Calamari Salad with Lime, Cilantro and Jalapeno

Calamari salad with parsley and lemon (click HERE for the recipe), is a favorite summer dish, that I like to serve on a hot summer day.

Summer Salad with Greens, Crispy Vegetables, Fruits and Halloumi Cheese

Halloumi cheese is one of the rare cheeses, that can be fried, or grilled, and still keep its shape, while obtaining a wonderful new flavor and color. It is one of my favorite cheeses to use as an addition to salads.

Corn and Cheese Mini Bakes

With fresh corn season about to end, I chose the next best thing, frozen corn, to make the following tasty mini bakes.

Pickled Mini Eggplants with Celery and Herbs

Finding these beautiful mini eggplants at the market, my first thought was to prepare my dish of mini eggplants stuffed with lamb (click HERE for the recipe). However, on second thought, I decided to go with a lighter direction, and use them to make quick pickles with fresh herbs.

Beef Kebabs with Zhoug and Harissa Raw Onion Relish

Zhoug is an aromatic Yemenite hot pepper and cilantro paste, which is known all over the Middle East and parts of the Mediterranean, especially in Israel. It is mostly used as a condiment, but it is also added to soups and other dishes. In the dish here, I’ve decided to use it to flavor a raw onion relish, along with sweet Harrisa, a spicy North African hot peppers paste, which was served with broiled beef kebabs.

Spicy Chicken Tenders with Salsa Verde

This fresh and tasty dish is quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for a hot summer day lunch.

Eggplant Salad Two Ways

In Mediterranean and North African cuisines, there are many versions for eggplant salads that start with roasted eggplant that is further cooked with additional vegetables and flavorings, and served at room temperature.
In the recipe here I “mixed and matched” my own version.

Corn Muffins with Italian Sausage and Goat Cheese

These quick and easy to prepare corn muffins, are the perfect breakfast or brunch bread. They are moist and crumbly, savory and a bit sweet and hot at the same time, and with the added sausage and goat cheese, they make a meal on their own. For brunch, or light lunch, serve them with a green salad, or with a bowl of light soup.

Baked/Steamed Chilean Sea Bass with Cilantro, Lime and Jalapenos

Chilean Seabbass is actually a commercial name for the Patagonian Toothfish, which is a type of Cod. The fish has a wonderful firm, yet smooth texture. A short cooking will turn the opaque flesh into a beautiful deep white color fillet and enhance its natural sweetness.