Ujja Ma Laban Recipes

KOUSA BI LABAN

Steps:

• For the stuffed zucchini: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the ground top round and ground lamb and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 10 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, Lebanese seven spices, cinnamon, cardamom, 1/2 cup of the pine nuts and the parsley and stir gently. Set aside to cool.
• Cut the stem off the top of the zucchini. Using a vegetable corer or small spoon, core the zucchini by gently removing the center while leaving the sides intact. Fill the center of the zucchini with the filling, packing to make tight and leaving a 1/2-inch space between the filling and the top.
• Add the vegetable oil to a large skillet over medium heat and fry the zucchini for a few minutes, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the zucchini to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil.
• Arrange the stuffed zucchini side by side in a large pot of simmering water. Sprinkle with salt, reduce the heat and cover. Cook until the zucchini is tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 20 minutes. Remove the zucchini and reserve the cooking liquid.
• For the yogurt sauce: Place the yogurt in a medium high-sided skillet over medium heat. Whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Add the cornstarch mixture to the yogurt and cook, stirring, until it begins to steam, about 5 minutes. Add the white pepper and sea salt. Add 3 spoonfuls of the reserved zucchini cooking liquid. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 3 minutes.
• Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and dried mint and cook while stirring until browned, about 3 minutes. While stirring, add the garlic mixture to the yogurt and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Carefully drop the partially cooked zucchini in the yogurt sauce and continue cooking until completely done, about 10 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup pine nuts on top to garnish. Serve hot with vermicelli rice.
• Heat the vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Drop the vermicelli noodles into the pan and stir every few seconds until they are browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a towel-lined plate.
• Bring 2 1/4 cups water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the rice, noodles, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the sea salt. Stir together, cover, reduce the heat to low and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.

LABAN (YOGURT)

Steps:

• Heat milk on low heat until it almost comes to a boil (you don't want it to boil over or burn on the bottom of the pot).
• Immediately remove from heat and cool until lukewarm. Add 4 tbs of milk to the yogurt and stir until smooth.
• Stir the yogurt into the milk and pour milk into a plastic or glass container and wrap in a heavy blanket. Store in a warm place until it thickens (about 6 hours), then refrigerate.

LAHMAJUN

Steps:

• For the dough: Mix the flour, yeast, oil, salt and sugar in a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. With the mixer on low, slowly add 1/2 cup warm water and mix to combine. Only add more water if not coming together. Mix until the dough comes together and is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead a few times and then divide into 5 balls, each weighing about 100g (3.5 ounces) each. Set on a baking sheet, spray the tops lightly with oil spray and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside while you make the topping. (Can also be refrigerated up to 24 hours.)
• For the topping: Add the bell pepper, onion, parsley, garlic, tomato paste, paprika, salt, allspice, cumin, Aleppo pepper and mint to a food processor and buzz until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the lamb and pulse until it comes together. Transfer to a bowl.
• For the salad: Toss the arugula together with the lemon juice, salt and pepper and a hefty sprinkle of sumac in a large bowl. Taste for seasoning. Set aside.
• When you're ready to make the lahmajun, place a pizza stone in the oven on a rack about 5 inches away from the broiler element. Heat to 500 degrees F.
• Place 1 dough ball on a generously floured surface and press into a 5-inch circle with your fingers. Then, using a rolling pin, roll into an even thin circle, rotating the circle often. (Circle will be 9-to-10-inches wide.)
• Lightly flour a pizza peel or an upside-down baking sheet. Transfer the rolled crust onto it.
• Place 1/3 cup of the topping in the center of the dough round. Cover with a large piece of plastic wrap and, using your fingers, spread the meat mixture over the surface of the round in a thin, even layer, leaving a very thin border. Peel away the plastic and set aside to reuse for the remaining dough and topping.
• Carefully shimmy the lahmajun onto the hot pizza stone. Bake until the bottom of the crust and its edges are lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven.
• Place a handful of the dressed arugula on the cooked lahmajun. Top with sliced radish, roll the cooked lahmajun into a log and slice into pieces. Serve immediately and go make some more!

YOGURT GINGER APPETIZER (LABAN MA' ZANJABEEL)

Steps:

• Thoroughly combine all ingredients, except tomato, in a mixing bowl.
• Place in a serving dish.
• Garnish with tomato.

UJJA MA LABAN

Steps:

• Whisk together the eggs, salt, pepper and yogurt cheese. Set aside.
• Melt the butter over medium-low heat then pour in the egg-yogurt mixture.
• Stir lightly for about 1 1/2 minutes or until just barely cooked I always undercook eggs because they will still cook off heat. Our gas stove top is very efficient and the eggs were done to my liking in less than 2 minutes.
• Plate the eggs and lightly drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with the spearmint leaves; sprinkle of za'atar or sumac. If you don't have either of those spices, garnish with paprika.