Arabic

You probably often read about ingredients at à la Damaris that you had not heard before. This one is most certainly one of them: molokhieh. You’ll find it in the freezer at your Morrocan or Arabic store. It is slightly similar to spinach, but softer. Very nice. And in this soup it’s a great combination with the tougher broad beans, fresh herbs and red chili pepper. I love to have it for lunch. But like all soups, you can actually have it all the time.

Cooking a dish in yogurt. In the northern part of Lebanon this is a very normal routine in the kitchen. It probably has to do with all the sheep and goats that roam there. Warm (plant based) yogurt gives such a creaminess to a dish, it’s really unbelievable. You can also cook rice in it – see recipe ‘paradise on earth’ here on the site. In any case, this dish is a delightful find. You can serve it with a mezze, but certainly also as a full (side) dish. One thing is for sure, you won’t make enough anyway. It’s that good.

We also know this sauce from the Arnabeet Mekleh, the Lebanese cauliflower dish. One of the absolute favorites in this house when having a mezze. With this cavolo nero recipe, the tahina / lemon / garlic sauce also works great. And the crunchy nigella seeds are the eye-catcher. And add some crunch and flavor. Delicious.

Once you have eaten cavolo nero (palm cabbage), you want to make more of it. At least, that’s what happened to me. It’s such a great flavorful leafy vegetable. Who behaves like a good boy in the pan, in a dish. Always adding exactly what is necessary to make it delicious. Just keeping the balance between all the ingredients. And it has exactly the right bite. I’m very sensitive to that.