Free Form Coconut Curry

When you need a quick weeknight meal with a little spice (literally) consider a coconut curry in place of your old stir fry or pasta standby. Ideal for a weeknight supper, curries can be made using whatever vegetables and protein you have on hand. Although your pantry might not be stocked with coconut milk and curry paste (mine are, no surprise there) they’re easy enough to purchase and are worth having on hand (I think it’s easier to find coconut milk in Be’er Sheva than in NY!). Continue reading “Free Form Coconut Curry”

Couscous Salad with Dates and Almonds

Whether you’re looking for an elegant side or a quick weeknight dish to round out a meal, this couscous salad is your answer. Seriously simple to prepare, the unexpected flavors meld together as sweet and savory intermingle. Don’t let anyone tell you they don’t like dates until they’ve tried them in this salad. They lend a hint of honey-caramel sweetness and just the right touch of chewy texture as they play with the pillowy couscous and herbaceous greens. The dates are what elevate this from a standard couscous salad to one worth writing about. Continue reading “Couscous Salad with Dates and Almonds”

Braised Beet Greens

When I saw beet greens at the shuq I knew I had to have them. Even though at first I thought they were chard. Either way, I’ve been craving me some leafy greens. One of my favorite ways to cook hearty leaves like this is to quickly braise them (I know, a bit of an oxymoron) in broth and some balsamic vinegar. With lots of garlic. Decide for yourself where on the scale of raw to creamed greens you like, and stop cooking at that point. This is an easy side dish for any meal. And while other greens like chard can be substituted, beet greens are particularly flavorful. Continue reading “Braised Beet Greens”

Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Avocado

I love tuna, but I don’t cook it often. And being in the desert fresh fish isn’t, well, as fresh as it could be. But one of the local supermarkets has a nice selection of frozen seafood that is about as fresh as we’re going to get in Be’er Sheva (Union Square fish market, how I miss you). I wanted to flavor the tuna without turning it into a ceviche so I quickly marinated it in a mixture of soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley. A coating of sesame seeds and a quick sear over high heat finished the dish. Any number of sides would round out the meal but I went for a healthy quinoa salad and slices of avocado. Continue reading “Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Avocado”

Cumin-Scented Eggplant with Pomegranate

Warning: this dish is addictive. The super savory cumin contrasts with the sweet pomegranate syrup and meaty eggplant for a killer vegetable side dish with bold Middle Eastern flavors. Since most of the cooking is done in the oven and the eggplant can be served at room temperature this is an easy side to make ahead for company. I served it with Butternut Squash and Sage Cannelloni, but it would be an equally good accompaniment for braised meat, roast chicken, herbed couscous, or a light salad. A dollop of labneh on top of each eggplant (a la this recipe) is also really good. Continue reading “Cumin-Scented Eggplant with Pomegranate”

Meditation on Pomegranates

My favorite thing about pomegranates – a seductive fruit if ever there was one – is that eating them is an activity in and of itself. It’s meditative. Pomegranates force you to take a moment and be mindful; it’s hard to multitask while eating one. You may get impatient and try to rush through, but the pomegranate, messy and playful, will just spit its juice at you. Continue reading “Meditation on Pomegranates”

The Joys of the Shuq

 

After a week in Be’er Sheva I’ve got the supermarket thing pretty down. But then my friend Beth took me to the real market, the Shuq in the Old City. A large, vibrant open air market of the kind popular throughout Israel and this part of the world, on my first visit I was like a kid in a candy store. Stall after stall had vendors selling produce, eggs, meat, olives, grains, spices, and household goods. Continue reading “The Joys of the Shuq”