Very few foods make me happier than a nice bowl of hot soup in the winter. It warms you up, not just physically, but also makes me happy. I think this comes down to the fact that I grew up with soups; my mother would give us hot soup on cold, rainy plantations during the monsoon season. This is a lovely soup with Indian flair and a touch of the Middle East. The lentil soup is delicate and creamy, the tomatoes adding a subtle tartness and the harissa adding a touch of spice. T

I was looking for a quick appetiser for a few friends who were coming over. This is the recipe I came across. It is super simple, and my guests loved it. This is a modern twist on Middle Eastern flavours, pita bread, eggplant and tahini. Here they are separated more for visual impact than anything else. The appetiser is superb, the pita has crunch, the roasted eggplant adds a sweet, earthy flavour, the tomatoes add freshness, and the tahini-yoghurt is creamy and delightful. T

Mashbuss, also spelt as machboos, makbous, or majboos, is a family of rice dishes that are common throughout the Middle East. They are...