Kuku is the term used in Persia for egg based frittata type dishes and there are several versions to try. They make a very good picnic dish and can be served hot, warm or at room temperature. I used yellow courgettes in the version in the picture. The recipe is from ” Sirocco” by Sabrina Ghayour.
The Syrian name for this comforting dish is Muffaraket Batata and I found the recipe in ” Syria Recipes from Home” by Hab Azzam and Dina Mousawi. In the introduction to this dish they descibed how they met a group of young Syrians cooking this in a public park in Lesbos while waiting to register as refugees. Lets hope that many of these displaced individuals can now return to their homeland if they wish to do so. The dish is also popular with pregnant women as it is belived to be a good detoxifier.
A favourite recipe from ” Simple Food” by Jill Dupleix. Really its a posh salad Niciose by another name, but she suggests variations using chicken, beans and tomato or aspagagus, avocado and ham.
A lovely thick bowl of chowder for the winter months. Its from ” Roast Figs Sugar Snow” by Diana Henry. I have had this book for many years but it has recently been reissued.
A favourite recipe from ” New Covent Garden Book of Soups ” with influences from Lesotho and Trinidad. They used to sell this soup in cartons but I havent seen it for many years and have to make my own at home.
I saw this recipe from ” THe Pigs in Blankets Cookbook” from The Jolly Hog and could not resist it. Its great as a light supper as well as as a side for the festive season.
I recently spent a week in Armenia and was pleasantly surprised by the food there- especially when eating in family ” restaurants” in local villages. I came home seeking out Armenian recipes so i could try more of their food back in the UK. This is from ” Home Food” by Olia Hercules.
A baked version of this Persian dish from ” The Saffron Tales” by Yasmin Khan. You can make individual kukus in a muffin tin or make one large kuku to slice at the table. Serve warm or cold with some salad, salty Middle Eastern cucumber pickles and some bread.
A classic South African recipe which is good served with a Tomato and Onion Salad. Any leftover filling will be even more delicious the next day served with rice or salad. It’s from Nokx Majozi and I found it in ” Chefs at Home” . The book was written to support Hospitality Action during Lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, and contains recipes from UK based chefs.
