Knafeh with Cheese Recipe

Knafeh with Cheese

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves: 10 people
Level: Intermediate

Ingredients

Knafeh

250 gram Knafeh dough
1/2 cup butter, melted
500g fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into halves and frozen
100 grams milk
Pinch of salt

Syrup

2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup water
A few drops of lemon juice
1 teaspoon blossom water
2 teaspoon rose water

For garnish

Pistachio powder
any edible flowers

Directions

To prepare the Syrup:

Boil sugar and water in a sauce pan. Add drops of lemon juice. Let the mixture boils on low heat for about 20 minutes. Add blossom water and rose water. Strain the mixture and set aside to cool.

To prepare Kunafa:

Preheat oven at 200 °C.

Mix milk, butter and a pinch of salt.

Divide kunafa into smooth strands about 13 cm long. Spread part of the kunafa dough.

Brush kunafa with butter and milk. Wrap a piece of the frozen mozzarela cheese with kunafa and form it like a ball.

Put kunafa in a muffin or tart pan. Repeat the process until the pan is filled with kunafa then pour a little of butter and milk on top.

Place another pan filled with chickpeas of beans over the kunafa pan.

Bake for 20 minutes until gaining a little color of golden brown.

After 10 minutes, remove the pan which is filled with chickpeas or beans.


Continue baking for another 10 minutes.

Pour cold syrup over hot knafeh. Let it rest for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with pistachio powder and garnish with edible flowers. Serve hot

Source: Lebanese Recipes

Lebanese biryani rice recipe

Lebanese biryani rice

Preparation time: 60 minutes
Serves: 3
Level: Medium

Ingredients

3 cups rice
300 grams of lamb, minced
1 onion, chopped small
2 tbsp oil
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp meat spices
1/2 tsp of cinnamon powder
1 tsp seven spices
black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sweet spices

Directions

In a saucepan, heat oil and 3 table spoons butter, add onion and stir until golden brown then add meat. Stir well and add spices.

Add washed and rinsed rice to the meat and stir gently.

Add boiled water. Leave it until rice absorbs the water.

Let it cook on low heat for 10 minutes.

Place rice in a serving dish. Garnish with fried almonds and pine nuts.

Serve with biryani sauce.

Source: Lebanese Recipes

Basbousa with Chocolate Recipe

Basbousa with Chocolate Recipe

Preparation time: 10 minutes | Serves: 12 persons| Level: Medium

Ingredients

2 cups caster sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 cup water
1 stick cinnamon
2 pods cardamom
1/2 orange peel
1/2 cup butter
8 bars soft dark chocolate
1 cup yogurt
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 cup semolina
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla

To garnish
boiled almonds

Directions

- Preheat oven to 180°C.

- Place sugar, honey, water, cardamom and orange peel in a sauce pan. Let it cook for five minutes. Let mixture cools.

- Melt butter and chocolate in a hot water bath.

- Mix remaining ingredients together and add to the chocolate mixture and Mix well.

- Pour mixture in a baking ban greased with butter. Cut it into desired shapes using a knife. Place an almond over each piece. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

- Remove from oven and power sugar syrup over it.

- Place basbousa again in over for another 5 minutes.

Source: Lebanese Recipes

Kofta with Green Olives Recipe

Kofta with Green Olives Recipe

Ingredients

½ kg meat, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
½ cup bread crumbs, crushed
1 eggs, Whipped
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper, paprika
1 stick cinnamon
4 tomatoes, grated
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
1 cup beef broth
1 cup green olives, Pitted
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

- In a deep bowl, mix meat with garlic, herbs, eggs, bread crumbs, salt and black pepper

- Form small balls from the meat mixture. Put in the fridge for 30 minutes.

- Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel.

- Saute onion in the same skillet with the remaining olive oil.

- Add pepper, paprika and stir until onion softens.

- Add the cinnamon, tomatoes, tomato sauce and broth.

- Leave the sauce to boil over low heat and season with salt and black pepper.

- Add meat balls and olives. Cook for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and the meatballs are cooked.

- Serve with rice.

Source: Lebanese Recipes
 

Top 10 Airlines in the world

1. Qatar Airways

Last year's ranking: 2
Skytrax says: Qatar Airways also achieved success in the Best Business Class Seat category finishing in the top spot for the first time. It is probably no coincidence that this award has coincided with the introduction of the A380 and A350 aircraft into the QR fleet - survey respondents indicated that these latest seating designs have set new benchmark standards of comfort, space and privacy.

2. Singapore Airlines

Last year's ranking: 3
Skytrax says: The Changi based flag carrier finished second in the global survey ranking edging out regional rival (and 2014 winner) Cathay Pacific Airways and ANA All Nippon Airways in the Asia region category. Singapore Airlines also achieved success at the front end of the aircraft with highly sought after World's Best Business Class leading Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific in second and third place.

3. Cathay Pacific Airways

Last year's ranking: 1
Skytrax says: Cathay Pacific achieved success by winning the Best Airline Transpacific for the third time at the 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards in Paris. This was the airlines third success in this category having previously triumphed in 2011 and 2013. South Korea's Asiana Airlines secured second position, with ANA All Nippon Airways achieving third place.

4. Turkish Airlines

Last year's ranking: 5
Skytrax says: Turkish Airlines also achieved considerable success in the Business Class cabin winning the top awards for World's Best Business Class Lounge and Best Business Class Lounge Dining. The flagship lounge in Istanbul is amongst the largest in the world - capable of accommodating 1000 customers and hosts several live cooking stations serving the best of local and International dishes, design by catering company Do&Co.

5. Emirates

Last year's ranking: 4
Skytrax says: Emirates retained their stranglehold on the World's Best Inflight Entertainment awards at the 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards in Paris. Finishing ahead of Qatar Airways in second place and Singapore Airlines in third, EK continues to have the edge over its closest global competitors despite continued hardware and programming improvements by carriers across the industry.
Emirates secured the award for Best First Class Comfort Amenities ahead of local rival Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines. At the top-end of the industry this is a very competitive category - particularly when assessing the quality levels between the top-5 airlines.

6. Etihad Airways

Last year's ranking: 9
Skytrax says: With a vast array of new product and service concepts introduced in the last 6-months it is perhaps no surprise that Etihad have once again achieved significant success at the front end of the aircraft. Customers are clearly impressed by the WOW factor of the latest Etihad First Class innovations, which sit alongside an already competitive range of cabin products.

7. ANA All Nippon Airways

Last year's ranking: 6
Skytrax says: The carrier was named as having the World's Best Airport Services which recognises frontline airport staff - from check-in through to the gate, arrival, transfer and lounge. EVA Air and Garuda Indonesia finished strongly in second and third position in the Airport Services category.

8. Garuda Indonesia

Last year's ranking: 7
Skytrax says: Indonesian flag carrier Garuda secured the prize for the World's Best Cabin Staff for the second consecutive year at the Skytrax World Airline Awards in Paris. This is the first time an airline has managed to retain the award and is further recognition of the remarkable turnaround for the airline. Previous winner Asiana Airlines secured second position, with the 2015 Best Airline in Asia Singapore Airlines achieving third.

9. EVA Air

Last year's ranking: 12
Skytrax says: EVA Air were announced as the world's cleanest airline at the 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards with the prize for World's Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness - this was ahead of Singapore Airlines in second position and previous winner ANA All Nippon Airways in third. Customers also voted EVA into the top-10 globally ranked airlines for the first time with a ninth place finish this year.

10. Qantas Airways

Last year's ranking: 11
Skytrax says: Australia's Qantas Airways had a successful year at the 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards winning the Best Airline in Australia/Pacific award for the third consecutive year. Qantas also secured another top prize for the Best Business Class Comfort Amenities ahead of Qatar Airways and China's Hainan Airlines with customers recognising the significant product upgrades made by QF in the last 2-years.

Lebanese Lentil Salad Recipe

Total Time 1hr 10mins
Prep 40 mins
Cook 30 mins

The lemon and mint are the secret to giving these basic lentils their middle eastern flavor.

Ingredients

Servings 4-6 Units US

1 cup lentils
4 cups water
3⁄4 cup red pepper, chopped
1⁄3 cup red onion, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
6 tablespoons olive oil
6 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

1. In saucepan, bring lentils and water to a boil, cook 30 minutes until tender, drain.
2. Add pepper, onion and mint.
3. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve.
4. Just before serving, add oil, lemon juice, garlic and feta.
5. toss and serve.

More from the Hummus Blog: 

Tomato and pomegranate salad
Chargrilled pumpkin and haloumi salad
Cracked wheat and parsley salad (Tabooleh)  
Pita Salad with Cucumber, Fennel, and Chicken Recipe
Hummus-and-Rice Fritters with Mediterranean Salad Recipe
Persian-spiced fish with quinoa salad recipe

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Honey-Braised Lamb Shanks Recipe

Lamb shanks are braised for hours in a sumptuous sauce of honey, almonds, and raisins in this centuries-old Moroccan dish served at the restaurant Mansouria.

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS

¼ olive oil
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
4 lamb shanks, frenched, if desired
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 large white onion, finely chopped
1 cup golden raisins
2 tbsp. ras el hanout (available at The Spice House, or make your own)
¼ tsp. crushed saffron threads
1 stick cinnamon
1 cup blanched whole almonds
⅔ cup honey
Toasted sesame seeds, to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oil and butter in an 8-qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season lamb generously with salt and pepper, and cook, turning as needed, until well browned all over, about 12 minutes. Transfer lamb to a plate; set aside.

2. Add onion to pot, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add raisins, ras el hanout, saffron, and cinnamon, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add lamb, almonds, honey, and 3 cups water, and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium, and cook, partially covered, until lamb is very tender, about 3½ hours. Divide shanks and sauce among serving plates, and sprinkle each with sesame seeds.

Source Saveur magazine November 2012 issue

More from the Hummus Recipes Kitchen:

Baked kibbeh (kibbeh bil sayneeyeh)
Moroccan vegetables with halloumi
Lamb and apricot kofta kebabs
Spiced koftas with lemon and houmous
Spicy Kofte
Lamb Chops with Tahini Sauce Recipe

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