MID EAST FEAST

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PITA:
This recipe makes 6 pita
​
  • 500g strong white bread flour 
  • 1 x 7g sachet (or 2.5 tsp) of dried yeast - instant /easy bake/fast action (the kind you can put directly into the mix) 
  • 1.5 level tsp caster sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 300ml warm water (40 degrees celcius)
  • 1tsp olive oil
 
  1. Sieve the flour into a med bowl 
  2. Add the salt, sugar, baking powder and instant yeast to the bowl (put the salt on one side, yeast on the other so that the salt doesn't kill the yeast). 
  3. Measure out your water and make sure its warm (you can adjust between kettle hot and tap cold water to get the right temp of approx 38 -40 degrees)
  4. Add a tsp of olive oil to the water
  5. Make a well in the centre and add the warm water/oil into the well
  6. Using a fork and a circular movement, slowly bring in the flour from the inner edge of the well and mix into the water. Continue to mix, bringing in all the flour – when the dough comes together and becomes too hard to mix with your fork, flour your hands and begin to pat it into a ball.
  7. Turn out onto the work surface (you can lightly dust with flour, but only a very little) and knead the dough by rolling it backwards and forwards, using your hands to stretch, pull and push the dough. Keep kneading for about 5 minutes, or until you have a smooth, springy, soft dough.
  8. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, then cover with clingfilm and a tea towel (for extra warmth) and leave in a warm place to prove for 45 mins -  1.5 hours until doubled in size (you can create a good warm proving environment for the dough if you fill a roasting tray with boiling hot water and place on the bottom of your cold oven. Then put your bowl of dough in there on the middle rack (covered with clingfilm and/or a tea towel). Don't open the door as you want to keep the heat and moisture in. 
  9. When the dough is ready, divide into 6 equal balls, shape and tuck under into a neat round ball​
  10. Leave the balls (covered with clingfilm) to rest for another 15 minutes – this will make them easier to roll it BUT this isn't essential.
  11. Now, preheat your oven to the highest possible setting, and leave a large baking tray in (inverted) there to heat up
  12. Dust a clean work surface with a little flour (not much at all or  you will dry out the dough) and roll into a rough circle, about 1cm thick - keep turning each time you roll for a round shape. 
  13. Repeat with all the dough balls
  14. Now place the pita directly onto the hot oven tray (but flip them over as you pick them up from the work surface so that the underside is now on top), and bake for 3-5 minutes - the pita will puff up as they bake
  15. Remove and cover with a tea towel to keep soft. 
  16. If you want just before eating, you can hold the pita with tongs over an open flame to char,
SHWARMA:
  • 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
    • you can use 4 x breast instead
    • vegan's/vegetarians use 1 large/2 med aubergine and follow recipe as per chicken)
  • Shwarma spice mix made up of 
    • 3 tsp cumin
    • 3 tsp paprika
    • 1.5 tsp turmeric
    • 1.5 tsp ground coriander
    • 1/2 tsp ground allspice
    • 1/2 tsp cinnamon)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • ½ lemon 
  • 2 white onions
  • 1 tsp pomegranate molasses 
  • Salt/pepper
  • Garlic salt/granuals
  • Parsley
 
  1. Make up the spice mix 
  2. Halve, peel and slice the onions and place in a shallow roasting tray on or a baking sheet (can use disposable trays for this to save on washing up)
  3. If using chicken, skin and bone out the chicken thighs (if not purchased skinless/boneless) and place in the tray with the onions
  4. If using aubergine, cut into a dice and add to the tray with the onions
  5. Season the chicken (or veg) with salt, pepper, garlic salt and the shwarma spice on both sides (only add enough spices as you would like and keep the rest for another day - for chicken I do use most of the mix, for vegetables I use half) 
  6. Squeeze over the lemon, add the olive oil, and the pomegranate molasses
  7. Mix this all really well - can use gloves if you prefer!
  8. Finish with the chicken on top of the onions, and skin side up (where the skin would have been) - if using vegetables you may keep separate, or mix together. 
  9. ​When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celcius
  10. Roast the chicken/veg until brown and slightly crispy – about 30 minutes depending on how thick the thighs are and how efficient your oven is. You will only need 20-25 minutes for breasts and if using vegetables, stir halfway through
  11. While the chicken is roasting, make a chopped salad, the tahina sauce and the hoummous (see recipes below) 
  12. Remove chicken/veg from the oven and rest for about 5 – 10 minutes. If chicken, then slice into small thin slices
  13. Place slices in a serving bowl with the onions (discard any liquid left in roasting tray from the chicken (don't mix in or the dish will become soggy)
  14. At this point you can cool, refrigerate and even freeze for eating later – to reheat it, defrost (if frozen) and then just panfry the sliced chicken/onions in a little oil over high heat until really crispy.
  15. Scatter over/mix through some chopped parsley
  16. Serve in warmed pita or on rice with the tahina sauce, chopped salad, houmous and a chilli sauce if you want.​
HOUMMOUS:
  • 125g tinned chickpeas (ready cooked, 210g tin)
  • 30ml tahini paste (2 Tbsp)
  • 1.5 - 2 tsp lemon juice (your preference)
  • Garlic salt/powder (less intense than fresh garlic)
  • A pinch cumin
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 40ml cold water
​
  1. Open and drain the chickpeas (through a sieve)
  2. Put drained chickpeas into a small food processor (or use a pestle and mortar or stick blender)*keep a few back for garnish
  3. Add the tahini paste, lemon juice, water, salt, garlic salt (if using), pepper and cumin - blend
  4. If you think its too thick add another 10ml water and blend again (It will thicken more on standing).
  5. Check the seasoning and add more salt, pepper and lemon juice if you need
  6. Remove from the blender to a bowl, garnish with olive oil, za'atar and/or a few extra chickpeas. 
TAHINA SAUCE:
  • 4 Tbsp tahina paste
  • 4 - 6 Tbsp water (quantity depends on how runny the tahina paste is, and how thick or thin you want the final sauce - adjust to suit your preference)
  • ½ lemon 
  • Salt/pepper
  • Garlic salt/granuals
  • Za'atar
  • Parsley

  1. Place the Tahina paste and half the water in a bowl with a good squeeze of lemon, salt, pepper and garlic salt
  2. Mix well with a mini whisk - it may sieze up but dont worry, keep mixing
  3. Add the remaining water Tbsp at a time until you get the consistency you want - mix thoroughly
  4. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed
  5. Place in a serving bowl
  6. Garnish with Za'atar and/or fresh parsley, and a little drizzle of olive oil 
CHOPPED SALAD:
  • 1/2 cucumber
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 red pepper (or any colour)
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 2 pickled cucumbers (optional but I like)
  • 12 black pitted olives (optional but I like)
  • 2 sprigs mint
  • 1/4 bunch parsley
  • Salt 
  • Pepper
  • 1/2 lemon - for juice
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Sumac (optional but I like)
  • Za'atar (optional but I like)

  1. Wash all the vegetables
  2. Quarter the cucumber, deseed (run a knife down the length), and then cut across into a dice, then add to the bowl
  3. Slice the tomato into thick slices, then across into strips and then across those, into a dice, then add to bowl
  4. Cut the olives in half and add to the bowl
  5. Slice into pickled cucumbers into strips and then across into a dice and add to the bowl
  6. Slice the “cheeks” off the red pepper (remove all pith and seeds) and then cut into strips and across into a small dice – add to the bowl
  7. Peel and finely chop the red onion – place in a bowl
  8. Destalk and chop the parsley and mint – add to the bowl
  9. Add a little olive oil, lemon juice, sumac, za’atar, salt and pepper – mix well and serve
 ​