The Iraqi Family Cookbook

The Iraqi Family Cookbook
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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Skillet Berry Apple Cake


This is an easy recipe, and a favorite of my guests during the Summer. You could always use frozen berries too. You only need to slice the apples thinly using a mandolin slicer or a food processor attachment.

I stick of butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
2 eggs
1 Apple thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
I teaspoon vanilla
In a mixing bowl, put the butter and stir in the sugar. Beat it with a mixer until the sugar has combined and the color of butter is pale yellow.
Add the eggs and stir. Add the apples and stir. Add the flour, baking powder and vanilla. Stir to combine the ingredients for 3 minutes.
Put one teaspoon of melted butter in a non stick skillet and butter the surface of the skillet.
Pour the cake batter and drop the berries on top. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar on top of the berries.
Bake in a preheated 350 F oven for 30-40 minutes depending on your oven.
Cool in the skillet and then transfer to plate. Serve it with ice cream or whipping cream.
Enjoy 

Grilled Lamb Liver كبد خروف مشوي


During the Summer, I try to do most of my cooking on the grill. You can use lamb, goat or beef liver for this recipe. It is a popular street food item on the menu. 
If you do not have metal skewers, use bamboo skewers.You will need to soak the bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes before you put them on the grill. This will prevent them from burning on the grill.
Brine:
I usually slice and soak the liver pieces in a bowl of water, salt and vinegar for 15 minutes to remover most of the blood.
Ingredients for marinate:
1 pound lamb, sliced and drained
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1/2 cup of onion, chopped
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mixed spices( Seven Spices or Syrian Spices) it is a combination of cinnamon, allspice, cloves,ginger,cloves, black pepper, and cardamom.
In a bow, put all the above ingredients and stir.
Drain the liver pieces from the water vinegar solution in a colander. Pat them with paper towel and drop them in the marinade and stir to coat the pieces with the oil and spices. Set aside for 15 -30 minutes.
Insert the skewers in the liver pieces. You could thread five pieces per skewer.
Place on the grill, for 5 minutes on each side.
You can serve with tomatoes, scallions, herbs and bread. 
Enjoy 

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Farro Pilaf طبخة القمح او الفريكة النباتية

Farro Pilaf طبخة القمح او الفريكة النباتية

Farro (فريكة) is an ancient grain found in the Middle East. It tastes chewy like barley. It takes time to cook between 35-40 minutes. I usually purchase parboiled farro from Trader Joe's and cooks in 15 minutes.
You can cook it with chicken, or lamb. I prefer to cook it  vegetarian.

1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup parboiled farro
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Heat olive oil in a deep pot. Add onions and season with salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes and stir. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the farro and boiling water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer until water is absorbed. If the grains are still hard add 1/2 cup of water and leave it to simmer on low heat for ten minutes. Turn off heat and leave it covered. 
Serve with salads or as a side dish for chicken.
If you are using regular farro, soak it in water for 30 minutes before cooking. Use 2 cups of water to 1 cup of farro. Bring to a boil until water absorbed. 
Serve it as a salad or pilaf with chicken.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Mamoul Filled with Dates

معمول بالتمر 


I was experimenting with this Lebanese recipe as there are so many different version of how to make the dough. I came up with this successful recipe to make a small batch.  You can double the recipe.
Makes 15 cookies. 
1 stick of butter, melted(4-ounces)
1 cup fine semolina
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons rose water 
8-ounces pressed dates
Melt the butter and pour in a bow. Add the flour, semolina, salt and baking powder and stir. The mixture will harden in five minutes. Add the rose water and mix using your hands. When the mixture becomes soft and the dough holds itself, cover and set a side for 30 minutes.
Prepare the filling:
Sauté the pressed dates in butter and add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and ground cardamoms. Set aside to cool. You can prepare the filling the day before if you wish.
To form the cookie, take a small portion of dough the size of a lime. Flatten it and fill it with 1 teaspoon of dates turn the sides of the dough towards the center to close it. Put it in a wooden mold and press it to make the design. Turn the mold over and tap it on a cutting board to release the cookie. Arrange on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. 
Bake for 20-25 minuted in a 350 degrees preheated oven.
Remover from over and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Serve with coffee or tea.
Enjoy

Monday, January 25, 2016

Potato Cakes, عروك البطاطة


This is a delicious recipe that we prepare during Lent. I prepare these cake as a side dish or an appetizer. You can prepare them ahead of time and freeze them. When you are ready to serve, just put them in heated oven at 350 degrees F. For 15 minutes.
Ingredients 
5-6 russet potatoes 
1 cup scallions, chopped
1 egg
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 
1/2 teaspoon turmeric 
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, optional
Oil for frying

Place the potatoes in a pot of boiling water and boil for 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and immerse them in cold water. This will make it easy to peel them.
Shred the potatoes using a food processor attachment or a hand shredder. 
Put the shredded potatoes in a bowl. Add the bread crumbs, flour, spices and salt. stir and add the egg and scallions. Use your hands to combine all the ingredient. 
Take a small portion of the mixture the size of an egg. Shape it into a patty. Wet your hands in oil while shaping the patty.
Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Slide the patties in oil. When they become lightly browned turn them to the other side. It should take three minutes on each side.
Remove from oil and drain on paper towel. 
Serve them at room temperature with pickles. 
Enjoy

Monday, January 4, 2016

Spinach Zucchini Soup, شوربة الكوسة و السبانخ


This is a light, warming soup that you can prepare in 30 minutes. It freezes well and you can keep in the refrigerator for a week. It is vegetarian, but you can add chicken stock and pieces of leftover chicken to it if you prefer.

3 cups water
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup rice
1 zucchini, peeled and sliced
1 cup frozen spinach, or 1/2 pound fresh spinach
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon salt, or more
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried mint, or 1 tablespoon fresh mint
Bring water to a boil in a pot. Add rice, onions, and garlic. When rice is halfway cooked, add the zucchini and spinach, and simmer for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add lemon juice and dried mint. Turn off the heat and keep the pot covered for 10 minutes. Taste if it needs more seasoning.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Cauliflower Fritters عروك القرنبيط

Cauliflower Fritters عروك القرنبيط
This is a very delicious vegetarian recipe you can prepare as an appetizer, a side dish, or take to picnics. We usually prepare it during Lent. There are different varieties and you can add to it herbs you like and make it your own. My sister adds to it curry powder and turmeric. You could add parsley or cilantro. 


1 medium head of cauliflower, chopped
1 bunch scallions, chopped or medium onion
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon black pepper or curry powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 Vegetable Oil for frying

Put the cauliflower and onion, or scallions in the food processor and pulse until well chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Add spices, flour and baking soda and stir. Set aside for 10 minuted.
Heat oil in a pan.  Take a tablespoon of the mixture and from a patty. Drop the patties in oil. When the edges start to brown, turn to the other side.
When cooked, remove them and put the on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain the fat. When cool, you can freeze them, and reheat them in oven when needed.
Enjoy them with pickles.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Molasses cookies كعكة الطحينة والدبس


These are one of my favorite healthful cookies the I always keep in my kitchen. I got the inspiration from mixing the tahini with date molasses in a small plate, I stir it and spread it on a piece of bread. This is the typical snack food in Iraq during Lent or Winter. It very much resembles the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. If you do not have tahini which is sesame paste, you can use peanut butter, but tahini has a mild flavor. You can find the date molasses in the Middle Eastern grocery stores. 




1/2 cup date molasses
1/2 cup tahini
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 ounces butter, melted
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cardamom, or cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons sesame seeds 
Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.
In a bowl, combine the molasses, tahini, butter, sugar and egg and stir with a wooden spoon. Add flour, salt, baking soda and sesame seeds and stir. The mixture will be soft.
Takes a small piece of dough the size of walnut and roll it in your hands. Arrange the cookies on a baking pan lined with silicone liner or parchment paper. 
Bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool for 30 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
Store them in a Tupperware contaminate lined with parchment paper.
Enjoy these cookies with tea or coffee.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Mushroom with Pease

This is a vegetarian dish that you can use as a side dish with meat or rice. I had leftover saffron rice and decided to make a topping for the rice. Very delicious!

1 (8 ounce s) baby bell mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons frozen peas
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
I tablespoon fresh thyme (optional)

Heat oil in a deep pan. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and thyme, and stir for a few minutes until mushrooms are cooked. Add frozen peas and stir. Leave it to cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to serve over rice.
Enjoy.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Broccoli Vegetarian Bites

This is not an Iraqi recipe, but wanted to share it with you to enjoy it as much as I do.
These are very delicious snacks or served as an appetizer. I had leftover cooked broccoli and wanted to make lunch snack to take with me to work. You can eat them at room temperature or heat them in the oven. You can freeze them after baking to serve for later when needed.
Makes 24

2 cups cooked broccoli, chopped
½ cup scallions, chopped
½ cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup flour
¼ cup Parmesan cheese  plus extra for rolling
1 egg
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
½ teaspoon baking powder
Pour 1/ cup of Parmesan cheese in a bowl and set aside.
Put all the above ingredients in the food processor and pulse a few times until al well combined. Pour the mixture into a bow. Oil your hands and take a small ball of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Drop it in the bowl of Parmesan cheese and roll it. Arrange the balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Drizzle olive oil over these balls and bake in 350 degrees F. preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.
Remove from oven and leave the tray on the kitchen counter for 14 minutes before removing the broccoli balls.

You can also use any type of green veggies instead of the broccoli. Make sure to cook the greens, chop them and  remove the moisture out, before adding to the processor.
Enjoy.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Grilled Chicken Shawirma with Red Rice- شاورمة دجاج ورز احمر بالبزالية

I attempted to grill the chicken outdoors, but you could arrange the chicken pieces on a sheet pan and put it under the broiler for 10 minutes. Turn the slices on the other side and leave it for 5 more minutes under the broiler.
You will need a jar of shawirma spices that you can find at Middle Eastern grocery stores.

Makes 3 servings
1 ½ pounds chicken breast,(boneless and skinless)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon shawirma spices
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
½ cup onion, chopped
1 glove garlic, chopped
Slice the chicken breast on a cutting board. In a deep bowl, pour the oil and vinegar and add the salt, spices , onions and garlic and stir. Add the chicken pieces and make sure they are very well coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
Heat the outdoor grill to medium. Place the chicken pieces on the grill and cover the grill. After 5 minutes, turn the chicken slices over and grill for 3 more minutes until done.
You can serve it with bread and salad or with rice cooked with tomato sauce.
Red Rice with Tomato and Peas
This is a vegetarian rice but you could add chicken stock or lamb stock to the rice if you prefer.
3 cups boiling water
1 ½ cup basmati long grain rice
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Bahar or Arabian spice
¼ cup water
½ cup frozen peas
In a deep pot, bring water to a boil. Add salt and rice and stir the rice. Leave rice starts to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour rice in a strainer and leave to drain.
In a pot, heat the oil and add onions and season with salt and spices, and stir. Add the tomato paste and stir. Add ½ cup of water and bring to a boil. Add the peas and rice and stir. Reduce heat to low and cover to steam for 20 minutes.

Serve it with Arabic salad and pickles
Enjoy

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Homemade Vinegar, - الخل بالفواكه

Vinegar making is a tradition in every Iraqi kitchen. We always serve pickles with meals, and vinegar is an essential kitchen ingredients that we keep in large pottery jars for pickling or salad dressing. 
Traditionally, we make vinegar using dates or grapes. I decided to experiment with fruit I have.I peeled a pineapple, and decided to put the core in a large mason jar. I added blueberries, a few dates and sugar.
The process takes a few weeks for the vinegar to mature; it takes a little of patience, but the result is very successful!



4 cups water
1/4 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed
core of one pineapple
1/2 an apple sliced
4 dates
1/2 cup sugar, divided
In a large clean jar, pour the filtered water. Leave 3 inches of space to the top of the jar,  to allow space for the fermentation process.
Add 1/4 cup of sugar and stir. Add all the fruit and cover the top of the jar with cloth towel.Secure the top with rubber band.(Fermentation needs air. This is why we do not secure the top of the jar completely).
Leave the jar in a dark area in the kitchen for 3 week. You will notice the bubble and fruit are rising up to the top due to the fermentation process. 
Line a strainer with cheesecloth and place on top of a stainless steel bowl. Pour the vinegar mixture in the strainer to catch all the fruit. Discard the fruit. Pour the vinegar mixture in a big jar. Add 1/4 cup of sugar and stir. Seal the jar halfway with the top cap. Cover the jar with a kitchen towel, and leave it to mature for six more weeks.
Line a funnel with a coffee filter and put it on top of a jar to strain the vinegar again. Now you are ready to use for salads or for marinades.
Enjoy

Apricot Jam-مربى المشمش

This is one of my favorite jams. I always have jars of homemade berry jams in my fridge, and I give them as a gift when invited by friends. Whenever I make yellow cake I drop a few spoons of strawberry or blackberry jam in the batter before I put the pan in the oven.
In this recipe, I do not peel the apricots. I cut each apricot in quarters. Ripe and soft apricots are best for this recipe.
1 pound fresh apricots
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon fruit fresh powder or lemon juice
In a saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Add the apricots, fruit fresh powder and stir. When mixture starts to boil, reduce heat and simmer on medium low for 30 minutes. Make sure to skim off the foam that develops around the edges of the pot. Also, make sure to stir a few times to prevent the fruit from sticking to the bottom of the pot. When water is almost absorbed and apricots are cooked, remove from heat and pour in canning jars. Seal the jars and leave on the kitchen counter until cool. Store in the refrigerator.
You can use this jam with cream cheese or a topping for apple cake.

Enjoy

Friday, April 10, 2015

Green Beans with Tomatoes-فاصوليا خضرة


This is a vegetarian dish that we serve as a side dish or a main dish with rice.
I used frozen Italian green beans, but you can use regular frozen or fresh cut green beans.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper or Arabian spices
1 pound frozen Italian green beans
1 8- ounces tomato sauce
1 medium tomato, chopped
11/2 cup water
In a deep pan, heat the oil and add the onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add salt and seasonings. Add the green beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes or until the green beans are cooked.
Serve with plain white rice or saffron rice. Enjoy

Friday, March 6, 2015

Potato Chap- بطاطا جاب

Kubbat potato is an appetizer or finger food that is very popular as a street food, and served as a heavy mazza in restaurants and at home. We also serve it as a snack for our guests and sometimes we prepare it for a picnic.
I used potato ricer that works best for this recipe.

Makes 14 discs
3 large baking potatoes 
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch 
Vegetable oil for frying
Filling:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 pound ground beef or lamb
1/2 cup onion,chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mixed spices, Syrian spice or seven spices
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Put the potatoes in a pot. Add water to cover. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil.
When the potatoes are cooked, remove from the pot and put aside to cool. Peel the potatoes and cut each in a half.
Mash the potatoes using the potato masher or ricer. When all mashed in a bowl, add the egg, salt and cornstarch. Mix by hand or a wooden spoon to combine.
Prepare the filling ahead to cool before filling the potato. Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onions until soft. Add the meat, salt, and spices and stir. When meat is cooked, set a side to cool. Add the chopped parsley and stir..
Now you are ready to assemble the potato kibbi. Take a small portion of the potato,the size of an egg. Dip your fingers in vegetable oil and roll the potato at make a ball. Make a hole in the middle and stuff the potato with one teaspoon of the meat filling.. Close it and pat it to make a disk.arrange on a plate.
Heat oil in a frying pan. Slide the disks in oil. When it gets toasty, flip the disks to the other side. Remove from  pan and place on a paper towel to absorb the oil. .
When cool, arrange the disks in plastic container for later use.When, ready to serve, arrange the potato  disks on a baking tray and heat in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F.
You can freeze these disks before frying, but I prefer to fry them, freeze them and reheat them when ready to serve.
enjoy

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Dates Bread- كعكة بالتمر

Dates Bread is called, خبز بالتمر اوالكعك بالتمر




The dough is sticky






This is a delicious sweet bread that goes well with afternoon tea or breakfast. Once you  make this bread, you would not want to buy bread from the grocery store!
You can use majdool date or pressed dates for baking, which you can find at Middle Eastern grocery stores. This recipe does not require a lot of kneading
1 tablespoon yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter,melted
3 eggs
4 tablespoons powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon ground fennel, optional
1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds
Egg wash and one tablespoon sesame seeds

Prepare the date mixture by sautéing one pound of dates with a tablespoon of butter. Add ground cardamom and cinnamon for flavoring and mix. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, put the yeast and add the sugar and warm water and stir. when the yeast becomes foamy add the butter, eggs, salt, and stir. Gradually, add the flour as you stir. Add fennel and nigella seeds and stir. The dough will be rather sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place on a floured board. Knead the dough for 2 minutes .Cover with a dish towel to  to rest for 15 minutes. Divide the dough into 6 pieces.
Use a rolling pin to roll out each piece of dough to make 6x3  inches. Roll the dates to make a rope..place the date rope on the dough and fold the dough over the date rope. And pinch the edges to seal . Attach both ends to make a ring. Make a few cuts  around the ring. Place on a sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the dough with a towel and place in a warm area in the kitchen to rise for 1 hour.
Uncover the dough and brush the top of the rings with egg wash and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Bake in a 375 degrees F preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and leave it on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Remove bread and place on a wire rack to cool.
Enjoy

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Lamb and Potato Curry- كاري بالبطاطا

This is a delicious recipe using lamb chops. You could use stewing lamb, veal or beef. 


6-8 lamb chops
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
5 cloves of garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon salt
1 large tomato, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 1/2 cup water
1 lemon
2 large russet potatoes, peeled and sliced
In a deep pot, heat the oil and sear the lamb chops on both sides. Add the onions, garlic,salt and spices and  cook for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste and stir. Pour the water over and cover the pot and simmer for 60 minutes on medium heat. 
Check the sauce if it needs more salt. Add the potatoes. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes until the potatoes are cooked.
Turn off the heat, and squeeze the juice of one lemon and pour it over the the lamb chops.
Serve with plain white rice and salads.
Enjoy

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Lamb Kufta with Potatoes, كفتة بالبطاطة

This is a very popular dish that we bake in the oven. You can cook it on top of the stove in a deep pan.

Serves 4
1 pound ground lamb or beef
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon Arabian spice(bahar)
2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 large russet potato, peeled
1 large tomato
1 ( 14.5-ounce can) diced tomatoes 
1/2 cup water

In a bowl, put the ground lamb and add the garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt and spice and mix by hand. Shape the meat into small balls and press each ball to make patties, and set aside.

Slice the tomato in half and slice in 1/4 inch slices, and set aside. Slice the potato in 1/4 inch sliced and cut each slice in a half. Slice the onion very thinly.

Open the tomato can and pulse the tomatoes in the food processor to make a purée.

In a deep Pyrex dish, pour 1 cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of the pan. Make a stack of meat, potato, onion and tomato slices. Arrange side by side in the pan. When all meat and slices are arranged, pour the water and the rest of the tomato sauce. Season with salt and more spices if desired.

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes in 350 degrees F. Oven. Remove from oven, uncover and bake for15 more minutes. 

Serve with plain white rice, and salad.

Friday, January 2, 2015

Stuffed Vegetables- Dolma-دولمة


This is a traditional dish that we usually prepare in the weekend or when we have a big gathering. You can use the seasonal vegetables for this dish. During Winter we replace the grape leaves with Swiss Chard.

6-8 Servings
2 green peppers, top off, and seeds removed  
3 zucchinis, peeled and, cut in a half
3 small Italian eggplants, cut in a half
2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 pound ground lamb or beef
1 cup white rice
1 small onion, chopped
Juice of 2 lemons
1 cup tomato sauce, divided
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon Arabic Spice
1 (16-ounce) jar grape leaves
1 1/2 cup water

Core the inside of the zucchini and eggplant and set the flesh aside.
 Salt the insides of the vegetables with 1 teaspoon of salt, and place in a strainer to drain for 30 minutes.
Combine the meat, rice, lemon juice, garlic, onions, and half a cup tomato sauce, 1 remaining teaspoon of salt, and spices. Stuff the vegetables and arrange side by side in a deep pan or pot.
To stuff grape leaves, place one tablespoon of the filling in the center. Fold the sides to the center and fold the leaf over and roll lightly. Arrange them on top of the vegetables with the seem down.
If you are using fresh grape leaves, put them in boiling water to soften them for 5 minutes before stuffing.
Arrange the stuffed grape leaves on top of the vegetables. Pour the tomato sauce and water on top.
Place a fruit plate on top of the vegetables to keep them submerged. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a medium. Cook for 30 minutes, covered, until rice is cooked.
To serve, cover the pot with a tray or a large platter, and flip the pot on the tray. Serve it with bread and yogurt cucumber  salad/



Saturday, December 6, 2014

Baklava-Baklawa بقلاوة خفيفة و لذيذة

Today, I started baking for the Holidays. I made this delicious tray of baklawa. It is a very light recipe, NOT loaded with syrup. Check out this website for the recipe, plus other iraqi cookies that I baked during a TV show.
www.chefsrecipes.org/show127.htm