Seafood Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Cóctel de Camarones) By Samira Kazan published October 24, 2025 Mexican shrimp cocktail is the chilled, zippy seafood starter I make anytime I want big flavor with almost no cooking. It’s juicy shrimp, crunchy cucumber and onion, and a tangy tomato‑lime sauce you can stir together in minutes. Here’s the move I rely on: season the shrimp with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lime first, then fold them into a cold, well‑balanced sauce so the shrimp stay snappy instead of getting watery....

Recipes › Sides Miso Glazed Eggplant By Samira Kazan published January 26, 2024 Tender and juicy, this miso glazed eggplant makes for an impressive and delicious vegetarian main meal that’s also super simple to make. A little bit sweet and a little bit savory, Japanese miso eggplant – aka nasu dengaku – is the easiest way to bring plenty of umami flavors to a humble vegetable. With perfectly cooked, tender eggplant and a delicious miso glaze to top it all off, there’s no easier dish to make for vegan and vegetarian friends that delivers on taste....

Recipes › Desserts Quick and Easy Peach Dump Cake By Samira Kazan updated June 28, 2024 This warm, gooey, and delicious 3-ingredient peach dump cake with canned peaches is a truly foolproof, quick, and simple peach dessert . Just dump the ingredients and bake to perfection. It’s peach season, and that’s had me running to the kitchen to make peach ice cream , grilled peach burrata salad , and plenty of peach crumble !...

Recipes › Desserts Rice Pudding By Samira Kazan published December 13, 2024 Make a classic, creamy rice pudding by simmering rice, milk, and sugar, then adding raisins, vanilla, and cinnamon. Everyone will love this treat year-round! I am a big fan of warming desserts that are perfect to enjoy on a cold winter’s night. This rice pudding, along with the Lebanese rice pudding version (flavored with orange blossom and pistachios), is one of my favorite easy and comforting treats....

Condiments Roasted Carrot Dip By Samira Kazan updated March 28, 2025 This roasted carrot dip is inspired by Ummak Huriyya, a Tunisian carrot salad combining carrots, onion, garlic, and a selection of spices and aromatics for a flavorful dip/spread. Plus, this carrot “pâté” is gluten-free, dairy-free, and 100% vegan! If there’s anything that being on Crazy Delicious taught me, it’s that carrots, while humble, are packed with potential! So alongside creamy carrot soup , roasted carrots , and carrot leaf pesto , now it’s time to whip this ingredient up into a moreish roasted carrot dip....

Recipes › Breakfast Shakshuka By Samira Kazan updated August 13, 2024 Enjoy this authentic shakshuka recipe any time of the day. The combination of poached eggs, spiced tomato sauce, onion, and peppers will become your new favorite way to enjoy your eggs. Aren’t you tired of making eggs the same way— scrambled eggs , poached eggs , fried eggs? Where’s the excitement? Luckily, I’ve got an excellent egg and tomato dish that’s easy to make, packed with flavor, and sure to be a star at your next breakfast or brunch gathering....

Pantry Simple Homemade Italian Seasoning By Samira Kazan updated January 17, 2022 A simple 7-ingredient Italian seasoning blend – perfect for pasta, pizza, burgers, and as an Italian sausage seasoning. Combine these Italian spices in minutes and enjoy the flavors of this mix for months! Use it within marinades, dressings, pasta dishes, grilled veggies, sprinkled over pizza, in soups, burgers, meatballs, mixed into bread dough, or even over rice, etc. I’ve recently used it for these delicious pumpkin burgers ....

Recipes The Best Eggplant Salad By Samira Kazan updated August 01, 2024 Light and refreshing, this grilled eggplant salad is about to be a staple at your summer table – and is a great vegan side dish for BBQ season. Salads shouldn’t be boring. To me, they are supposed to be colorful, packed with flavor, and best served as a compliment to something else (this one is great with pita!)....

Recipes › DIYs The Complete Guide to Pressure Canning By Samira Kazan published March 08, 2024 An easy guide to pressure canning for beginners: a simple at-home canning technique, perfect for preserving high & low-acid fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, soups, and more to lock in its freshness and flavor. With step-by-step instructions and top tips! Want to save this recipe? What is pressure canning? Altitude adjustments for pressure canning Pressure canning methods: hot pack vs....

Recipes The Ultimate Guide: Homemade seed & Nut butter recipes By Samira Kazan updated November 01, 2023 This is the ultimate guide to homemade seed butter and nut butter recipes! It includes 12 recipes, hints, and top tips for making the perfect homemade nut butter, and lots more! I have spent over a month now working on compiling every single homemade nut & seed butter I use, to create this ultimate guide to homemade seed & nut butter recipes....

Recipes › Desserts The Ultimate Homemade Vanilla Custard By Samira Kazan published September 03, 2020 A silky smooth and luxurious real vanilla custard that can be served hot or cold, alone or with tons of desserts. Plus, this homemade custard recipe requires just five ingredients and a simple process. When it comes to dessert time, there is no better accompaniment than silky smooth, vanilla-infused custard. This recipe is flavored with real vanilla beans rather than extract or paste, for a robust, authentic flavor....

Recipes › Snacks White Chocolate Peppermint Bark By Samira Kazan updated October 10, 2024 This 4-ingredient white chocolate peppermint bark layers milk/dark chocolate with white chocolate and a peppermint candy topping. It’s a super simple holiday snack, dessert, or edible gift, perfect for making with kids and customizing to your taste/dietary requirements (including vegan/Keto)! This white chocolate peppermint bark is possibly the ultimate low-effort holiday snack. It requires just 3 ingredients (4 if you want to infuse the white chocolate with extra peppermint) and the simplest process....

Holidays Best Turkey Brine Recipe By Samira Kazan published September 18, 2025 Turkey brine is my fail‑safe for juicy, evenly seasoned meat with gorgeous, crisp skin. If Thanksgiving stresses you out, this is the calm, do‑ahead step that changes everything. My little trick is to boil just a small pot of water with the salt, sugar, herbs, and aromatics, then cool it fast with cold water and ice so the bird can go straight into the fridge....

Lebanese Comforting Pea Stew (Bazella) By Samira Kazan published November 13, 2024 My pea stew recipe, also known as bazella , is a comforting and nourishing dish made with peas, carrots, and meat, cooked until flavorful and tender in rich tomato sauce. This pea stew recipe (Yakhneh Bazella) is a Lebanese family favorite, passed down from my mom. It’s a hearty, comforting meal made with simple ingredients: peas, meat, carrots, and a simple tomato sauce....

Recipes › Sides Fabulous Cheesy Potatoes By Samira Kazan updated July 02, 2025 This cheesy potato casserole is a family-favorite side dish – it’s simple, super creamy, cheesy, and a perfect side dish for your favorite protein and veggies. Cheesy potatoes (funeral potatoes) are a cozy, comforting, satisfying, crowd-pleasing side! There’s nothing quite like a classic casserole when you want to add something super comforting to your table. I have shared recipes for protein-based million dollar chicken casserole and hamburger casserole ....

Recipes › Desserts Floral Cupcakes By Samira Kazan updated March 26, 2025 Organic floral cupcakes with buttercream frosting to show off your piping skills and make beautiful looking flower cupcakes. These cupcakes are the perfect present for any occasion – birthday party, an anniversary celebration, graduation, or just surprising your loved ones. This recipe is slightly more healthy than regular recipes. I used ground almonds and also made the cupcakes less sweet by using brown sugar in the batter and a little less sugar for the buttercream....

Soups Grandma’s Red Lentil Soup (with Video) By Samira Kazan published December 02, 2024 Enjoy a creamy, cozy red lentil soup made with red lentils, carrots, onions, and a warming, aromatic broth. A comforting soup just like Grandma used to make! Red lentils are incredibly versatile—I use them to make everything from red lentil pasta and red lentil crackers to homemade lentil flour . Today, I’m sharing a cozy red lentil soup recipe that’s simple, nourishing, and perfect for any time of year....

Recipes › Sides Homemade British Baked Beans By Samira Kazan updated November 18, 2024 How to make homemade British baked beans (English breakfast style) with a combination of 8 ingredients and a simple method. This easy baked beans recipe contains no bacon and includes options for gluten-free and vegan baked beans – no matter your dietary requirements! If you’ve spent any time at all in the UK, then you know that British baked beans are practically a British food staple....

Recipes Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe By Samira Kazan updated November 14, 2023 This easy homemade cream of chicken soup is the perfect substitute for canned condensed soup, ready to add to casseroles & soups. Plus, you control the sodium levels and it’s freezer-friendly, too! Cream of chicken soup is a super thick, creamy soup made with chicken broth , milk (or cream), several simple seasonings, and flour roux. It’s popularly sold in cans as a condensed soup (labeled condensed cream of chicken soup, though they’re both the same thing!...

Ingredient Guides How To Crush, Chop, And Mince Garlic By Samira Kazan updated March 26, 2025 How to cut garlic to fit any dish – including how to crush, chop, and mince garlic like a pro + top storage tips! Garlic is a staple in my kitchen, right up there with onions ( how to cut an onion ). It’s essential for adding flavor and aroma to countless recipes. And, while a jar of lazy garlic might look really tempting for those intimidated by how to prepare garlic from a whole head, put it down!...