Posts in Starters
Fennel and Pumpkin Caponata with Mozzarella from Recipes for a Lifetime of Beautiful Cooking

I am very drawn to the Sicilian flavour profile of sweet, sour, salty and oily. Caponata is the perfect embodiment of this combination. As with many Sicilian dishes, caponata has drawn its ingredients from across the Mediterranean. It is also a dish that traditionally travels, with the vegetables being bought fresh at port and the sailors preserving them with vinegar and sugar while at sea. This dish is best served at room temperature, with good crusty bread or focaccia to mop everything up.

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Golden Za'atar Onion Rings with Buttermilk Caraway Dipping Sauce from Veg-Table

I love fried food and herby dips, but there’s a more profound message embedded here: The combination of hot and cold temperatures is a joyful experience. The concept of contrasting temperatures works elegantly when hot, crispy onion rings kissed with turmeric and za’atar are dunked into the cold herby buttermilk dipping sauce. This makes a worthy appetizer; these rings are also great stuffed into a bun with the Masala Veggie Burgers (page 330) and the buttermilk caraway sauce. Serve with chilled ginger ale or beer.

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