Freekeh فريكة Freekeh is made from green durum wheat that processed in a special way to create a unique flavor. The wheat is harvested while the grains are yellow and the seeds still are soft; it then is piled and sun-dried. The piles are carefully set on fire so only the straw and chaff burn, […]
Shamborak شمبورك Probably the ancestor of every meat pie in the Western world. Thin, yeasted wheat flour dough is stuffed with a mixture of cooked onions and halal ground beef spiced with black pepper, and then baked into a self-contained parcel, much like a panzerotti or calzone, making it a popular street-food snack. Shamborak شمبورك […]
Fatteh Djaj فتّة الدجاج Fatteh (فتّة meaning crushed or crumbs) is a broad category of Levantine dishes made with pieces of crispy flatbread layered with yogurt and other ingredients. It is popular across Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Southern Syria, but uncommon further North. This dish is so closely associated with Syrian food that it […]
El R'gaga (الرقاقه أو المكامير) El R'gaga (aka Al Makameer) is a traditional dish from the countryside around Daraa, a city in the southwest of Syria near the border with Jordan. When there is a big occasion with many guests, groups of neighbourhood women get together and make a big batch. Many layers of thinly […]
Kabsa كبسة Kabsa is a family of rice dishes believed to have originated in Saudi Arabia, where it is commonly regarded as a national dish. It can be found in most Arab states of the Persian Gulf (where it is also known as makbūs مكبوس), and also in Jordan, Palestine and Southern Syria. These dishes […]
Shorbat Silq Bis Adas شوربة سلق بعدس Lentils have been an essential part of the Levantine winter pantry (mouneh) since biblical times; indeed, Esau allegedly forfeited his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup – one possibly not all that different than the one we are making tonight. This hearty soup is a […]
Shishbarak شيش برك Almost every cuisine in the world has their comfort food dumplings, and Syria is no exception. A soft dough is handmade from flour, salt and water and filled with cooked onions, olive oil, halal ground beef, salt and pepper and then baked. A thick, tangy yogurt sauce is prepared by cooking strained […]
Molokhia ملوخية Molokhia is dish that goes by many names; I’ve come across at least half a dozen English spellings alone. While a popular dish throughout the Middle East, it is virtually unknown in North America. It’s based on the leaves of the jute plant (the same one that produces jute fibre for rope & […]
Our last Newcomer Kitchen meal of 2017! Mosakett Batinjan bil Lahmeh (مسقعة باذنجان بالحمة) Eggplants and tomatoes are at the heart of many wonderful Levantine dishes. This dish, a flavourful eggplant stew with green peppers, chickpeas and beef meatballs is a relative of Greek Moussaka or Lebanese Maghmour. Mosakett Batinjan ( مسقعة الباذنجان ) The […]
AND WE'RE BACK! Newcomer Kitchen is now on WEDNESDAYS! Harraq Esbaoo حراق اصبعو A very old and well-known dish in Syria, the name translates “burning his finger”. The notion is that the dish is so delicious, that diners can’t resist going for it before it cools, so they burn their fingers. Lentils and fresh, hand-cut […]
A romantic choice from the ladies of Newcomer Kitchen especially for Valentine's Day... For this very unique dish from Aleppo, I found this lovely summary by food blogger Corinne Mossati: “The people of Aleppo have a shared passion. Not only do they pride themselves in food that is steeped in culinary traditions and guard their […]
Bamieh bi lahmeh بامیة باللحمة A traditional Middle Eastern dish, this light stew of okra and beef cubes can be found in countless variations in different countries and regions. The Syrian recipe features sauteed garlic and onion in a lightly spiced tomato gravy, generously garnished with parsley and coriander, and served alongside Rez bel Shairieh […]
After more than 18 months of operation, and nearly 4000 meals served, Newcomer Kitchen is raising our price to $25 to better reflect both the value of these incredible 3-course, homemade meals as well as the rising costs of food, rent and administration. It takes a lot of work put this together every week, and […]
Kousa Mahashi كوسا محشي Stuffed zucchinis are a dish cherished by the former Ottoman Empire, and popular from the Balkans to the Levant. The small, young pale green zucchini known as white marrows or balady are the most popular. They are hollowed out with a special tool known as a hafara حفّارة or mankara منقرة, […]
Auzi أوزة A decadent and luxurious meat pie from Damascus, auzy combines a filling of spiced ground beef (halal), rice and green peas, mixed with almonds and pines nuts that have been fried in butter. This filling is wrapped in a delicate, crispy phyllo pastry shell, and brushed with butter and eggs that give it […]
Burgul behommos برغل بحمص Burgul (aka bulgur wheat), is a dried cracked wheat that is an ancient staple of the Middle and Near East. It is typically made from whole grain durum wheat that has been coarsely ground, soaked, steamed and dried, a process that enhances its shelf life and nutritional profile. Compared to white […]
Tabakh Rohoo روحو طباخ The cold winter months are the time to break out the luscious, slow-cooked comfort foods like this delicious tomato-based eggplant stew with zucchini, potato and small cubes of lamb, garnished with coriander. Tabakh Rohoo is one of the most popular dish in Syria and originally comes from Damascus city. Similar to […]
Freekeh فريكة Freekeh is made from green durum wheat that processed in a special way to create a unique flavor. The wheat is harvested while the grains are yellow and the seeds still are soft; it then is piled and sun-dried. The piles are carefully set on fire so only the straw and chaff burn, […]
Shishbarak شيش برك Almost every cuisine in the world has their comfort food dumplings, and Syria is no exception. Similar to the tortellini-like dumplings known as manti in neighbouring Turkey, this traditional dish is popular in both the North and South of Syria. Each city has their distinctive way to make it; this recipe is […]
Makhlouta bil Awarma مخلوطة بالأورمة Makhlouta means "mixed" in Arabic, and in the Middle Eastern kitchen, this typically refers to an ancient dish of mixed beans, legumes and grains. A classic warm comfort food, Makhlouta can range from a soup to a thick, chili-like stew, with countless different variations and ratios of ingredients. This thick, […]
Kibbeh is one of the the most famous of all Syrian dishes… I’ve been told that there are over 20 kinds in Damascus alone! These traditional small fried kibbehs, little football-shaped fritters of bulgur dough with flavourful stuffings, together with warm yellow lentil soup is a classic combination. Kibbeh Maklieh bil Lahmeh كبة مقلية باللحمة […]
Mahashi Flefleh محاشي فليفلة Stuffed vegetables were cherished by the former Ottoman Empire, and they made them popular from the Balkans to the Levant. Small zucchinis or eggplants are perhaps the most common, but almost any vegetable can be Mahashi (stuffed). Today it’s a combination of colourful peppers (flefleh), stuffed with a mix of ground […]
Maqluba مقلوبة Maqluba is a traditional dish from the Levant that includes meat, rice, and fried vegetables layered in a pot, which is then tipped over before serving, hence the name which translates literally as “upside-down”. This Syrian version of the recipe includes tomatoes, eggplant, poached halal chicken and spiced ground beef, with a garnish […]
This week we’re featuring a selection of some the many kinds of fatayer found in Syrian cuisine… Tender, homemade flour dough is rolled out and either topped or stuffed with a variety of fillings before being baked. The meat meal includes 1 beef + 1 cheese fatayer; the vegetarian meal has 1 muhammara + 1 […]
Kebab Hindi كباب هندي Levantine cuisine has no shortage of kebabs – as Islamic culture spread across the world it brought with it many dishes, and brought back many inspirations and influences. So it comes as no surprise that there are countless kebab dishes in India, nor that Indian culinary ideas have also filtered back […]
Burgul Behommos with Chicken برغل بحمص Burgul (aka bulgur wheat), is a dried cracked wheat that is an ancient staple of the Middle and Near East. It is typically made from whole grain durum wheat that has been coarsely ground, soaked, steamed and dried, a process that enhances its shelf life and nutritional profile. Compared […]
Musakhan مسخن Over the last 60 years, many people from the Palestinian diaspora have found their way to Syria, bringing elements of their food and culture with them. Musakhan is a traditional Palestinian dish that has become very popular in Syria, especially in the South. Very thin sheets of “taboon” flat bread are filled with […]
Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad; an annual event regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. During Ramadan, fasting begins immediately after the pre-dawn meal of Suhur and continues during the daylight hours, ending with the evening meal […]
Mosakett Batinjan bil Lahmeh مسقعة باذنجان باللحمة Eggplants and tomatoes are at the heart of many wonderful Levantine dishes. This dish, a flavourful eggplant stew with green peppers, chickpeas and beef meatballs is a relative of Greek Moussaka or Lebanese Maghmour. The vegetarian version of this dish is equally popular throughout Syria and Lebanon. […]
Eid Mubarak to everyone from Newcomer Kitchen! Kabsa كبسة Kabsa is a family of rice dishes believed to have originated in Saudi Arabia, where it is commonly regarded as a national dish. It can be found in most Arab states of the Persian Gulf (where it is also known as makbūs مكبوس), and also in […]
Shamborak شمبورك by Dilsha, in the style of Al Kamishli City Probably the ancestor of every meat pie in the Western world. Thin, yeasted wheat flour dough is stuffed with a mixture of cooked onions and halal ground beef spiced with black pepper, and then baked (or sometimes fried). It comes with a traditional accompaniment, […]
What better way to celebrate Canada Day Holiday Monday than with immersive, all-day cooking workshop with Newcomer Kitchen on the delights of Syrian brunch? In late 2016, The Depanneur & Butler's Pantry teamed up with the fabulous cooks from Newcomer Kitchen to host Canada's first Syrian Brunch Pop-Up, a sold-out event that reached as far […]
Yabrak يبرق Stuffed grape vine leaves can be found on tables all around the Eastern Mediterranean. This Syrian recipe, by Khadija El Ebrahim from the city of Kamishli, features a ground lamb and rice filling seasoned generously with garlic, mint, Aleppo pepper, black pepper, with a bit of pepper paste. The carefully stuffed and rolled […]
Molokhia ملوخية Molokhia is dish that goes by many names; I’ve come across at least half a dozen English spellings alone. While a popular dish throughout the Middle East, it is virtually unknown in North America. It’s based on the leaves of the jute plant (the same one that produces jute fibre for rope & […]
Maldoum ملضوم When researching this dish, I found a lovely description of it on the blog of Tony Tahhan, a Fulbright scholar who has spent time studying the food culture in Aleppo. “One thing I learned about Syrian cuisine is that it is resourceful. Recipes were never exact; more like simple instructions that vary between […]
