All posts filed under: Recipes

all food recipes

Freekeh, the smokey, immature grain

Published by Ruth Nieman

Freekeh is the ancient supergrain that is re-emerging onto our plate as the modern staple. Freekeh, Wild Wheat & Ancient Grains; recipes for healthy eating, the soon to be published cookbook from author Ruth Nieman, links their historical, biblical and cultural past to modern culinary uses, in our quest for healthy living. Freekeh takes its name from the Arabic verb ‘farik’, meaning to rub, the archaic process of gleaning this ancient, biblical grain, which remains an annual agricultural tradition across the Middle East. Freekeh is harvested before the wheat is fully matured, and left to dry out in the sun, before the farmers roast the wheatsheaves on open fires of dry thorns in the fields. The blackened husks are then beaten and rubbed to remove the chaff from the fire, leaving seeds of green, with a distinctive smoky aroma. The wheat is coarsely cracked before use. Freekeh is a nutrient rich, sustainable grain from our historical and biblical roots, which is re-emerging into our diets as a nourishing carbohydrate, connecting our ancient past to the …

Chicken, Potato & Garlic Soup from The Galilean Kitchen

Published by Ruth Nieman

Warm up this winter with a hearty chicken, potato and garlic soup, from The Galilean Kitchen.     This fragrant soup, laced with medicinal spices and deep flavours of garlic and lemon juice, is a firm favourite from Nawal’s kitchen, where ‘shorba’ the Arabic name for soup is easy to make and deliciously satisfying to eat on a cold day. Nawal’s Shorba (chicken, potato & garlic soup) for basic broth 2 chicken breasts, chopped into large cubes 1 piece of ginger, peeled & sliced 3 –4 bayleaves 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 11/2 litres cold water 1 teaspoon salt for chicken, potato & garlic soup 2 large potatoes, peeled & cubed 6 garlic cloves, minced or crushed 3 lemons, juiced 11/2 tablespoons flour, mixed with 250mls water 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon baharat 1 teaspoon black pepper place the chicken cubes, ginger, bayleaves, cardamom, salt & water in a saucepan & boil for 20-30 minutes to create flavour add the potato cubes, lower the heat & simmer for a further 15 minutes mix the flour & water into a paste …

Israel’s good cheese guide….

Published by Ruth Nieman

With the emphasis on Israel’s cuisine being heavily placed upon dairy, it is not surprising that there is an increase across the country in boutique dairies, providing innovative alternatives to traditional cheeses. Until recently the larger companies and supermarkets were the main suppliers of Israel’s dairy staples such as cottage cheese, cream cheese and labneh, the Middle Eastern cheese made with cow, goats or sheep milk. Throughout Tel Aviv, Israel’s culinary capital, quaint little delicatessens and Fromageries have been selling delicious cheeses and all forms of dairy products to chefs, restaurants and cheese lovers alike, produced both in the country and imported from France, Italy and Holland. In my latest article for The Culture Trip, A Cheese Lover’s Guide To Tel Aviv, discover where artisan cheese and dairy products are being sourced, to create new and exciting dishes, both sweet and savoury. recipe: labneh 500g natural yoghurt 1/2 teaspoon salt olive oil, zaatar, black pepper, fresh oregano leaves & pistachios, to serve take a large square of muslin/cheesecloth rinse in cold water & wring dry line a colander with …

Mulberries…the ‘super’ spring berry

Published by Ruth Nieman

Although June is now upon us, the Galilee still bears the beauty of spring, with the lush green hills, the wild flowers still in bloom and trees laden with the new seasons crop. The spring harvest has begun in the Golan, Northern Israel and fruit picking is a family outing,  picking the berries and cherries that laden the trees in these lovely late spring early summer months, before the real heat hits hard. Mulberries, a superfood in its own right through its high Vitamin C content and antioxidant properties, deck the trees with their ripe red fruit with a deep purple hue, ready for turning into jam, chutney or dark red sorbet. recipe: mulberry sorbet 750g washed, fresh mulberries 200g caster sugar 250mls water 1/2 juice of lemon 2 tablespoons of cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) or elderflower cordial mint or edible flowers for garnish put the caster sugar, water & lemon juice in a pan bring to the boil & simmer for a few minutes until all the sugar has dissolved remove from the hob to cool completely place the mulberries in food …

the green gems of spring….

Published by Ruth Nieman

With Spring in full bloom, the Galilee is a place of beauty with wild flowers cascading through the lush green hills, the smell of the citrus in the air and the white blossoms have fallen to the ground, to make way for the first fruits. May heralds the beginning of the elusive fresh, green almond, a misunderstood nut that is grown in Northern Israel and throughout the Middle East. South of Nazareth in the Lower Galilee is the Arab village of Iksal, famous for their almond groves and the abundant harvests of a special strain of almond called Um al-Fahem. unique not only in it’s size and taste but also for it’s extra soft skin. These almonds are sold as fair trade and known to be amogst the best in Israel. Delicate in both flavour and texture, the young, unripe nuts are picked whilst the outer skin remains light green and furry, well before the hard brown shell of the almond has had the chance to form. Inside the light olive green casing is a smooth, soft, white almond with a subtle, grassy flavour. They …