Middle Eastern celebration feast
BABA GANOUSH ~ ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS
ROASTED ZATAR CHICKEN ~ PISTACHIO AND CORIANDER PESTO
ROASTED AUBERGINES WITH TAHINI SAUCE ~ ROASTED SWEET POTATOES GREEN BEAN, PRESERVED LEMON AND OLIVE SALAD
BEETROOT AND COCOA CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER ICING
Another year, another birthday, another Middle Eastern feast. Sure, it’s not the height of originality (even Paris has cottoned on to the Jerusalem food trend these days) but it’s still so GOOD. Plus, it reminds me of happy times in Palestine. And I can get all the ingredients I need on my street. BONUS.
We’re technically still on a detox (ethical and calorific), but I decided a few birthday exceptions were allowed. After ten days without meat or fish, the treat of a roasted free range chicken was all the more succulent. Although the feast was gluten, dairy and refined sugar free, it was nevertheless sumptuously scrumptious. I wouldn’t say it was low cal, but everything was 100% good for us. Probably.
I kicked things off with some convivial nibbles - a roasted red pepper hummus and creamy aubergine baba ganoush with crudités. Some might say I over-garlicked the baba ganoush (especially one guest who arrived a little later than the rest), but I say all the better to ward off those autumnal bugs. For the main spread, we had roasted zatar* chicken with coriander and pistachio pesto, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted aubergines with tahini sauce and a green bean, preserved lemon and olive salad. For dessert, a rich and dense cocoa and beetroot cake with peanut butter glaze. Ok, not exactly Middle Eastern, but chocolate on my birthday is a must. Even if I do have to make my own cake.
* I was surprised when neighbour KC asked me what zatar was. I suppose I take it for granted that everyone else is as obsessed by Middle Eastern cuisine as I am. For anyone who isn't, zatar is a spice mix used a great deal in Palestinian and other Middle Eastern cuisines, which is made up of dried thyme, oregano, sesame seeds and sumac (another Middle Eastern spice). It’s delicious on roasted vegetables, in salads, as part of a marinade for meat and fish, or simply sprinkled over a flat bread with olive oil. You can buy it in big supermarkets these days. Phew.
RECIPES
Each individual element here is super simple in itself, but there are quite a lot of different dishes to get done. The whole feast takes a few hours to put together, so is best to tackle when you have a bit of time to while away. I’ve written the recipes in the order in which I’d recommend you prepare them, starting with dessert. I made the cake the day before, which might be a good idea to allow enough time to let it cool before icing. Or just get going early. After the cake I suggest you roast the aubergines for the baba ganoush first, then roast the pepper for the hummus and the rest of the aubergines together. Meanwhile make the salad and the pesto, and finally cook the chicken along with the sweet potatoes. As a guide, I’d put the chicken in the oven about an hour and 45 minutes before you want to sit down to eat.
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Et en français...
Beetroot and cocoa cake with peanut butter icing
Serves 8 - 10, takes 20 minutes, plus oven time
dessert / baking / perennial / gluten free / dairy free / vegetarian / party / easy peasy / showing off / detox / brunch / refined sugar free
This cake is an adaptation of a Hemlsey and Hemlsey recipe, so I can’t really call it my own. I have altered some of the quantities and popped a different icing on top (which I was assured is what MAKES it). But thank you to them for the backbone.
It’s gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free, as well as being super simple to put together. You’ll get plenty of vitamins and anti-oxidants to boost, but it’s still a real treat, delivering a rich, chocolate hit.
I made the cake in one 18cm cake tin, then cut it in half through the middle to make a layer cake. If you have two small cake tins, divide the mixture between the two to bake. Alternatively use a larger tin and make a single layer cake. I prefer the double layer of icing you get with a layer cake.
For the cake
* Cooked beetroot - 300g, cut into chunks (make sure the beets haven’t been cooked in vinegar!)
* Pitted dates - 220g
* Coconut oil - 115g
* Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
* Vanilla essence - 2 tsp
* Salt - a couple of pinches
* Cocoa powder - 100g
* Eggs - 4
For the icing
* Peanut butter - 2 heaped tbsp
* Coconut oil - 1/2 cup, melted
* Maple syrup - 1/4 cup
* Salt - a generous pinch
1 or 2 small cake tins (18cm diameter), or one large cake tin
Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C.
In a blender, blend the beetroot, dates, coconut oil, baking powder, vanilla essence and salt until you have a smooth paste.
Add the cocoa powder and blend to combine, then blend in the eggs.
Pour the mixture into a greased cake tin (or divide between two) and bake for 40 minutes (30 minutes if divided between two tins, or if using a large tin). The cake is ready when it looks slightly crusty on the top, but is still slightly soft in the middle.
Leave to cool a little before turning out.
To make the icing, blend the ingredients together until just combined. Try not to over mix here, otherwise the mixture will separate (as you can see happened with mine). It’s not the end of the world but it won’t look as pretty.
If you’ve made a single cake in an 18cm tin, once the cake is cool use a bread knife (a large serrated knife) to carefully score a line all the way around the circumference of the cake half way up the side. Then little by little cut into the cake along the line, trying to keep the knife level as possible, so you end up with two equal sized cakes. Slide a spatula between the two halves to then lift the top one off.
Divide the icing between each layer and spread evenly. I think it looks prettier as a ‘naked’ cake, where you don’t ice the sides. Serve at room temperature.
Baba ganoush
Makes 1 bowl, takes 10 minutes, plus oven time
starter / side / summer / autumn / gluten free / dairy free / vegetarian / vegan / party / easy peasy / nothing fancy / date night / detox / on a budget / baby /picnic / ready in a jiffy
This is a smoky and tangy dip which is lovely as part of a spread. I’ve since decided it’s actually better without any garlic at all (apologies to the guinea pig guests), as otherwise the delicate flavour of the aubergine can be easily masked.
* Aubergines - 2 large
* Lemon - juice of 1/2
* Tahini - 2 tbsp
* Salt - 1/2 tsp
* Fresh coriander - a small handful
* Olive oil - a glug
* To serve - a few leaves of coriander and some pomegranate seeds (optional but so pretty).
Preheat the oven to its highest setting.
Place the aubergines, whole, on a baking tray and cook for about 40 minutes. The skin should be starting to blacken and the flesh should be very soft. Set aside to cool.
When the aubergines have cooled a little, peel off the skin and discard. Place the aubergines, along with the rest of the ingredients and some black pepper, in a blender and blend until you have a smooth paste. Serve at room temperature.
Roasted red pepper hummus
Takes 10 minutes, plus oven time, makes two bowls
starter / side / summer / autumn / gluten free / dairy free / vegetarian / vegan / party / easy peasy / nothing fancy / date night / on a budget / picnic / detox / ready in a jiffy
This is exactly the same as my regular hummus recipe, but with a roasted pepper whizzed in too. The addition gives a little extra sweetness and colour.
* Red pepper - 1, halved and deseeded
* Chickpeas - 1 large can (560g)
* Tahini - 200g
* Lemon - juice of 1
* Salt - 1 tsp
* Garlic - 1 clove, peeled and chopped
* To serve - olive oil and crudités
Preheat the oven to 210 degrees C. Place the pepper on a roasting tray with a drizzle of olive oil and roast for about 30 minutes, until tender.
Drain the chickpeas, reserving the liquid. Place the all ingredients (including the cooked pepper), along with half of the chickpea water, in a blender. Blend until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add extra cold water, little by little, until you reach your desired consistency. Add lemon or salt to taste. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a selection of fresh crudités.
Roasted Aubergines with tahini sauce
Serves 6, takes 10 minutes, plus oven time
side / summer / autumn / gluten free / dairy free / vegetarian / vegan / party / easy peasy / nothing fancy / date night / picnic / on a budget / detox / baby / ready in a jiffy
DS jokes that I'd be happy if we had this for dinner every day. He's probably right. Even my dad, who claims not to like aubergines, has been known to hoover up a few of these. Creamy smoky aubergines and tangy tahini sauce whipped up in an instant. It's hard to go wrong.
* Aubergines - 2 large
* Tahini - 3 tbsp
* Lemon - juice of 1/2
* To serve, fresh parsley, coriander or mint
Preheat the oven to 210 degrees C.
Cut the aubergines into quarters lengthways, then place them on a roasting tray in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, then roast for 40 minutes until lovely and golden brown.
To make the tahini sauce, whisk together the tahini and 4 tbsp of cold water in a glass to make a smooth paste. Add the lemon juice and a generous pinch of salt. You want a texture like double cream, so if the sauce is too thick, add a few extra drops of water and whisk to combine.. Add salt or lemon to taste.
Serve the aubergines warm or at room temperature with a generous drizzle of sauce and some freshly chopped herbs.
Green bean, preserved lemon and olive salad
Serves 6, takes 10 minutes
salad / side / summer / autumn / gluten free / dairy free / vegetarian / vegan / party / easy peasy / nothing fancy / date night / detox / picnic / ready in a jiffy
This is a quick an easy way to jazz up some green veg. If green beans aren’t in season, the salad also works well with broccoli or kale.
* Green beans - three big handfuls, topped and tailed
* Black olives - 2 handfuls, pitted
* Preserved lemon - 1/2, finely sliced
* Fresh parsley - a handful, chopped
* Lemon - juice of 1/2
* Olive oil - a couple of glugs
* Zatar - a couple of tbsp
Cook the beans in salted water for around five minutes, or until tender. Drain and set aside. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
Pistachio and coriander pesto
Makes a bowl, takes 10 minutes
side / perennial / gluten free / dairy free / vegetarian / vegan / party / easy peasy / showing off / date night / picnic / ready in a jiffy
This is what brings everything together. It’s nutty, zingy and oh so tasty. It would be delicious with all sorts of things - to accompany a simple fish filet, over pasta, in a salad or a sandwich. Anything goes.
* Pistachio nuts - 125g, shelled
* Fresh coriander - a decent handful
* Fresh parsley - a small handful
* Salt - 1/2 tsp
* Lemon - juice of 1
* Garlic - 1 clove, peeled and roughly chopped
* Olive oil - about 150ml
Place all the ingredients except the olive oil in a blender and blend until you have a smooth paste. Slowly drizzle in olive oil with the mixer running (you don’t really need to measure here) until you have a thick pesto consistency. Check for seasoning and add extra lemon or salt if you think it needs it.
Roasted zatar chicken
Serves 6, takes 10 minutes, plus oven time
main / perennial / gluten free / dairy free / party / easy peasy / nothing fancy / picnic / baby / brunch
For me, a simply roasted free range chicken is hard to beat. I’ve already posted a different version with a tahini sauce, and the cooking method here is the same. Mum’s tried and tested trick of cooking the bird upside down for the first hour means that the breasts stay lovely and juicy.
* Free range chicken - 1 large
* Lemon - a couple of quarters of lemons you have already squeezed
* Garlic - a few cloves
* Olive oil - 3 tbsp
* Zatar - 2 tbsp
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Stuff the lemon skins and the garlic cloves into the cavity of the chicken. Season the cavity with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, mix together the zatar and olive oil with a couple of pinches of salt and plenty of black pepper. Rub all over the chicken so the skin is evenly covered.
Place the chicken in a roasting tray breast side down. Roast in the oven for an hour.
After an hour, remove the roasting tray from the oven and carefully flip the chicken over. Return to the oven for 25 minutes.
Leave the chicken to rest for 20 minutes before cutting into it. This will keep the juices in the meat and give you time to crisp up any roasted veggies.
Roasted sweet potatoes
Serves 6, takes 5 minutes plus oven time
side / gluten free / dairy free / vegetarian / vegan / party / easy peasy / nothing fancy / on a budget / brunch / baby / perennial
Ah, the roasted sweet potato. Always a comfort. You don’t really need a recipe for this, but I’ve included some things about timing which might be helpful if you’re putting everything together.
* Sweet potatoes - enough for six
* Paprika - a few pinches
* Olive oil - a glug
Scrub the potatoes clean (I like to leave the skins on). Cut them into wedges and place on a large roasting tray, ideally in a single layer. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and a few pinches of paprika.
If you’re cooking the potatoes at the same time as the roast chicken, pop them in the oven half an hour before the bird is cooked, then boost the temperature up to 220 for a final twenty minutes of crisping. Serve hot with plenty of coriander pesto.
If you’re roasting the sweet potatoes on their own, I usually do them at 210 degrees C for 40 minutes. You want them tender on the inside and golden brown on the outside.