Paneer is common in Northern India and appears in curries and stir-fries. Its origins are hotly debated, with three main theories. The oldest, and the one I am most likely to lean toward, is the Kushan and Saka-Satavahana periods (AD 75–300), or even earlier, during the Indus Valley civilization. The second origin theory is from the Persians period, the 16th century. The last is from the Portuguese period, the 17th century, when colonizers came to Bengal and taught locals to

Watermelon is eaten with cheese in the Middle East, and that is about it, according to the author Reem Kassis. This is a modern take on the concept: adding nuts, mint, and lime juice to brighten things up. This is a simple salad but one that I loved. The fruit is sweet, with hints of tartness from the lime, and the pistachios add a crunch. Burrata adds the rich creaminess that pairs so well with the fruit. This is the perfect light salad for a hot summer day or for a heavy me

We generally think of pancakes as sweet, topped with butter and syrup or honey. But there is a world of savoury pancakes that is also amazing. This is one of those recipes. We would not have thought of Turkey as having a pancake culture, but I was surprised to find that it has deep roots in the region. There are numerous varieties: Akitama, a thin, crepe-like pancake brushed with butter and enjoyed with salty goat cheese, and Lalagna, an Ottoman dish made from a thick batter