Today's Chef

Traditional recipes, clearly explained for home kitchens.
Layla Karim, Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Editor

Author: Layla Karim

Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Editor

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Middle Eastern & Mediterranean

Lebanese Mezze: The Balance Grid That Turns Plates Into a Meal

In Lebanon, a mezze table can be read the moment it is set. Cool white labneh sits beside a garnet…

By Layla Karim · 7 min read

Middle Eastern & Mediterranean

How to Make Real Lebanese Hummus From Scratch (Beirut Method)

A shallow dish of Lebanese hummus can look almost lilac-pale in soft kitchen light, a small green pool of olive…

By Layla Karim · 5 min read

Middle Eastern & Mediterranean

Ras el Hanout, Baharat, Za’atar: Three Middle Eastern Spice Blends, Decoded

In the spice arcade of Souk el Attarine in Tunis, a teaspoon of ras el hanout invites a slow inhale,…

By Layla Karim · 8 min read

Middle Eastern & Mediterranean

Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemon: A Fez-Style Method

A Fez-style chicken tagine cooks quietly for roughly ninety minutes on a low flame with almost no intervention. Every few…

By Layla Karim · 5 min read