Africa & Middle East recipe collection

Moroccan tomato and pepper salad with charred green bell pepper, cucumber, and a cumin-paprika-lemon dressing. Bright, smoky, and served cold.

Orak Arik is an Indonesian cabbage and egg stir-fry with shrimp, garlic, and scallions. A fast wok dish that comes together in 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

A fragrant Moroccan chickpea tagine simmered with saffron, cinnamon, cumin, and ginger in olive oil and fresh tomatoes. Vegan, deeply aromatic, and ready in 35 minutes.

Poached chicken layered with a silky walnut and coriander sauce, drizzled with paprika-infused walnut oil. Known as Circassian chicken in Turkish cuisine, this elegant cold dish is a showpiece for any gathering.

Ajvar: smoky Balkan roasted pepper and eggplant spread with garlic, lemon, and olive oil. The 'Serbian caviar' that goes on grilled meats, fresh bread, and cheese boards.

Homemade ketjap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) from dark brown sugar, soy sauce, molasses, galangal, and cilantro. Stores for months at room temperature.

Moroccan cucumber salad tosses grated cucumber with olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and za'atar, then garnishes with cured black olives. Bright, refreshing North African side ready in minutes.

Serve as an appetizer spread on thick slices of country-style white bread, or flat pita bread, or use as a side dish to accompany grilled or roasted meats.

Aubergine or Eggplant dip Serve with warm Pita or Lebanese bread

Baked plantain loaf from Ivory Coast made with mashed ripe plantains, rice flour, chilli sambal, and turmeric. A gluten-free West African side dish served with salted peanuts.

A delicious summer standard at our place. Easy to make with a mix of Southern European and Middle Eastern flavours. I use my Cucumber Raita (posted separately) to dress the lamb salad or you can use the quick yoghurt dressing provided here.

Moroccan beet salad with boiled beets dressed in lemon, olive oil, cinnamon, sugar, and parsley. Two versions: classic and a spiced variation with orange flower water, cumin, and paprika. Bright cold appetizer.

Smoky chipotle salsa simmered with roma tomatoes and garlic, then pureed smooth for a deep, fiery table sauce. A bold make-ahead salsa that keeps for days and freezes well.

Moroccan-style cooked tomato and green pepper salad with cumin, garlic, chili, and lemon juice. Served warm or cold as a side dish or mezze appetizer.

Crisp Middle Eastern salad with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, green pepper, and scallions tossed in a creamy dill yogurt dressing. A refreshing, no-cook side dish ready in 10 minutes.

Turkish-style cucumber and tomato salad with paper-thin onion, fresh dill, green chili peppers, and a lemon-vinegar dressing. A bright, crisp side dish.