Category: Quick & Easy Recipes

If you’re a fan of my blog, you already know that Middle Eastern food was a huge part of my childhood because my mom attended university in Lebanon before moving to the states. And since I grew up in LA, my parents also had access to the best Middle Eastern restaurants, markets, and butcher shops on days they wanted kebabs but didn’t feel like cooking from scratch. I love all types of meat on a stick, but minced meat kebabs [aka: lula, lule, or luleh] are my absolute favorite! I hope you enjoy my quick and simple recipe as much as my family does.

Continue reading “Quick & Easy Kebabs” →

I started making spicy tuna rice bowls at home a few months ago. The very first time I made these bowls for dinner, I found some wrinkling cucumbers in my fridge and decided to give them a quick Japanese-inspired pickle to put alongside the spicy tuna. I hadn’t pickled anything in ages but grabbed a few ingredients, threw them into a bowl, and had a tasty topper for my rice bowls in less than thirty minutes. Since that evening last September, I’ve been whipping up these quick pickles about once a month. The recipe couldn’t be simpler. Enjoy!

Continue reading “Japanese-Style, Quick Pickled Cucumbers” →

I make this dish at least twice a month, sometimes more. The salad pairs wonderfully with a variety of meals but also tastes great by itself. It’s a favorite of my boyfriend and goes well with my hummus recipe. Overall, I would categorize my mediterranean salad as a happy hybrid of a Greek Salad and a Shirazi Salad. This recipe takes no time at all and just requires a bit of chopping. Enjoy!

Continue reading “No Fuss Mediterranean Salad” →

On Friday night I dove into one of my favorite holiday tasks – wrapping Christmas presents! Since my mind was focused on pretty paper and sparkly ribbon instead of preparing dinner, I needed to make a quick, simple meal with minimal mess. So this is what I did: I turned on the oven, took a peek into the the fridge, threw a bunch of stuff in a pan, slid that pan into the oven, and enjoyed a delicious dinner that was ready in less than 45 minutes. The cherry on top was of course having very few dirty dishes to wash afterward! Keep reading to find out exactly what I whipped up.

Continue reading “One Pan Chicken Dinner” →

Not to toot my own horn, but I always get rave reviews whenever I whip up a pot of chili. I used to add a can of black beans to my beef chili, but that all changed about five or so years ago. Here’s what happened: I was watching a food program and someone said something along the lines of “real chili doesn’t have beans.” For some reason I took that sentence to heart, and my beef chili has been beanless ever since. To bulk up my pot of tasty goodness though, I did start adding red bell pepper which I do believe has made my recipe even better. My signature beef chili is not only delicious but a breeze to make and the perfect cold weather meal.

Continue reading “Bundle Up With A Bowl Of Chili” →

Why spend your hard earned money on hummus when you can make it at home in no time at all? Middle Eastern cuisine was a huge part of my childhood because my Indian mother attended the American University of Beirut in Lebanon before moving to the US. Since hummus has become incredibly popular over the last decade and because I grew up eating this delightful chickpea staple, I figured a simple and reliable recipe would be the perfect post to officially kick off the food category of my Homemade In LA blog.

Continue reading “Easy Peasy Hummus” →