Learning Middle Eastern Cooking from Yotam Ottolenghi
- Radhika Vu Thanh Vy
- May 31, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 4, 2021
Taking on Middle Eastern cuisine can be a very exciting endeavor if you are cooking from home – especially if you are cooking Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes. Why you ask? Well, let’s take a look at Amanda’s experience of learning Middle Eastern cooking from Yotam, and some of the standout recipes she discovered during her journey.
Who is Yotam Ottolenghi?
Yotam Ottolenghi is a James Beard Award-winning chef, bestselling cookbook author, and well-known restaurateur. As if that wasn't impressive enough, we can now add ‘MasterClass instructor’ to the list.
Yotam’s MasterClass
In his popular MasterClass, Yotam teaches Modern Middle Eastern Cooking, which he describes as a “sunny” cuisine.
"My cuisine is a sunny food," Yotam shares. "Wherever the sun shines, that's where I find my food."
Amanda has taken Yotam’s MasterClass and says, “He brings the fun and energy, but there's a calmness that I really appreciate. Some chefs are stressful to watch. Not Yotam. He's my favorite."
Yotam’s standout MasterClass recipes
If you take Yotam's MasterClass, a theme you’ll quickly notice is the use of condiments. Yotam brings homemade condiments into the spotlight, dedicating entire lessons to their powerful and versatile nature. He calls them "flavor bombs," and it's not hard to see why.
Yotam’s condiments
Yotam's condiments – from labneh to quick lemon paste, from dukkah to rose harissa – come out of main course recipes he teaches, but also pair well with other dishes, which Yotam makes a point to share.
The two homemade condiments that stood out to Amanda were the quick lemon paste and the rose harissa. The quick lemon paste is made with just three ingredients: lemons, lemon juice, and salt. The rose harissa, which Amanda likens to Mexican red chili sauce, is a puree sauce that dazzles.
Yotam uses it for shrimp and prawn to give it a vibrant red color, but also recommends it for stews. According to Amanda, you can get a rotisserie chicken and pour the rose harissa over as a sauce. It would work for shredded pork and salmon, too. Such is its versatility.
Tip: This recipe calls for dried rose petals, which can be tricky to find. But your rose harissa will still taste delicious if you don't include them!
Yotam’s salmon and prawns entree
If you are planning a meal for a special occasion with family or friends, Amanda recommends the salmon and prawns in spicy tomato sauce. This is a seafood dish that is sure to impress your guests. It is a unique way of preparing salmon and is perfect for bringing people together as it is served on a big, beautiful platter straight from the oven to the table.
Yotam’s vegetable dishes
Middle Eastern cuisine is a very vegetable-forward cuisine, and when it comes to veggies, two must-try dishes are the roasted eggplant salad with lemon paste and quick-pickled chiles, and the grilled carrots with labneh and dukkah.
Roasted eggplant
The roasted eggplant salad has become Amanda's go-to dish. It is perfect for a quick and easy, yet filling and healthy lunch. Yotam points out that eggplants have a special quality when roasted. "There's something meaty about them," Yotam notes. "This dish happens to be vegan, but I challenge any meat-eater to say it's not perfect.”
Grilled carrots
The grilled carrots dish is perfect for a regular family night, and especially if you have kids who need a little coaxing to eat their veggies. The carrots are boiled and then grilled, which gives them beautiful char lines, and then arranged into a true artistic display.
They are complemented by dukkah, a dry blend of spices and nuts, and labneh, which is yogurt that has had the water drained out of it. The sweetness of the carrots is intensified with a bit of honey and is balanced by the sharpness of the labneh. This dish has flavor, texture, and incredible aesthetics. In Yotam's own words: "These carrots are very Instagram-able."
Take on Middle Eastern Cooking with Yotam Ottolenghi
Whether you are interested in cooking a new cuisine, putting a new spin on your vegetables, or just adding a healthy variety of food in your home, cooking Middle Eastern food from Yotam Ottolenghi can do the trick!
You can find some of his recipes on in the Condiments & Sauces, Vegetables & Vegetarian, and Seafood sections of our Recipes page.
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