Azeri and Russian Dishes, Home

Tomato, eggplant and bell pepper salad

Growing up in Azerbaijan, our summers were spent outside the city, in our "summer home." I say "summer home" because it's not like the house you are imaging (no Hamptons or Cape Cod like). But what it lacked in amenities, it more than made up in fresh air, proximity to the Caspian Sea and family… Continue reading Tomato, eggplant and bell pepper salad

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Golubci (stuffed cabbage)

I have only recently perfected my stuffed cabbage recipe...I tell ya, cabbage is really hard to work with. For a newbie especially. Having the perfect consistency of the leaves is crucial: you need to be able to tear the leaves off the cabbage and wrap your meat in it. Finally, I found a solution: savoy… Continue reading Golubci (stuffed cabbage)

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Fragrant Pot Roast

So I deviate a lot from plans. Mostly when it comes to food. I mean, I think I know what I want to make, plan the menu, but then something happens, like I come across an ingredient in a store that I just have to make, or something like and event throws the whole menu… Continue reading Fragrant Pot Roast

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Pelmeni – Russian version of Tortelini

There is nothing more cozy on a cold December day than a bowl of hot soup. To me, even cozier is a bowl of Pelmeni (or Dushbere in Azerbaijan, except back home we serve it as a soup, with the water). These are pieces of heaven (ok fine, dough) stuffed with a delicious meat mixture,… Continue reading Pelmeni – Russian version of Tortelini

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B.F.T (a cousin of B.L.T)

I was at a restaurant the other day for lunch and saw something extremely interesting on the menu: Bacon Feta and Tomato sandwich (B.F.T). Now come one, I had to try it. I mean, I love bacon. I love sandwiches. I love love love Feta. Done deal. And so it was probably one of the… Continue reading B.F.T (a cousin of B.L.T)

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“Goodbye Summer” salad

When I think salad I don't necessarily think "entree". That's not true thought, is it. Many restaurants serve salads as entrees and done right, salads can be filling and satisfying. For me, the most important part of a salad is the PROTEIN. I am biased, because I cannot go one day (or one dinner) without… Continue reading “Goodbye Summer” salad