Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS 3 medium Aubergines quartered lengthwise and then cut into chunks. 3 tbsp olive oil 1 cup yellow split peas (soaked in water for 2-3 hours and boiled for 10mins) 2 large onions, peeled and sliced very thin – one for stew – one for garnish. 3-4 TBSP butter/ghee, for frying the onion…
Tag: aliyas vibrant life
Moroccan Orange & Lemon Roast Chicken
I think one of my earliest “pleasureful” memories of eating as a kid is one of eating roast chicken. My mother made the best, (of course) and it was a dish that brought us all together. I even remember her roasting a chicken and wrapping it in foil for long plane journeys so we could…
Winter Vegetable Tagine
Nothing beats winter comfort food for me more than a fragrant spiced Moroccan vegetable tagine. It’s bowl food that can be simply eaten on its own or as part of a feast for friends and family and it satisfies my seemingly bottomless pit of a stomach during the chilly winter months. The root veggies in…
Saffron & Orange Blossom Ice Cream “Bastani”
The Persians introduced ice cream and a few other icy desserts to the Arabs after their invasion of Iran. Ice cream itself reached Europe by way of the Arab invasion of Sicily in the 8th century, so Ice cream is definitely a Persian thing 😊 Traditionally “Bastani” has a chewy texture due to the addition…
Kooftah Berenji – Persian Lamb & Rice Meatballs
These succulent spiced lamb meatballs are quite unusual as they are combined with split peas (chana dhal) and rice and then simmered lightly in a rich sweet/sour broth which is utterly heavenly. The word Kofta, or Kufta or Kooftah comes from a Persian word meaning “to pound” or “to grind”, and is referring (obviously) to the…
Rose & Walnut Baklava
The origins of this sumptuous flaky, buttery and aromatic delicacy are quite controversial, and very much up for debate as it is not very well documented. The Greeks, Turkish and Middle Easterners all claim Baklava as their own and depending on where you eat it can be prepared in a wide range of ways. There…
Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookie – Gluten Free
I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t like a chocolate chip cookie. Literally. No one. Especially not any kids. Now what if I told you that you could make a much healthier chocolate chip cookie with no compromise on taste that is refined sugar free, packed with protein and just happens to be…
Beetroot with Mint & Yoghurt
Beetroots only seem to appear on menus these days roasted or pickled and whilst I adore them in both these forms there are plenty of other delicious ways to serve them up and I intend to showcase that over the coming months. This is one of my favourite Persian accompaniments and in Farsi is called…
Peach, Blueberry & Almond Frangipane Cake
This has got to be one of my all time favourite go to desserts or treats. It’s so versatile and lends itself so well to all kinds of fruits – the possibilities are ENDLESS and just a simple tweak here and there you can change the flavour of this humble deliciousness completely. If we are…