surprises me with another delicious recipe. This year I am on a baking kick, so this rye bread recipe caught my eye. The spread and egg salad toppings were just to find something to eat on the bread, but the liptaur spread turned out to be the star of the show!
Served along with some herby olives, these were a perfect afternoon treat.
Tapas are so versatile and ubiquitous, there is an endless supply of recipes, ideas, and flavors to choose from. I have loved exploring new flavors with recipes from Pintxos by Gerald Hirigoyen. For this menu we went for Shrimp topped Deviled Eggs and Sardine Rillettes.
I love Middle Eastern food when the weather turns cold. The rich spices and hearty dishes are perfect fodor for a little chill in the air. I hope you enjoy this take on fried cheese, and a template for a bright fresh salad to lighten any meal.
These little gems have the perfect balance of crunchy exterior and moist soft interior. They are simple, and they are delicious. They can be served on their own or with a little side of homemade mayonnaise or your choice of dip.
This spread came together pretty quickly and hit all the right buttons for a little bit of finger food, a little bit of crusty bread to sop up some saucy stuff, and some veggies strewn throughout. A nice glass of Spanish Rioja topped off the evening perfectly.
The dressing and fresh herbs are the real stars of this dish. Simple ingredients are taken to new places with the addition of sumac, pomegranate molasses, and crunchy bits of pita.
This meal had so many flavors, textures, different tasty elements, it was hard to pick a favorite. I think if I was pressed to choose though, it would be the Hearts of Palm Salad
We first had these on a beach in Hawaii from a Brazilian food truck in Haliewa. It is hard to beat that experience, but knowing we can make them in our own kitchen is getting pretty close.
Abu Dhabi 2022: Nigella seed homemade cheese and crackers, Pink pickles, Lentil and bulgur salad, and Lemon-cilantro okra