The Syrian women of Newcomer Kitchen invite you to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments of this extraordinary year. In only a few short months, Newcomer Kitchen has invited over 55 Syrian newcomer women to collaborate with local restaurants to create transformative social and economic opportunities. Despite growing momentum and demand, the absence of dedicated funding keeps […]

The Syrian women of Newcomer Kitchen invite you to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments of this extraordinary year. In only a few short months, Newcomer Kitchen has invited over 55 Syrian newcomer women to collaborate with local restaurants to create transformative social and economic opportunities. Despite growing momentum and demand, the absence of dedicated funding keeps […]

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 […]

Auzy with Beef أوزي A decadent and luxurious meat pie from Damascus, auzy combines a filling of spiced ground beef (halal), rice and peas with rich almonds and pines nuts that have been fried to golden in butter, all wrapped in a buttery phyllo pastry shell and baked to until crispy. Auzy with Mushrooms أوزي […]

Majaddarat Bulgur مجدرة برغل Well known in many Syrian villages, this staple dish of bulgur, lentils and onions is highly regarded for its nutritional value and health benefits. In Syria, lentils, with their high iron content, are sometimes called the “meat of the poor” ( المجدرة لحم الفقراء); or “nails for your knees” (المجدرة مسمامير […]

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 […]

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 winter soup is […]

  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 […]

Tabakh Rohoo (طباخ روحو) 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. Similar to North African tagines or Persian khoresh, it is redolent with warm spices and sometime enriched with some melted ghee before […]

  Jaj Batata bil Foron جاج و بطاطا بالفرن Potatoes have become part of the comfort food repertoire all over the world, and the Mediterranean is no exception. Everywhere from France to Greece to Egypt has their own version of a simple and satisfying meal of roast chicken and potatoes; Syrians like theirs with lots […]

El Rgaga الرقاقه أو المكامير El Rgaga (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 […]

Bulgur Bandoura برغل ببندورة Bulgur, whole wheat that has been parboiled, dried and then cracked, is one of the very nutritious staple grains in Syrian cuisine. It comes in a range of colours, from pale yellow to dark brown, and grinds, from very fine to coarse. In this classic dish, bulgur is cooked with tomatoes […]

Mahashi Bialllahma محاشي باللحمة -or- Mahashi Nabatia محاشي نباتية Stuffed vegetables were cherished by the former Ottoman Empire, and they made them popular from the Balkans to the Levant. Pale green young zucchinis are very popular, but almost any vegetable can be Mashi (stuffed). Today it's a combination of eggplants (batenjan), tomatoes (bandoura) and peppers […]

Fatteh Djaj فتتة جاج 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 […]

Kibbeh Summaqiyah كبة سماقية Kibbeh in sumac sauce are a specialty of Aleppo, considered by many to be the culinary capital of Syria. Kibbeh – egg-sized elongated balls of finely ground spiced halal beef and bulgur stuffed with a ground beef and nut mixture, are fried and then topped with a tangy, dark red sumac-infused […]

Sayadieh صيادية Fish and seafood is something of a rarity in Syrian cuisine, but it does appear in the specialities of areas along the Mediterranean coast in the East. In this dish (roughly translated as "fisherman's dish"), white fish (tilapia) is delicately seasoned with a blend of warm spices (baharat), and served atop long grain […]

For this very unique speciality of 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 recipes close to heart, they undeniably affirm their cuisine as the best in […]

Kabsa كبسة‎‎ Kabsa is a family of rice dishes believed to be indigenous to Saudi Arabia, where it is commonly regarded as a national dish. I can be found in most Arab states of the Persian Gulf (where it is also known as makbūs مكبوس‎‎), and into Jordan, Palestine and Southern Syria. These dishes are […]

Yabrak يبرق Stuffed grape vine leaves can be found on tables all around the Eastern Mediterranean. This Syrian recipe, features a ground beef and rice filling seasoned generously with parsley, mint, onion and black pepper. Some cooks add a bit of finely ground coffee that adds complexity and depth. They are cooked in a tangy […]

From a Seed Comes a Tree: A Community Dinner in Celebration of Eid and Newcomer Kitchen A Joyful Night of Traditional Syrian Food, Music & Activities Where: The 519 • 519 Church St., Toronto, just N. of Wellesley St. When: Thursday June 29 • Doors 6pm, Dinner 7pm, Music 8:30pm Tickets: $35 • Tables of […]

We're back! With summer in full swing and beautiful local vegetables filling up the markets, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to kick off with one of the ladies' favourite dishes. Kousa Mahashi كوسا محشي Stuffed zucchinis are a dish cherished by the former Ottoman Empire, and popular from the Balkans to the Levant. The […]

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 […]

For this very unique speciality of 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 recipes close to heart, they undeniably affirm their cuisine as the best in […]

Musaqait Elbatinjan ( مسقعة الباذنجان ) With eggplants and tomatoes in seasons, there are lots of wonderful Levantine dishes to make! This dish, a flavourful eggplants stew with green peppers, chickpeas and small cubes of lamb is a lighter cousin of Greek Moussaka, and is equally good hot or cold. Musaqait Elbatinjan ( مسقعة الباذنجان […]

A light, summery meze menu, perfect for a picnic or patio: fresh-baked flatbreads, a selection of delicious dips and a cool summer salad. Fatayer Lahmeh فطاير لحمة (Sfiha صفيحة ) + Fatayer Sabaneh فطاير سبانخ -or- Fatayer Jibneh فطاير جبنة + Fatayer Sabaneh فطاير سبانخ Fatayer are a whole category delicious small baked treats that […]

Djaj del Moghrabieh مُغربية Moghrabieh, meaning ”a dish from the Maghreb”, is a kind of giant couscous - small balls of semolina flour pasta that were traditionally rolled by hand. It is especially popular in Lebanon where it is made with either lamb shanks or chicken - or sometimes both - and served at big […]

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 […]

D'jaj mishwi bil thoom wil za'tar w' eklil el Jabal دجاج مشوي باللثوم و الزعتر و إكليل الجبل Potatoes have become part of the comfort food repertoire all over the world, and the Mediterranean is no exception. Everywhere from France to Greece to Egypt has their own version of a simple and satisfying meal of […]

Kibbeh summaqiyah كبة سماقية Kibbeh in sumac sauce are a specialty of Aleppo, considered by many to be the culinary capital of Syria. Kibbeh – egg-sized elongated balls of finely ground spiced halal beef and bulgur stuffed with a ground beef and nut mixture, are fried and then topped with tangy, dark red sumac-infused sauce […]

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 […]

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 Syrain version of the recipe includes tomatoes, eggplant, poached halal chicken and spiced ground beef, with a garnish […]

#throwbackthursday This is the very first dish that Newcomer Kitchen ever sold, back in May of 2016. It was so incredibly delicious, but for some reason hasn't appeared on the menu since, so we're excited to offer it again! Shakriya Tender cubes of halal beef with onions in a rich yogurt sauce, spiced with fried […]

  -or- Mahashi Flefleh فليفلة محشي Stuffed vegetables were cherished by the former Ottoman Empire, and they made them popular from the Balkans to the Levant. Pale green young zucchinis are perhaps the most common, but almost any vegetable can be Mashi (stuffed). Today it’s a combination of colourful peppers (flefle) that have come into […]

or Yakaneh Batata bel Batinjan ( يخنة بطاطا و باذنجان) Potatoes and eggplants are popular ingredients in Mediterranean cooking, whether in Greek Moussaka or Turkish Güveç. Yakaneh is general Syrian name used to describe hearty, home-style stews; in this case one featuring batata (potato) and batinjan (eggplant) in a tomato & onion gravy infused with […]

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 […]

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.   […]