baking

A tender, fine-crumbed vanilla cake made with cornstarch in place of flour, which makes it naturally gluten-free. It is light, slightly sandy and delicately sweet, and is served plain or dusted with sugar.

Pastilla — also spelled bastilla, pronounced that way in Morocco since Arabic has no "p" sound — is one of the country's most celebrated dishes: a round pie of paper-thin warqa or phyllo pastry wrapped around a richly spiced chicken and egg filling, topped with almonds, and finished with a dusting of cinnamon and powdered sugar for a striking sweet-and-savory contrast. It was traditionally made with pigeon; chicken is now the everyday substitute almost everywhere outside Morocco's most traditional kitchens.

This raisin walnut carrot cake is a generous, old-fashioned cake with warm spices, sweet carrots, tender crumb, and plenty of texture from chopped walnuts and golden raisins. It is the kind of cake that feels right at home at family gatherings, holiday tables, or an afternoon coffee break. Finished with a light dusting of confectioners’ sugar or your favorite cream cheese frosting, it is simple, comforting, and sweet.

Few dishes bring people together quite like a bubbling pan of shakshuka. Originating from North Africa and deeply loved across the Middle East, this vibrant one-pan meal is a celebration of simple, bold flavors. 

This recipe is a testament to the power of layering flavors. By resting delicate grouper fillets on a bed of roasted onions and lemons, we infuse the fish with aromatic steam from the bottom up. Meanwhile, a rich, tangy coating of mayonnaise, sour cream, and a medley of dried herbs locks in moisture from the top, resulting in fish that is juicy, tender and bursting with flavor.

This classic apple tart is one of those desserts that feels cozy and elegant at the same time. We start with a simple buttery crust, fill it with tender apple slices, and finish it with a shiny jelly glaze that makes the fruit sparkle. It’s perfect for family gatherings, holidays, or any weekend when we want to bake something special without it being too complicated.