Middle Eastern recipes

Chickpeas, herbs, lemon and olive oil, with a lot of it served at room temperature, which makes it good for feeding several people without timing anything.

Almost everything can be made ahead, and several dishes are better an hour after they are finished, once the lemon and oil have had time to settle into everything.

Be heavier-handed with lemon and olive oil than feels reasonable. Under-dressing is the usual reason a home version tastes flat next to the restaurant one.