Having grown up living in and visiting Mediterranean / Middle Eastern homes where the kitchen was at the heart of every day life, I’ve picked up a thing or two.
I don’t know whether I’m just greedy, or if I actually consider cooking a theraputic art and a labour of love.
If you locate a dish’s origins on a map, you see how areas and boundaries merge with the similarities of food, amonsts other cultural aspects. The notorious rivalry between the Greeks and the Turks squabbling over who claims ownership of Baklava, or between the Italians and Spanish where Turron / Torrone is concerned is futile. Or the great Pizza / Pitta / Pide debate – forget about that one, we ALL know Pizza was invented in Napoli 
Dishes are found in various forms in most of the Med countries, although differing from country to country. We can see just how similar the Med’s people are regardless of any type of boundary.
There is also a special section where Gypsy band Fanfare Ciocarlia have shared their favorite recipes with NazarBlue!
Feel free to comment but please no heavy debates 
Almond Sweets – Sicilian Pasticcini di Mandorla
Bounty Baklava - Easy Coconut and Chocolate pastry delights.
Cardamom Crunch Sweets – Tahseen’s Spiced Iraqi Fudge
Cherry, Chocolate & Pistachio Zuccotto – Do you have endless leftover Panettone after Christmas? Here’s how to transform it into a simple pudding.
(Flourless) Chocolate and Almond Cake – otherwise known as ‘Caprese’ in Napoli.
Cuccia’ di Santa Lucia – Festive Wheat, Chocolate and Ricotta pudding.
Dried Fruit Compote – Known in the Middle East as Khoshaf.
Hazelnut & Almond Butter – Massive YUM.
Hazelnut & White Chocolate Shortbread
Irmik Helvasi – Cardamon & Pistachio Semolina Halva
Poached Quince with Pomegranate Molasses and Pistachio Nuts
Rice & Almond Pudding – Sutlac / Muhallebia cross!
Ricotta, Lemon & Honey Filo Envelopes – Nor Borek
Struffoli – A festive speciality dessert from Napoli; sticky fried dough balls drenched in honey and smattered with candied fruit.
Torrone dei Morti – Torrone of the Dead! A layered chocolate & nut delight, eaten on All Souls day in Napoli.
