Browsing Category APPETIZERS
Anita’s Crispy Baked White Sweet Potato Rosemary Fries with Garlic Aioli
Ingredients
2 white sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into long thin strips
1 Tablespoon of fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon corn starch
water
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 425 grades Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet lined with foil paper and set aside. Peel sweet potatoes.
- Soak thin strips of sweet potatoes into a large bowl with cold water for at least one hour to minimize excess of starch.
3. Drain and pat dry potatoes using paper towels. Add corn starch and toss well. 
4. Drizzle with olive oil. Add kosher salt, garlic powder, and chopped fresh rosemary. Toss all ingredients until potatoes are well coated.
5. Arrange sweet potatoes evenly into the baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes first, flipping fries using a spatula to bake evenly.
Bake for another 5 to 8 minutes until potatoes are crispy and slightly brown.
6. Remove crispy fries from the oven. Sprinkle with salt. 
Enjoy next to a Rosemary Garlic Aioli Sauce !
Rosemary Garlic Aioli Sauce: Mix a cup of mayonnaise with the juice of half of a lemon. Add a teaspoon of fresh finely chopped rosemary leaves. Seasoned with salt, a dash of cayenne pepper and garlic powder. Blend all ingredients and chilled.
Anita’s Vegetarian Spring Rolls
Ingredients
6-8 pieces of rice paper
4-5 Persian cucumbers, cut into sticks
3-4 carrots peeled, cut into sticks
5 ounces Chinese Vermicelli rice noodles, cooked
2 avocados, sliced
Dipping Sauce
2 Tablespoon sesame oil
2 Tablespoon soya sauce
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Mix all ingredients. Set aside
Preparation
- Cook rice noodles until they turn soft into boiling water for about 3 to 6 minutes.
Drain well and rinse.
- Simmer water in a large pot. Turn off heat. Dip one rice paper into the warm water for 6-8 seconds or till rice paper has slightly softened.
- Over a cutting board or a flat clean surface, lay rice paper. Place first, cooked clear noodles over rice paper. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon of dipping sauce over noodles. Pile sticks of cucumber, carrots and top with sliced avocados.
- Roll tight the spring roll one time, and then continue by tucking in sides until is completely rolled and closed.
- Serve this 4 ingredients refreshing Spring Rolls recipe with the Dipping Sauce. Enjoy!
Anita’s Best Fried Kibbeh
Ingredients for the Kibbeh Shells
1 1/2 cup fine wheat Bulgur
1 onion, grated
1 pound beef, finely ground
1 1/2 teaspoon allspice, ground
1 teaspoon coriander, ground
1/4 teaspoon cloves, ground
1/2 teaspoon dried mint
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil for frying
Water to help form the shells and for soaking bulgur
Ingredients for the Kibbeh Filling
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 pound of beef, ground
1/2 cup pine nuts, slightly toasted
1/2 teaspoon coriander, ground
1/3 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
Salt and Pepper TT, to taste
1/2 teaspoon sumac
2-3 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
Preparation for Kibbeh Shell:
1.Using a mesh strainer or a bowl, add the bulgur wheat in, soak it into a container with water and rinse to clean. Soak Bulgur again into a bowl filled with filtered water for about 15 to 20 minutes to softened grain. Set Bulgur wheat aside.
2.Starting on making the Kibbeh dough for the shells, place the ground beef in a large bowl. Add grated onion, allspice, ground cloves, coriander, dried mint, salt and pepper. Placing your hands in a bowl with cold water start mixing your spices into the ground beef and add wet rinsed bulgur wheat in. Incorporate all spices, grated onion and bulgur wheat very well into the meat until a smooth Kibbeh dough has formed.
3.Cover Kibbeh dough with plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator, meanwhile proceed to prepare Kibbeh filling.
Preparation for Kibbeh Filling:
- Heat olive oil in a large pan at medium heat. Add diced onions and sauté till softened for about 1-2 minutes.
- Incorporating ground beef, mix and add ground coriander, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, sumac, salt and pepper.
- Add toasted pine nuts and sauté for another 10 minutes till all flavors are well incorporated. Set aside.
Shaping Kibbeh Shells :
- Take out Kibbeh dough from the refrigerator. Wet your hands by dipping them in water and begin by taking like 3 Tablespoon of your kibbeh dough, forming an oval shaped ball, and by using your index finger from your other hand, create the hole in the center for the filling.
- Fill the inside of your oval shaped kibbeh shell with 3/4 part up or 1 Tablespoon of the meat filling, and with your hand moist from the water seal the top of your oval-shaped ball, and set aside over a plate. Proceed with same process until all kibbeh dough is gone.
- In a large deep pan, heat vegetable oil and fry kibbeh shells for 3-4 minutes until dark golden brown. Turned Kibbeh to all sides to fry evenly.
- Remove Kibbeh shells carefully with a slotted spoon and place them over paper towel to drain from oil.
- Eat by squeezing a piece of lemon in the center of the hot or room temperature Kibbeh. Serve next to plain Yogurt, salad with some pita bread or just on its own. Enjoy a refreshing clean lemon-pomegranate mint juice next to your kibbeh shells. A perfect pairing!
Anita’s Antipasto Platter
Spanish Tapas or French hors d’oeuvres is a delicious combination of small bites of very tasty flavors to stimulate your guest’s appetite before your meal. Enjoy a mixed of green and black olives tapenade, mixed cured meat as prosciutto, salami, and different cheeses. Enjoy next to a crispy and warm homemade baguette, YUM!!
Anita’s Best Shrimp-Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients for Roasted Shrimps
1 1/2 Pound Shrimp, tail on and peeled
4 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup of green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon coarse see salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
juice and zest of 2 lemons
Preparation for Roasted Shrimps
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl toss shrimps with all ingredients. Arrange shrimps in an even layer in a large baking sheet pan.
- Roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until shrimps are pink and cooked through. Chopped shrimps in small pieces and add some chopped fresh tarragon leaves. Set aside.
Preparation for Stuffed Mushrooms1. Remove stem from 12 Baby Portobello mushrooms. Arrange rounded part of mushrooms facing down on an oiled baking sheet pan and brush mushrooms with olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let them cool for 2 to 3 minutes before filling them with roasted chopped shrimps. Ready to serve. Enjoy!
Anita’s Grilled Man’oushe Zaatar
Man’oushe Dough Ingredients (you can see my Organic Homemade Dough recipe on my site) or follow this simple one:
1 cup All purpose flour
1/3 cup warm water
1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Zaatar Topping (recipe on my site)
Preparation to make your Man’oushe thin crust Dough or any Pizza of your choice grilled over a Gas or Charcoal Grill
- Combine warm water, yeast and sugar into a small glass bowl. Stir and let it sit for about 15 minutes until yeast starts to bubble or foam appeared on the surface.
- In another glass large bowl place flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and incorporate extra virgin olive oil slowly mixing with your hands until well combined.
- Floured a surface and transfer dough. Knead it for about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Transfer dough to an olive oil greased bowl and pour some of the olive oil left over your hands to coat dough .
- Cover dough with a towel and let it rise for about 2 hours or until dough has doubled in size.
- Preheat grill to 400 grades Fahrenheit.
- Meanwhile roll out dough over a floured surface or over (pizza peel spatula) extending from the middle toward the edges.
- Transfer dough to a preheated Pizza Stone.
- Spread zaatar topping or any of your topping choices over dough and place man’oushe over you preheated pizza stone. Cover grill and let it cook for about 8 minutes or until crust is crispy, golden brown underneath and all around the edges.
Extending your Organic Pizza Dough over your wooden Pizza Peel making it easier to transfer into the B.B.Q grill.
Transferring Zaatar Manouche into the pizza stone.
Delicious ready to serve grilled Zaatar Man’oushe with cucumbers, fresh mint and tomatoes. Yummy!
Anita’s Cinco de Mayo best Shrimp Fiesta in Corn Salsa
Ingredients for Grilled Garlic Shrimps
1 pound large cooked shrimps, peeled and deveined
2 Tablespoon garlic, minced
4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 Tablespoon jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon smoke paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
- Place all ingredients into a plastic bag. Place to marinade in the refrigerator for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Remove from refrigerator and let them sit for about 15 minutes at room temperature.
- Prepare the grill to high heat and cook shrimps for about 3 to 5 minutes to char in both sides. Set aside.
Ingredients for Fresh Corn Salsa
2 cups fresh Kernels corn
1 cup cherry tomatoes red and yellow, halves
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped finely
1/2 cup green onions, chopped finely
1/2 yellow onion, chopped finely
1 avocado, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped finely
3 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon cumin, ground
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Mix the corn with all ingredients. Let them marinade for 30 minutes in the refrigerator or until ready to serve.
Ingredients for Homemade Baked Yucca (Cassava) Chips
1 large yucca root, peeled and thinly sliced (paper thin)
2 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 425 grades Fahrenheit.
- Toss all ingredients together.
- Lay yucca chips flat into a large lined baking tray with parchment paper.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
Assembling your delicious Shrimp 5 de Mayo Best Appetizer
On top of your homemade baked yucca chips, place your fresh corn salsa topped with a grilled shrimp. It’s a Fiesta in your mouth!
Note: You can enjoy each of these three main delicious components on its own like the Yucca chips, which are very addictive, but they’re gluten-free root vegetable that boost your energy mood. Enjoy them with my guacamole.(see recipe on my site) Yummy!
Anita’s Creamy Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients
8 button Mushrooms without stems
4 Tablespoon light cream cheese, softened
1 Tablespoon Plain Yogurt
2 Tablespoon green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and lined a baking dish with aluminum foil paper.
- Meanwhile, clean the mushrooms with a wet paper towel to remove dirt and stems. Set aside caps.
- Place mushrooms caps into a zip-log plastic bag. Drizzle with olive oil. Seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. Place over lined baking dish. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes till slightly tender. Remove from oven. Let them cool before stuffing and drain on paper towels.
- In a medium bowl combine softened cream cheese, plain yogurt, dried basil, chopped green onions, minced garlic, and rest of salt and pepper.
- Stuff each mushroom with cream cheese-yogurt mixture. Sprinkle with chopped green onions. Serve at room temperature. Enjoy!
Anita’s Best Easter Chicks Deviled Eggs
Ingredients
4 large eggs
2 Tablespoon Caesar salad dressing(see recipe on my site)
1/2 teaspoon Horseradish Mustard
1/2 teaspoon Organic apple cider vinegar
3 cups of water
1 medium potato, baked
Salt and Pepper TT(to taste)
To Color Boiled Eggs
2-3 drops purple food coloring
2-3 drops blue food coloring
2-3 drops pink food coloring
2 drops pink+1 drop blue=light purple
4 bowls with water
Preparation
- Place eggs into a medium saucepan and cover with 3 cups of water. Bring water to a boil. Leave eggs boiling for 5 to 7 minutes. Turn off heat and let eggs finish cooking for another 5 minutes. Rinse eggs under cold water and peel gently with your hands. Set aside for 10 minutes and using a tiny spoon remove egg yolks and place it into a medium size bowl. Cut zigzags out of hard boiled egg whites.
- For the filling: Mash yolks and the baked potato.
Add the Caesar dressing, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix well until smooth.
- For Coloring the Eggs: Place the drops of food coloring into the bowls with enough water to cover both parts of egg whites. If color is too pale, you can always add more drops.
4. Pipe or spoon egg yolk-potato filling into colored egg white zigzags halves.
5. Make little triangles out of yellow bell peppers or carrots for the beaks and pickled cucumbers for the eyes. Apply into the filling. Place these cuties chicks over a bed of chopped lettuce and be creative on finishing decorating your Easter garden. Happy Easter!
Anita’s Lebanese Potatoes with Cilantro and Garlic-Kizbra Batata
Ingredients
3 large potatoes
6 large cloves of garlic, minced
2 Tablespoon olive oil
2 Tablespoon canola oil
1 Tablespoon butter
1 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped
2 teaspoon salt
2 Kielbasa (Polish Sausage), diced round
2 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice(1/2 of a lemon)
1 zest of a lemon
Preparation for Cilantro-Garlic Potatoes
- Peel Potatoes. Cut into cubes about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of thickness.
- In a large skillet at medium-high heat sauté potatoes in 2 Tablespoon of canola oil and butter until crispy at all sides and tender from the inside.
Remove and place fried potatoes over paper towel to drain from oil. Sprinkle with salt. - Meanwhile, wash and dry fresh cilantro with paper towel. Chop cilantro leaves thinly and fry at medium-high heat in 2 Tablespoon of olive oil for about 2 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for another minute leaving garlic half cooked to maintain more flavor. Add fresh lemon juice, zest of the lemon and rest of the salt.
- Incorporate all fried potatoes into cilantro-garlic oil. Toss all well.
5. Remove potatoes from pan and set aside. Do not discard some of the oil left in pan to drizzle over potatoes when serving.
Preparation for Polish Sausage
- At medium-high heat place sausage in a large saucepan. No oil needed. They will cook in their own juices.
- Brown sausages for about 10 to 12 minutes on both sides until caramelized.
- Remove from pan. Set aside.
Note: You can incorporate the sausages into the cilantro-garlic fried potatoes and toss all together or enjoy as side dishes where each one can shine on its own.
