Arabic

I have not been preparing Swiss chard often until now. But through the restaurant Bommels Bakhuys and their fantastic kitchen paradise garden Bommels Buiten, I sometimes get kilo’s of Swiss chard delivered at my kitchen doorstep. And then many things start to happen in my kitchen. This is one of the best recipes with Swiss chard. Warm in every sense of the word. Comfort food. Nutricious. Tasteful. Full of flavour. Tiny bit Arabic due to the spices. Keeping close to my roots, always. In any case, you will enjoy it very much.

This salad should be made with romaine salad and without tomatoes. But hey, I did not have any salad in my fridge but I did have tomatoes… so I decided to make this version. It turns a regular plaine salad into a stunning one.

Cooking in yogurt is like cooking with a magical stick. Even when it is plant based yogurt. Your dish will turn immediately in a comfor food, just like that. In the northern part of Lebanon it is very common to cook in yogurt. There is a lot of yogurt around and they know exactly what to do with it. Really worth the try. And this dish is such a nice balance between its taste, texture, colour.. and simply delicious.

Made it once, you’ll keep on making it. This is one of the tastiest dips that you will always be making over and over again. Soft and crispy at the same time. Red bell pepper and walnut, oh and is this a hint of tomato? Do you also taste some cumin? That kind of dip. To go with your drinks. Part of a mezze. On your bread at lunch. Or just a spoonful. Do whatever suits you, but just make this muhammara.