Homemade Hummus

With or without tahini, homemade hummus made from scratch only takes 5 minutes to make. No needs to cook the chickpeas, just open a can and mix with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil! This delicious healthy snack can be serve for any occasion with pita bread or garden vegetables.

Houmous fait maison

Homemade Hummus

Natalija
If you don’t like spicy food, use paprika instead of chili powder, it makes the dish look pretty, and only slightly alters flavor.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can (400 g) garbanzo beans (chickpea)
  • 1 lemon
  • 2-3 cloves garlic chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp tahini (sesame paste) optional
  • 3-4 Tbsp olive oil
  • A few pinches chili powder (or paprika)

Instructions
 

  • Drain garbanzo beans, keep half of the juice.
  • In a food processor, place the chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, salt, black pepper, tahini, chili powder and 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Mix until smooth. Add 1 or 2 Tbsp of the juice from the can (or water) to give a desired texture to the hummus.
  • Transfer hummus to a serving bowl, drizzle with the rest of the olive oil and sprinkle with chili powder or paprika.
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Vegetable Tian

This is not a ratatouille, it is a “tian!” I often have to correct my guests when they ask me if this is a ratatouille. 😉

Tian is a french recipe of baked vegetables made with alternating rows of sliced eggplant, tomato, onion and zucchini. A tian itself is an earthenware dish that goes from the oven to table. Everything baked in this dish is called tian.

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Vegetable Tian

To make the tian look more appealing, use vegetables with similar widths.
Course Main Dish
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Author Natalija

Ingredients

  • 2 onions
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 7 Tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 eggplant
  • 1-2 zucchini
  • 1-2 summer squash
  • 5 tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp herbs de provence

Instructions

  • Peel and cut the onion into half moons. Peel and cut the garlic into 2-4 pieces.
  • In a medium skillet heat 2-3 Tbsp of olive oil until hot, add onion and sauté until tender, stirring frequently. Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
  • Preheat the oven to 400℉. Spread the cooked onion on the bottom of a baking dish.
  • Cut zucchini and summer squash into 1/4 inch slices.
  • Cut the eggplant into 1/4 inch slices.
  • Core and cut tomatoes into 1/4 inch thick slices.
  • Arrange the zucchini, eggplant, squash and tomatoes in alternating rows. Continue until the baking dish is filled.
  • Sprinkle the vegetables with salt, pepper, Herbs de Provence and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
  • Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and golden. If the vegetables are not ready, but the top is starting to burn, cover the tian with aluminum foil.

Green Mango Salad (Кalawang)

Green and unripe mangoes can be eaten, and are often delicious. For example, this salad with shredded green mangoes is very popular in French Guyana, and if you like spicy food, you will love this salad! Serve cold, as an appetizer or as a side dish with fish, shrimp, or meat. For a pretty presentation, I serve the Kalawang in individual plates with shrimps.

Green Mango Salade (Кalawang)

Natalija
Fresh chili pepper can be substituted with chili powder.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 green mangoes (unripe)
  • 1/2 onion peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and pressed
  • 1/2 chili pepper seeded and finely chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon (or lime) juice
  • 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • Some fresh herbs (cilantro, green onion, parsley)
  • 24 prawns (or shrimps) cooked and peeled

Instructions
 

  • Peel the mangoes with a peeling knife. Shred the pulp and discard the pit.
  • In the salad bowl, toss the mangoes, onion, salt and pepper. Drizzle with lemon juice and oil. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in a refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
  • When ready to serve, transfer the salad on to the serving plates, embellish with fresh herbs, and prawns.
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Homemade Olive Tapenade

The homemade olive tapenade is a dip or paste made with olives (black or green), anchovies and capers. This appetizer comes from Provence, France and is great with fresh bread or toast. With the help of a food processor, or blender, this hors d’oeuvre is ready within 5 minutes.

Homemade Olive Tapenade

Natalija
The anchovies are very salty. If you find your tapenade too salty, add more olives or olive oil.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 200 g black olives pitted
  • 1 Tbsp capers (optional)
  • 20 g anchovies filets in oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 lemon (juice only)
  • 4 Tbsp olive oil
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in an electric blender. Pulse a few times until finely chopped. The tapenade should have small pieces of olives. Do not over blend!
  • Serve with crackers or fresh baguette slices.
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Hachis Parmentier

Hachis Parmentier is a delicious French casserole made with layers of mashed potatoes and ground beef.

The dish is named after Antoine Parmentier (1737-1813). He was a French pharmacist who made potatoes popular in Paris and northern France.

Hachis Parmentier

Natalija
Préparation 25 minutes
Cuisson 45 minutes
Total 1 hour 10 minutes
Portions 4 servings

Ingrédients
  

  • 1 kg large potatoes
  • 100 g butter (50+30+20)
  • 50 ml milk (heated)
  • 1 large onion
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 500 g ground beef
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 egg
  • 30 g grated cheese
  • Some seasonings or minced parsley (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Peel the potatoes and chop them into cubes. Boil in salted water until easily pricked with fork, about 20 minutes. Then drain water.
  • Add 50 g of butter and mash. Add warmed milk and mash together to smooth consistency. Taste the puree, add more salt if needed.
  • Peel and chop the onion and garlic.
  • Melt 30 g of butter in a large pan and saute onion and garlic until soft.
  • Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Take the pan off the fire and let cool down a little. Add a row egg.
  • Process to finer texture by using a food processor, if desired.
  • Preheat oven to 380F/190C. Grease baking dish.
  • Add 1/2 of mashed potatoes in thin layer to the prepared dish. Then layer beef preparation on top of potatoes. You can also add your favorite seasonings at this point or some chopped parsley. (This time, I added paprika).
  • Top with remaining potatoes. You can make some shapes on the top using the fork. Add remaining butter and dot on the potatoes. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
  • Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes until the top is golden.
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Fresh Vegetable Salsa

Fresh Vegetable Salsa is great for a Mexican style party, as well as for spicy dish lovers. This traditional Mexican sauce can be served with corn chips and tortillas. But also very good with meat, fish or simply as a summer salad.

Fresh Vegetable Salsa

Natalija
If you don’t have jalapeños, you can use chili powder. Lime can be replaced with a lemon. The taste will be different, but still delicious.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tomatoes diced
  • 1 english cucumber diced
  • 1 sweet pepper (any color) cored and diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 clove garlic diced
  • 1/2 jalapeno pepper diced
  • cilantro chopped
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1 lime

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, then serve.
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Tomato Rounds With Garlic & Cheese

It’s a super simple and fantastic 10 minutes appetizers, that I could eat a plateful. And when it comes to cheese, you are the boss. You can choose any hard/firm cheese that you like, as long as you’ll be able to grate it.

Tomato Rounds With Garlic & Cheese

Natalija
Please don’t use store-bought shredded cheese, it will not taste the same trust me, it is not so hard to shred the cheese after all.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4-6 tomatoes
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to aste
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 100 g hard cheese
  • some olive oil (optional)
  • some fresh herbs parsley, green onion, dill,

Instructions
 

  • Wash and cut the tomatoes into circles and layer them on the plater. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper to taste.
  • Grate garlic, using microplane, sprinkle it on top of the tomatoes. Using the same microplane shred the cheese. Evenly layer on top of the tomatoes.
  • Drizzle with some olive oil and garnish with fresh herbs.
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Cucumber Tomato & Green Onion Salad

Looking for a “quick” salad  to make? This cucumber and tomato salad is not just fast and easy salad to make, it is also a great summer side dish that goes perfectly with fish, potato, rice, omelet or just by itself.

Cucumber tomato & green onion salad

Natalija
Adding any other vegetables to this salad is not prohibited! Use olive oil instead of sour cream if you don’t like sour cream.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1-2 cucumber sliced
  • 5-6 tomatoes quartered
  • 1 clove garlic pressed
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Some green onions chopped
  • 2 Tbsp sour cream

Instructions
 

  • In the bowl, combine the cucumber, tomatoes, garlic, green onion, salt and pepper. Add the sour cream and gently toss. Serve right away.
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Beef Rice Pilaf With Dry Barberry Berries

This is very delicious and flavorful rice. Perfect for special dinner with friends or just for your family. It may seem a little time consuming, but it’s worth it.

Beef Rice Pilaf With Dry Barberry Berries

Irina
It is very important to put the raw garlic on top of the rice before covering everything with water.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups rice Uncle Ben’s Long Grain White Rice
  • 2 lb beef boneless stew beef
  • 4 large carrots
  • 2 onion
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 head garlic
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 5 Tbsp barberry dry berries
  • 1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 Tbsp salt
  • 4 cups water hot

Instructions
 

  • Soak and rinse the rice, at least 2-3 times, then drain.
  • Cut beef into 1 inch pieces.
  • Peel and cut the carrots into thick matchsticks.
  • Peel and dice onion.
  • Heat the olive oil in an enameled cast iron dutch oven over a medium heat, add beef.
  • Cook beef for one hour on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
  • When the beef is fully cooked add onion and soften, stirring regularly for about 3 minutes.
  • Add carrots, spices, salt, pepper, bay leaf and dry berries. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring regularly.
  • Layer the soaked rice over the top of the beef and vegetables. Peel some of the skin off the garlic head and slice the top off, exposing the garlic cloves. Put raw garlic head on top of the rice.
  • Carefully pour hot water over wooden spoon to ensure even distribution over rice. Do not stir.
  • Cover with lid. When it starts boiling, remove the lid to let the water almost evaporate.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the rest of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
  • Mix the ingredients as you serve the pilaf on a platter. Garnish with garlic head.
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Creamy Mushroom Pate

With a few simple tricks, you really can make this Creamy Mushroom Pate at home. Skip the store bought spreads and pates. Making it yourself is so, so easy and will be way tastier than just about anything from the deli department.

Mushroom Pate

Irina
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g mushrooms washed
  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 7 Tbsp olive oil
  • green onion optional

Instructions
 

  • Slice the mushrooms.
  • Peel and cut onion into half moons.
  • Peel and mince garlic.
  • Place a large frying pan over a high medium heat. Add 5 Tbsp of olive oil and sauté mushrooms for 10 minutes. Constantly stirring. Remove from heat and let cool.
  • Meanwhile, place a small frying pan over medium heat, add 2 Tbsp of olive oil and onion, and cook until golden brown.
  • Add minced garlic and sauté for one minute. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool.
  • Put half of the mushrooms and onion with garlic into a food processor or blender and pulse several times to combine.
  • Add the remaining mushrooms and cream cheese and puree.
  • Add salt and pepper and mix it with wooden spoon.
  • Serve on crostini, with green onion or any fresh herbs.
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