Mediterranean Glory Bowl combines health benefits with flavorful roasted zucchini, pomegranate, avocado, feta, chicken sausage, and lime juice. 

Halloooo.

We are officially heading into the holidays!!  WoOp wHoO!! I love them.  Starting with Halloween, then Thanksgiving, happiest at ChristmasThyme, wrapping up with a New Year’s Celebration.

Our Mediterranean Glory Bowl is a seasonal recipe; pomegranate season. I have a sentimental love for pomegranate and to a fault may include them in one too many recipes.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Ingredient Breakdown

I have a favorite holiday dip/salsa recipe that I prepare every year.  Pomegranate, Zuchinni & Avocado Salsa is Mediterranean flavor love…in it’s GLORY.  Thus the name of this Lunch Bowl.  I added sweat Italian chicken sausage and farro for a burst of protein.

I’ve bragged on Farro before.

I was studying the bulk bins at my local Whole Foods Market looking for something different.  I was charged up to discover that Farro is packed with goodness. 

Here are a few Farro ‘features’ if you will:

• Farro is one of the oldest cultivated grains and has been consumed for over 5000 years.
• With 8 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per cooked cup, Farro is an energy power house.
• Because it’s a complex carb, Farro breaks down slowly, helping to stabilize your energy over longer periods of time.
• Farro is high in B vitamins and minerals, especially Magnesium which has been said to ease tension and menstrual cramps.
• And the best part, Farro tastes great and is super versatile to use.  I think you’ll love it’s slightly chewy nutty flavor.

Now combine all those health benefits with the pop of fresh oregano roasted zucchini, sweet pomegranate, creamy avocado, sharp feta, savory chicken sausage, with a generous squeeze of lime juice.  Mediterranean Glory Bowl for breakfast, lunch or dinner for me!!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Mediterranean Glory Bowl

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 350kcal

Ingredients

• 2 sweet Italian chicken sausages
• 2 zucchini cut into ½” dice
• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 1 tsp. fresh oregano chopped
• ½ tsp. sea salt & freshly cracked pepper
• ⅓ cup red onion finely diced
• 1 avocado cut into ¼” dice
• ½ cup pomegranate arils
• 3 Tbl. crumbled feta cheese
• 1 lime
• 2 cups salad greens
• 1 cup farro prepared according to package instructions

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Toss zucchini with olive oil, oregano, and salt & pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, along with sausages. Roast, tossing once, until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare farro according to package instructions.
• To prepare bowl make a bed of salad greens and cooked farro. Add a spoonful of each remaining ingredient, including sliced sausage. Squeeze lime juice over top.

Notes

Serving size = 1/4 recipe. 9 WW Pts+ per serving.

The post The Best Mediterranean Glory Bowl appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

As we head squarely into soup season this creamy delicious pot of love deserves to be on rotation.

Yes this soup is loaded with tender chicken and rice.

Making the Soup

However it is the signature ingredients (Avgo-lemono = egg + lemon) that give this comforting soup it’s fresh bright flavor and soothing creamy finish.

When time permits, begin by making a big batch of Homemade Chicken Broth. I even do this a day or two in advance. Then I have some for the soup pot and some for the freezer.

To make this classic Greek Chicken & Rice Soup, begin with a mirepoix sautéed in olive oil. Then add garlic and fresh parsley, followed by good quality chicken stock.

When the broth comes to a gently boil, add rice and simmer until just tender. Then juicy chicken meat is added along with fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Tempering the Eggs

The one important step in making this soup is tempering the eggs before adding them to the hot broth. We don’t want our eggs to scramble in the hot liquid.

To do this, beat eggs in a small bowl. Add a ladle full of the hot soup to the egg and whisk quickly. Then return this mixture to the soup pot, whisking continuously until well combined.

The result is a silky broth loaded with tender chicken and rice, with a kiss of lemon.

There’s no reason not to bring the Greek Islands into your kitchen with this delightfully fresh and beautiful soup.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Agolemono (Greek Chicken & Rice Soup)

Greek Chicken & Rice Soup, also known as Avgolemono, is a wonderfully hearty soup with fresh bursts of lemon throughout.

Course Soup

Cuisine Greek

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, about 1 cup fine diced
• 3 carrots, about 1 cup fine diced
• 2 celery stalks, about 1 cup fine diced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley fine chopped
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup rice triple rinsed
• 2 lemons, juiced about 1/2 cup
• 3 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded 2 breasts or a rotisserie chicken
• 3 eggs
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Over medium heat, heat olive oil in large dutch oven or soup pot. Add onion, carrot and celery and saute until just tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and parsley and cook an additional minute. Add chicken broth and bring mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low, add in rice and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in lemon juice and cooked chicken and heat through.
• To temper the eggs, beat eggs in a small bowl. Add one ladle of hot soup broth to eggs and whisk quickly. Return egg/broth mixture to soup pot and whisk to combine. Remove from heat. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

The post Avgolemono {Greek Chicken & Rice Soup} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

The original viral recipe from @liemessa got over a million views on TikTok! And I’m pretty certain every other food blogger has since posted some version of this feta dish.

And for good reason. It’s absolutely delicious!!!

So as my 21 year-old bonus son goes off to his senior year of college, I was presented with a challenge or a theme if you will (by he and a buddy – who are both quite capable in the kitchen).

Start a recipe series called College Cooking and give us a new recipe each week that we can prepare in our off-campus housing kitchens!

Be sure the ingredients are readily available (and affordable) but help us break free from blue box mac ‘n cheese, frozen pizzas, and fast-food meals.

It’s fairly well documented here on the pages of Lemony Thyme that I love a good theme!

Challenge accepted!

Weekly College Cooking Series

• Recipes using readily available affordable ingredients.
• The recipes will include substitutions for items that may be hard to locate or intimidating.
• Will include how-to techniques for new cooks.
• We’ll stick to basic kitchen equipment, down the road a slow cooker will definitely be involved especially as we head into winter. Click this link to view my top “Essentials, Tips & Ingredients Lists.”
• Each recipe will be full of elevated flavor! Here we go!

I love this challenge already!

Easy Baked Feta & Tomato Pasta with Chicken & Broccoli

This recipe is going to take the key components of the original feta and cherry tomatoes version and turn it into a satisfying easy meal. We’ll add broccoli and chicken and toss it all with cooked pasta at the end!

Check out my 30-second Recipe Video HERE!

Equipment Required

• Cutting board and sharp knife
• 9″ x 13″ Baking Dish
• Oven
• Pasta Pot & Strainer
• Spoon for stirring and serving

Recipe Note: yes, you can substitute a different size baking dish. The key is to find something similar to the same square inches. The dish below is 10″x12″ for example. Square, oval or round works for this recipe.

Ingredients Required for 4 servings

• 2 pints cherry tomatoes
• a head of fresh broccoli
• 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 8-ounce block feta cheese (packed in water or brine is best)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pound dried pasta (I used Cavatappi)
• salt & black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 handful fresh basil leaves (about 3 Tablespoons chopped)

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rinse cherry tomatoes and place in baking dish.
• Cut broccoli into florets (bite-sized pieces), discarding tough stems. Add to baking dish.
• Cut chicken into 1″-1~1/2″ cubes. Add to baking dish and mix with tomatoes and broccoli.
• Add block of feta cheese to center.
• Drizzle with olive oil
• Sprinkle with salt & black pepper
• Bake for 35 minutes

While feta mixture is baking…

• Prepare pasta according to package instructions. You can use any dried pasta in this recipe: cavatappi, elbow macaroni, penne, spaghetti.
• Chop garlic and fresh basil (see Recipe Note below)
• Call mom or dad :)

Recipe Note: while fresh garlic and basil will elevate the flavors in this dish, you can substitute jarred minced garlic and dried basil.

For how to break down a head of garlic or chop fresh basil, see our quick How-To Videos linked in Instagram Story Highlights under College Cooking.

• 1 clove of fresh garlic minced = 1/2 teaspoon of jarred minced garlic
• 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped basil = 1 teaspoon dried basil

Preparation Continued

• When the feta mixture comes out of the oven, sprinkle with minced garlic and chopped basil.
• There will be liquid in the baking dish which will mix with the soft feta to create a delicious sauce.
• Stir well.

• Stir in your drained cooked pasta and serve!

Baked Feta & Tomato Pasta with Chicken & Broccoli is meant to be a complete meal, but a side salad with Greek Red Wine & Feta Vinaigrette would go nicely with this dish!

If you make this recipe, please drop me a comment below! I’d love to see pictures too! Tag me on social media @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook! Use the hashtag #collegecooking.

All my best,
xo Libby

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Easy Feta & Tomato Pasta with Chicken & Broccoli

This recipe is going to take the key components of the original feta and cherry tomatoes version and turn it into a satisfying easy meal. We'll add broccoli and chicken and toss it all with cooked pasta at the end!

Course Entree

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 2 pints cherry tomatoes
• 1 head broccoli cut into florets
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1" – 1~1/2" cubes
• 1 8 ounce block of feta cheese preferably packed in water or brine
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound dried pasta of choice I used cavatappi
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 handful fresh basil chopped

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse cherry tomatoes and place in 9"x13" baking dish. Cut broccoli into florets (bite-sized pieces), discarding tough stems. Add to baking dish. Cut chicken into 1"-1~1/2" cubes. Add to baking dish and mix with tomatoes and broccoli. Add block of feta cheese to center. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt & black pepper. Bake for 35 minutes.
• While the feta mixture bakes, prepare pasta according to package instructions. Chop garlic and fresh basil (see Recipe Note below).
• When the feta mixture comes out of the oven, sprinkle with minced garlic and chopped basil. There will be liquid in the baking dish which will mix with the feta to create a delicious sauce. Stir well and serve.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Liemessa.

Recipe Note: while fresh garlic and basil will elevate the flavors in this dish, you can substitute jarred minced garlic and dried basil.

• 1 clove of fresh garlic minced = 1/2 teaspoon of jarred minced garlic
• 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped basil = 1 teaspoon dried basil

 

The post Easy Baked Feta & Tomato Pasta with Chicken & Broccoli appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Whether you have a favorite Greek restaurant or a favorite Greek Island, this dressing will save you the trip!

I love how the classic Mediterranean aromatics and herbs make this dressing sing. But its the salty tangy feta cheese that’s the star. Sweet honey and the acid from the red wine vinegar are the perfect balance.

All of the ingredients go into your food processor, making this dressing quick & easy to make. I have a mini KitchenAid Food Chopper that I use almost daily. One of my most treasured kitchen appliances!

Homemade is better.

Especially homemade salad dressings. No chemicals or preservatives.

Just real good ingredients.

Garlic, shallot, lemon zest and a touch of honey infuse a base of extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. Fresh basil and oregano add familiar Greek flavor. While the feta cheese adds a nice salty finish.

If you’re looking for an easy way to elevate a simple salad this feta & red wine vinaigrette is the answer! Give our Greek Salad or Mediterranean Chopped Salad a try.

Are there recipes that remind you of a favorite vacation that you’d like to see us recreate? I’d love for you to comment below. Your feedback is so important to me (and keeps the recipe love fresh).

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Quick Greek Red Wine & Feta Vinaigrette

If you’re looking for an easy way to elevate a simple salad this feta & red wine vinaigrette is the answer!

Course Dressing

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 zest of one lemon
• 1 shallot
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 Tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup feta cheese
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients except feta, salt & pepper in bowl of a food processor. Purée. Add in feta and pulse until creamy, but with small pieces of feta still visible. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

The post Quick Greek Red Wine & Feta Vinaigrette appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Oh my!

Roasted Beets are such a treat for me. While I love traditional red beets, when I find the golden variety I feel special.

Their sweet earthy flavor makes them the perfect salad topper, veggie burger binder, savory soup enhancer, and super creamy dip ingredient.

This Hummus is packed with vitamins and nutrients and will satisfy your most intense snack attacks.

To prepare the beets, simply roast them drizzled in olive oil and wrapped in foil for 45 minutes!

There are so many variations of hummus, each with its own personality and flavor profile, all pretty easy to prepare.

One of my favorites is sweet potato hummus, but I’ve always loved a good classic hummus as well.

Most of our grazing boards also include Hummus of one variety or another!

Roasted Golden Beet Hummus is such a lovely light snack, wonderful for Summer Thyme (pairs nicely with Summer Thyme Sangria too).

Are there recipes that remind you of a favorite vacation that you’d like to see us recreate? I’d love for you to comment below. Your feedback is so important to me (and keeps the recipe love fresh).

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Roasted Golden Beet Hummus

Roasted Golden Beet Hummus is packed with vitamins and nutrients and will satisfy your most intense snack attacks.

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Beets

• 3 medium beets peeled and quartered
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• salt & pepper

For the Hummus

• 3 medium roasted beets
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lemon juice only
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon salt or more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper or more to taste

Instructions

For the Beets

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Place quartered beets on a piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 45 minutes or until beets are tender when poked with a fork. Allow to cool to room temperature or refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Hummus

• Cut one beet quarter into small cubes and reserve. Place reamaining roasted beets and all balance of ingredients into a food processor or high powered blender. Blend until pureed. Can add a tablespoon or two of cold water if too thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve in a bowl, sprinkled with beet cubes. Serve with favorite veggie sticks or crackers. Wonderful as a sandwich spread.

The post Roasted Golden Beet Hummus appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Flavor wow!

I have a confession.

I’m beginning to love chicken wings almost as much as I do meatballs! And that’s a lot!

There are so many incredible flavor profiles to play with, all satisfyingly delicious.

I do believe I’m talking myself into a new personal challenge… although I need to keep it manageable.

After all, March Meatball Madness pushed me right to my limit. And 30-Days of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches was pretty hard to beat.

Let’s go with 5 New Chicken Wing Recipes over the next five weeks.

I’m imagining you nodding along in approval, a few high fives, my husband doing the Tiger fist pump, my sister doing the happy dance.

It’s gonna be great!!

And it’s going to begin with these Crispy Greek Chicken Wings {with Lemon, Garlic & Feta}.

There are two things I love about these wings. The classic mediterranean flavors are to die for and that they are baked to perfection, not fried!

The Marinade

They begin with a simple marinade of lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper and olive oil.

Let’s talk about oregano for a minute.

I have several favorite fresh herbs, the Simon & Garfunkel (as I affectionately call my top 4), closely followed by oregano.

I wanted to include the two above pictures to show how easy it is to dry your own herbs. In less than two weeks freshly picked oregano stems become these wonderfully brittle bouquets. And while I do love it fresh, dried oregano packs so much flavor and is perfect in marinades, dressings, and savory dishes.

If interested, you can find my Fresh Herb How-To for tips on growing, harvesting, using, storing, freezing and drying.

The Method

After a couple of hours in the marinade (or overnight for maximum flavor), the wings are baked at 400 degrees F. until deep golden brown and crispy – about an hour.

At this point the wings are absolutely amazing! However drizzle them with Greek dressing and a sprinkle of feta cheese… It’ll take them over the top.

Serious flavor happiness.

These Crispy Greek Chicken Wings {with Lemon, Garlic & Feta} are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bursting with bright flavors.

Make them for your next family gathering or keep them all to yourself! Either way they are sure to bring happiness your way.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Crispy Greek Chicken Wings {with Lemon, Garlic and Feta}

These Crispy Greek Chicken Wings {with Lemon, Garlic & Feta} are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bursting with bright flavors. Make them for your next family gathering or keep them all to yourself! Either way they are sure to bring happiness your way.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Cuisine Greek

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Marinade Time 2 hours hours

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 4 pounds chicken wings flats & drumettes separated

For the Marinade

• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 lemons juice & zest
• 8 cloves garlic fine chopped
• 2 Tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoon salt

To Serve

• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 1/2 cup reserved marinade see above

Instructions

For the Marinade

• Combine all marinade ingredients. Place chicken wings in a bowl. Pour half of marinade over chicken and toss to coat well. Cover bowl and place in refrigerator for 2-12 hours. Reserve remaining marinade to use as dressing when serving.

Prepare Chicken

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Line two large baking sheets with aluminum foil and place rack in each. Arrange marinated chicken wings on racks. Bake until deep golden and crispy, about an hour, rotating pans from top to bottom rack once or twice during cooking.

To Serve

• Arrange cooked chicken wings on a platter. Generously drizzle with reserved marinade, chopped fresh parsley and crumbled feta cheese. Enjoy!

Notes

Marinade Time – minimum of 2 hours or overnight for maximum flavor.
   Servings – 4 Entree servings, 8 Appetizer servings.

The post Crispy Greek Chicken Wings {with Lemon, Garlic & Feta} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Or in our case you can make it two days in a row because it’s that good!!

We’re definitely on a salad kick right now and I’m loving it.

And my body is pretty stoked too!

The keys to a great chopped salad are 1) fresh ingredients, 2) a variety of colors and textures, and 3) a dressing that compliments but doesn’t overpower.

Make it your own with your favorite Mediterranean ingredients – you could easily add or sub Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, capers….

The perfect dressing for this Mediterranean Chopped Salad is our Lemon Herb Vinaigrette.

I chose fresh oregano and parsley as our herbs and added a teaspoon of dried oregano as well. The fresh lemon juice and red wine vinegar add a gentle one-two punch.

Our Mediterranean Chopped Salad was a hit at my sister’s birthday celebration dinner.

We paired it with gorgeous grilled ribeye steaks and au gratin potatoes. We brought the Steakhouse dinner in-house and it couldn’t have been better.

I mentioned making this salad two days in a row.

Truth.

We devoured it the first night, so I made Mediterranean Chopped Salad again and served it with grilled chicken and shrimp for a light dinner. So delicious!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Mediterranean Chopped Salad

Whether you enjoy this salad as a side to a bigger meal or top it with chicken or shrimp and call it dinner, the flavors will keep them coming back for more!

Course Salad

Cuisine Meiterranean

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Ingredients

For the Mediterranean Chopped Salad

• 4 cups iceburg lettuce chopped
• 2 hearts of romaine chopped
• 1 cup castelvetrano or kalamata olives sliced
• 1 16 ounce can chickpeas rinsed and drained
• 1 small red onion fine diced
• 2 persian cucumbers diced
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
• 8 ounces feta cheese diced or crumbled
• 1 cup roasted beets diced

For the Lemon Herb Vinaigrette

• 8 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 cup fresh oregano and parsley leaves stems discarded
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 clove garlic

Instructions

For the Mediterranean Chopped Salad

• Place chopped lettuce in the base of a large salad bowl. Top with remaining ingredients. Drizzle with Lemon Herb Dressing and toss.

For the Lemon Herb Vinaigrette

• Combine all ingredients in a glass jar with lid and shake vigorously. Store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

The post Chopped Mediterranean Salad with Lemon Herb Vinaigrette appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

A mezze (or meze) is a popular style of eating in the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Similar to Spanish tapas, each dish is meant to be shared and the various flavors compliment each other.

Here’s a little walk around our Middle Eastern Mezze Platter.

Each Recipes is linked to the dish titles.

Because many of the dishes are dips of one kind or another, most always a mezze will include fresh herbs & veggies such as cucumber, bell peppers, radish, and mint or parsley and nuts (we included walnuts).

You’ll also want to include pita bread and/or other flatbread type crackers.

Jerusalem Salad brings nice fresh bright flavors to your mezze platter. This side dish is loaded with cucumber, tomatoes, red onion and fresh parsley. It’s tossed in a simple lemon vinaigrette that really gives the salad a burst of citrus flavor.

Tabbouleh is a traditional Lebanese salad made with grains like bulgar, couscous or quinoa that’s tossed with lots of fresh parsley, cilantro and mint, diced tomato and cucumber and dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.

It’s absolutely delicious and gorgeous on a mezze platter.

Baba Ghanoush, a creamy smoky eggplant dip, is a personal favorite and a classic Levantine dish. The rich flavor plays so nicely with the other bright dishes being served.

Labneh (soft Middle Eastern cheese made from strained Greek yogurt) with roasted beets is an easy dish to include on your meze platter.

We also love Kofta Kebab made with ground lamb or beef. They’re packed with fresh herbs and spices and are delicious served on a bed of saffron rice.

With their crispy outside and tender most center, these Falafel are a crowd pleaser.

They get their bright green color from fresh herbs and you know that makes me happy. Falafel are perfect served with a side of creamy Lemon Tahini Sauce.

Marinated Olives & Feta bring a nice salty briny flavor component to our mezze platter.

Every mezze platter should include Hummus. Roasted Garlic & Herb Hummus is a favorite, but we also love Sweet Potato Hummus, Golden Beet Hummus, and Pumpkin Hummus.

Sharing a Middle Eastern Mezze Platter with friends and family is a fantastic way to allow everyone to sample so many wonderful Levantine dishes.

Whether you serve it as an appetizer with cocktails or as light dinner, your guests will be delighted by it’s beautiful presentation and bright fresh flavors.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

The post Middle Eastern Mezze Platter appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

This chopped salad is packed with simple, healthy ingredients that are readily available year-round.

I don’t think I’ve told you yet, but after March Meatball Madness I’ve silently, out of sheer desperation, declared April as salad month (not to outdo National Grilled Cheese Month).

Local Ingredients

I’ve come to learn a bit about locally sourced regional ingredients and how they influence dishes.

Nothing earth shattering, just a simple appreciation of the commonalities.

I’ve made six seven middle eastern dishes this week and have gone through 9 lemons, 2 heads of garlic, 3 bunches of fresh parsley, 2 bunches of fresh cilantro, and I’ve harvested almost all of my mammoth mint plant….oh and a gallon of olive oil.

Ok maybe not a gallon but enough to bathe a small child in.

Each dish I’ve prepared had it’s own flavor profile, yet the one element that was the same throughout was fresh herbs.

You know how I feel about fresh herbs and how they can elevate a dish.

For most of my life I underestimated fresh parsley. It just couldn’t keep up with it’s sexy cousins sage, rosemary and thyme. I viewed parsley as an obligatory garnish not worthy of consuming.

Boy was I wrong.

It actually adds flavor, is packed with nutrients and vitamins, is rich in antioxidants, and is a natural breath freshener.

Oh and it’s not a bad garnish either with it’s bright emerald coloring. Here’s an article you might enjoy that I wrote about Fresh Herbs and how to incorporate them into your cooking.

Back to Jerusalem Salad, also know as Israeli Salad, there’s a reason it’s the most well-known Eastern Mediterranean dish.

It’s wonderful served as a side dish, but you can load it into pita bread and top it with fresh made falafel. I’m hungry just thinking about it.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Jerusalem Salad

This chopped salad is packed with simple, healthy ingredients that are readily available year-round. It's wonderful served as a side dish, but you can load it into pita bread and top it with fresh made falafel.

Course Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 2 persian cucumbers fine diced
• 2 roma tomato fine diced
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 1/3 cup red onion fine diced
• 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 lemon juiced about 3 tablespoons
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Fine dice cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and parsley. Toss with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

The post Jerusalem Salad appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Trust me on this one. You do not have to slave in the kitchen, or order take-out, to be able to enjoy this creamy dreamy eggplant dip at home.

After oven roasting the eggplant, this recipe requires less than 10 minutes of hands on time.

Hand me a pita…I’m going in!

The Process

• Choose a couple nice sized eggplant (about 3 pounds total)
• Slice them in half and brush the cut side with olive oil
• Place cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet and roast at 450 degrees F. for about 45 minutes or until the eggplant are very soft to the touch and the skins start to wrinkle
• Once roasted, allow to cool
• Then gently scrape the flesh out of the eggplant skins (discarding the thin charred layer) into a mesh strainer for a few minutes to allow any excess liquid to drain off
• Squeeze in 3-4 roasted garlic cloves.

Since I had a hot oven and a recipe that calls for garlic, I oven roasted a head of garlic as well.

• Add Tahini (sesame seed paste), extra virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and chopped fresh parsley
• Season with cumin and salt and whisk with a fork until well combined
• Adjust seasoning to taste and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, chopped parsley and smoked paprika

How to Serve

On a side note, there are some food pictures that benefit greatly from having a hand model. It’s akin to the food videos that end with the cook taking a bite and telling us how delicious it tastes.

Baba Ghanoush is beautiful on the inside but she’s not the easiest to make look sexy in a picture.

There were no objections from this volunteer (my husband) when I made my request. And capturing his expression says this dip is creamy dreamy delicious!

The key to making this recipe “Easy” is using the oven roasting method vs. fire roasting on a grill or under the broiler.

Been there done that and in my opinion these results are equally delicious, perhaps less smoky but the smoked paprika brings that to the dip.

We incorporated our Easy Baba Ghanoush into a Levantine Mezze Platter that we shared with some close friends.

Our board included many of our favorite middle eastern dishes whose flavor profiles all play so nicely together.

We had Tabbouleh, Hummus, Falafel, Marinated Olives with Feta, Kofta Kebabs, Jerusalem Salad….

It was a heaven on a platter.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Easy Baba Ghanoush

Baba Ghanoush is a wonderful middle eastern eggplant dip that's rich flavor and creamy texture will delight your taste buds.

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Finish Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 3 pounds eggplant (about 2 medium-large) roasted
• 1 head garlic roasted
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil plus more for brushing and drizzle
• 1 lemon juiced (about 2 Tablespoons)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• chopped fresh parsley to garnish
• smoked paprika to garnish

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut eggplant in half, brush cut sides with a little olive oil, place cut side down on prepared pan. Trim 1/4" off top of garlic, place on a piece of tin foil and drizzle with a little olive oil. Seal the foil and place on pan with eggplant. Roast in oven for 45 minutes or until eggplant is soft to the touch and the skins have wrinkled. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Once cooled, gently scrape the flesh out of the eggplant skins (discarding the thin charred layer) into a mesh strainer for a few minutes to allow any excess liquid to drain off. Squeeze in 3-4 roasted garlic cloves. Transfer to a bowl and using a fork, whip the mixture breaking up the eggplant. Add in remaining ingredients and whisk with a fork until smooth. To serve, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of smoked paprika.

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