Healthy Recipes
Vegan & Vegetarian from Zenotel
Travelling the world, from Paris (Pré-catelan) to Kuwait (Le Notre Gastronomie) to Lebanon (Ramada, Casper & Gambini), Chef Charbel Sarkis’ kitchen at Zenotel wellness retreat, Bhersaf, now reflects his philosophy and passion for eating consciously. His culinary creations nurture an appreciation for nourishing the body and soul. He has a simple approach to mindful cooking and stays true to Mother Nature’s tasty goodness. For Chef Charbel, cooking is about how to find balance and harmony in the kitchen while creatively modernizing local cuisine; this chef’s knowledge of nutrition offers a glimpse into the fascinating world of delicious wholefoods.
INGREDIENTS
1,200g eggplant 300g cucumbers 80g labneh 20g tahini 80g pomegranate seeds 1g white pepper 1g salt 100 ml lemon juice 40g garlic 40g parsley 120g cherry tomatoes 40ml olive oil 80ml debselremman (pomegranate molasses)
PREPARATION
Grill an eggplant directly over a high flame turning it around every 2 minutes or so until it is grilled on all sides. Once the water from the eggplant evaporates and all sides are well grilled, remove it from the fire. Peel it and remove the seeds to reduce bitterness. Then,
roughly chop 2/3 of it and slice the other 1/3.
Place the chopped eggplant in a large bowl; add the labneh,tahini, salt, white pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, diced cucumber, and the chopped parsley. With a fork, mix all together, adding cherry tomatoes at the end.
Present in a bowl topped with pomegranate seeds or in layers. To layer, use a cooking ring, fill it with a single layer of pomegranate seeds. Put 1/3 of the mixture over the seeds, layering it with a slice of eggplant and another layer of cherry tomatoe halves. Place the last 1/3 of the mixture topping it with the remaining pomegranate seeds and chopped parsley for decoration.
For the zaatar bread, mix dried thyme, sesame seeds and olive oil; spread it over traditional Lebanese markouk bread. Roll tight, cut in 5 cm pieces and bake in the oven for 7 minutes at 200°C.