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Graiba (Middle Eastern Butter Cookie)
GRAIBA Special Supplies Standard sheet pans (you will need a couple as the cookies need to cool completely before they are moved off the tray) Parchment paper Ingredients 1 cup clarified butter (recipe available under foundations) 1 cup sugar 2 1/2 cups flour...
Hummus with Meatless Quorn Crumbles
If you've spent any amount of time on our website, you've probably noticed that we have a penchant for posting recipes that call for lamb, beef, or both. (Check out our Kafta and Lamb Stuffed Grapeleaves for proof.) Lucky for our herbivore friends, however, many...
Meat Pies | Middle Eastern Savory Pies Filled With Hashwi
Love our Spinach and Lemon Pies, but looking for a savory Middle Eastern pastry that packs a bit more of a protein punch? Our Meat Pies are for you. The already-delicious flavors of hashwi are rounded out by toasted pine nuts for a bit of crunch, and Lebanese yogurt...
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Don’t Feel Awful About Falafel | Authentic Middle Eastern Falafel Recipe with Tahini Sauce
Falafel is a popular appetizer from the Middle East, known for its light and crispy ball or patty-shaped exterior and fluffy interior. Although falafel is believed to have different origins, it is generally understood that it was likely developed in Egypt around the...
Stuffed Squash (Koussa)
Stuffed squash is a great dish year round but the summers are the perfect time to take advantage of fresh squash from local farmers markets. This dish was a restaurant favorite and like rolling grape leaves, is one that brought family members together to clean and...
Stuffed Cabbage
Stuffed cabbage like rolled grape leaves and stuffed squash was a favorite dish at home and in the restaurant. Many other cultures have similar versions of this hearty yet healthy main dish, but the difference will be seen in the seasonings and meats used. This is...
The Perfect Blend: Our Syrian Spice Story
If you've already mixed up a batch of our Syrian Spice, then you're familiar with how many components it requires. While today we think of our blend as providing just the right amount of flavor and complexity, quite a bit of trial and error was involved before it...
Baba Ghannouj
Baba Ghannouj, or “Baba” for short, is almost identical to hummus in terms of the ingredient list save one critical substitution: that of eggplant for chickpeas, which results in a completely different flavor profile. The best, most delicious Baba is made with charred...
Big Steve’s Tangy Hummus
You should know that we have a bit of a hummus skirmish going on in the Kalil family. Stephen continues to prefer a basic recipe that straddles the line between Israeli and Lebanese hummus, while Big Steve’s tastes are trending as of late toward a creamier hummus with...
Stephen’s Traditional Hummus
You should know that we have a bit of a hummus skirmish going on in the Kalil family. Stephen continues to prefer a basic recipe that straddles the line between Israeli and Lebanese hummus, while Big Steve’s tastes are trending as of late toward a creamier hummus with...
Sheikh-el-Mahshi
Along with Ablama, Steve counts Sheikh-el-Mahshi among his all-time favorite dishes. Not surprisingly, it was also the top seller at his restaurant. Give this classic recipe a whirl and we have a feeling it will become one of yours, too. SHEIKH-EL-MAHSHI Ingredients ...
Mujadara | Middle Eastern Lentils and Cracked Wheat Topped with Fried Onions
Difficult to say, but so very easy to enjoy, Mujadara combines hearty lentils and cracked wheat with crispy fried onions in one delicious masterpiece of a dish. As with Lentil Soup, always make sure that the lentils you’re using are free of stones before beginning...
Lentil Soup
Packed with vegetables and protein, Lentil Soup is a highly-nutritious dish that feels more like comfort food than healthy fare. A roux of flour and olive oil ensures that the final brew is thick and hearty and, like any soup, we’re of the opinion that it tastes even...
Baklava
Greece. Turkey. Lebanon. Syria. Baklava is treasured by a wide array of cultures and countries, and for good reason. The combination of flaky phyllo and sugary walnuts is almost irresistible, and even if you can resist Baklava...why would you want to? Baklava, by the...
Kafta
Kafta can take many shapes, from an oblong patty, to a hamburger-style round, to a shape that resembles a large sausage. Additional options include grilling Kafta on skewers or creating miniature bites to serve as appetizers. A basic dish, yes...but by no means is...
Ablama
Warm, savory, and creamy, Ablama is comfort food at its absolute finest. When sourcing your squash, be sure to look for vegetables that are early and small—the younger the better. These baby green squash will be labeled as Koussa at some stores; others will identify...
Raspberry Bread Pudding
While this bread pudding was inspired by a dessert printed in a magazine, we think of it as belonging to Therese thanks to her unique take on the recipe. The original called for a variety of berries, but Therese felt that exclusively using raspberries would be much...
Tabbouleh
Here’s the thing about Tabbouleh: while some think of it as salad and others refer to it as meze, in our hearts (and kitchen) it’s nothing short of an art form. As Gail says, “There’s an art to Tabbouleh because it’s all done according to taste. It’s important to...
Fatoosh
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill side salad. This is Fatoosh—a vegetable packed, Toasted Pita topped salad that only requires a mixture of spices and olive oil in the way of dressing. A signature element of this composed salad is the special cut of each vegetable,...
Fool Mudammas
Put those tongs away. Fool Mudammas is a stacked bean salad that doesn’t require any mixing to deliver delicious layers of flavor. The proportion of this recipe works perfectly as an appetizer for up to four dinner guests, or as a filling meal for one. FOOL MUDAMMAS...
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Bright, fresh, and simple are the words we would use to describe this side salad. Bonus: It’s also quick and easy to prepare, and makes the perfect accompaniment to Mujudara. TOMATO AND CUCUMBER SALAD Ingredients 2 cups Roma tomatoes, diced 1 ½ cups cucumber, peeled...
Lebaneh Yogurt
Whether it’s combined with Kibby to create Kibby Lebanieh, used as a dip for Zahtar Bread, or simply paired with pita bread (a combination Big Steve considered “brain food” during his school days), the tangy taste of Lebaneh is unmistakeable. Beginning with a good...
Noodle Rice
Noodle Rice is a wonderful side that complements a variety of dishes, particularly Ablama. If you want to mix things up a bit, heat up some Hashwi and add it to your rice. Gail also recommends trying it mixed with Tabbouleh! NOODLE RICE Ingredients 2 TBL clarified...
Zahtar Bread (Mana’eesh)
Zahtar Bread is a style of Mana’eesh, a savory flatbread. Our version is spice-laden and, according to Kathleen, perfectly suited to bearing the weight of a dollop of Lebaneh. If you were to travel to Syria or Lebanon in search of this dish, you would find women...
Vegetarian Stuffed Grapeleaves
As an ingredient, grape leaves have a long culinary history and a variety of (delicious) usages, but our family’s affinity for the grape leaf has more to do with personal memories than anything else. The story goes like this. Well, one of the stories anyway... “My...
Lamb Stuffed Grapeleaves
Grape Leaves have a long culinary history and a variety of (delicious) usages, but our family’s affinity for the grape leaf has more to do with personal memories than anything else. The story goes like this. Well, one of the stories anyway... “My grandmother knew a...
Spinach and Lemon Pies | Vegetarian Savory Pie With Spinach and Pine Nuts
Meet the meatless version of our savory pie—a delicious vegetarian alternative to the Meat Pie with just the right amount of crust and fluffiness. Bonus: our Spinach and Lemon Pies are chock full of tangy spinach and Toasted Pine Nuts, and are perfect for enjoying on...
Syrian Spice: How to Make Your Own Syrian Spice Blend
True or false: There is only one way to make Syrian Spice. We’ll save you the guessing game and go ahead and tell you that the answer is false. Just like curry, each family has their own method of creating Syrian Spice. Some add an extra dash of this, others prefer...
How to Make Ghee
Ingredients 4 lbs unsalted butter 1 ½ cups #3 bulgur Directions Place butter in a 4-quart saucepan and heat on stovetop at medium temperature until completely melted. Bring to a gentle boil, add the bulgur and cook for 10-15 minutes. While butter is cooking, gently...
Basic Dough
If you’re looking to make the perfect sweet bread or cinnamon roll, this isn’t the dough for you. If your dinner plans include Meat Pies, Spinach and Lemon Pies, Zahtar Bread, or Lahmajoun, on the other hand, you’ve found the perfect recipe. Go ahead and bookmark this...
Yogurt Sauce
Is there anything Yogurt Sauce doesn’t go with? In our opinion the answer is a resounding no, which is why we’ve labeled it a Foundational recipe. Use this Yogurt Sauce to create Ablama or Kibby Lebanieh, and other dishes. Whatever you do, just make sure that you use...
Tomato Sauce
Replace homemade Tomato Sauce with (dare we say it) a jar of marinara from the grocery store? You must be kidding. The flavor profile of this sauce is worlds away from anything you may have sampled in Italy. Ciao, pasta. Hello, Vegetarian Grape Leaves and...
Meatless Stuffing
Vegetarians and meat-lovers alike have called themselves fans of this Meatless Stuffing, which imparts a tomato-packed punch of flavor to every batch of Stuffed Grape Leaves it comes into contact with. With proteins including chickpeas and pine nuts in the mix, this...
Rice and Lamb Stuffing
Lamb Stuffed Grapeleaves. Koussa. Cabbage Rolls. They all share the common denominator of Rice and Lamb Stuffing. For the best, most flavorful filling possible, we recommend using a mixture of lamb and beef with a 90% lean, 10% fat ratio for both cuts of meat. RICE...
Kibby Mixture
You can think of Kibby as the meatloaf of the Middle East, minus the ketchup. Lamb and/or beef, cracked wheat, and Hashwi combine to make Kibby Mixture, which can be used for both Kibby Tray and Kibby Balls. You can use 100% lamb or beef in this recipe, but we prefer...
Hashwi
Found in many dishes, Hashwi is a foundational recipe component that is traditionally made from lamb. In the Kalil kitchen, however, we prefer an even blend of lamb and beef. Select cuts with an 80% lean, 20% fat ratio to impart extra flavor and moisture. HASHWI...
Toasted Pita Bread
TOASTED PITA BREAD Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place on a cooling rack stacked on top of a sheet pan. Open up pita bread and place in a single layer on the cooling rack. Bake for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through for even toasting.
Toasted Pine Nuts
TOASTED PINE NUTS Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pine nuts in a single layer on an ungreased sheet pan and bake for 8-12 minutes until golden brown, stirring often to ensure even baking. Remove the pan from oven and allow pine nuts to cool to room...
Heavy Syrup
HEAVY SYRUP Ingredients 6 cups sugar 2 cups water ½ tsp citric acid (also called lemon salt or sour salt; 1 TBL of lemon juice can be used as a substitute) Directions Combine water and sugar in a sauce pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to bring...
Kibby Lebanieh
“Speed Scratch” Kibby Lebanieh Mix ½ cup Yogurt Sauce with ½ cup Noodle Rice in a bowl. Top with two Kibby Balls and cover with an additional ½ cup of yogurt sauce, then wrap with plastic and heat through in the microwave and enjoy. “Instant” Kibby Lebanieh for...
Kibby Tray
Kibby Tray is meatloaf all dressed up for a night on the town, and by that we mean it’s an elevated take on a dish that appears in some form across a variety of cultures. The combination of robust flavor and delicate design makes Kibby Tray a dish that’s...
Kibby Balls
Just the right size for a midnight snack when no one’s looking, say hello to Kibby Balls, a handheld variation of the Kibby Tray. Kibby Balls were undisputably Lisa’s job when she worked for the family business during high school, so keep that in mind if any questions...
