Posts

Recipes › Mains Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage By Samira Kazan updated December 12, 2024 Famously enjoyed on St Patrick’s Day, this instant pot corned beef and cabbage is a cozy and wholesome meal that’s low on effort, but big on flavor, to be enjoyed all winter long. Want to save this recipe? What is corned beef Ingredients How to brine a brisket for corned beef How to cook corned beef and cabbage in Instant Pot Cut corned beef Leftovers More Instant Pot Recipes Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe What is corned beef There’s definitely no corn involved – at least, not the one you’re thinking of....

Recipes › Breakfast Keto Strawberry Smoothie By Samira Kazan updated April 19, 2024 Prepare the best keto strawberry smoothie recipe without bananas using this simple recipe containing good-for-you ingredients. Just 3 ingredients and under 10 minutes to make a healthy breakfast or snack. We often pack smoothies with all kinds of ingredients, especially leafy greens like spinach or kale. But when I want something simple and creamy, I love using avocado instead of banana....

Lebanese Lebanese Markouk Saj Bread By Samira Kazan updated August 29, 2024 How to make Lebanese markouk saj bread at home with just 6 ingredients and an inverted wok/kadai or pancake pan. This thin Middle Eastern flatbread is fairly simple to prepare and perfect for making in large batches to serve with any meal of the day! While I’ve already shared several flatbread recipes from my Lebanese roots, including authentic pita bread and manakish bread , during my latest trip to Lebanon, my mother took me through her “Lebanese mother-approved” method of making markouk saj bread....

Roundups My Crazy Delicious Recipe Round-up By Samira Kazan updated November 01, 2023 The rainbow recipe round-up of everything I created for the food competition Crazy Delicious, including my experience with the competition! Warning! This post contains spoilers. So, if you haven’t had a chance to watch the Crazy Delicious episode with me, then it is available on Channel 4 (episode 5) and Netflix (episode 3)! It may or may not surprise you to know that earlier this year, I (as Samira rather than Alphafoodie) took part in a televised food competition show....

Roundups Ramadan Recipes By Samira Kazan published February 28, 2025 This collection of traditional Ramadan recipes has everything you need for a nourishing and satisfying iftar(the meal to break the fast)—from comforting soups and refreshing salads to rich, hearty mains and sweet desserts. After a long day of fasting, nothing compares to that first bite during iftar, when you feel your energy is finally restored. But iftar isn’t just about the food you eat....

Recipes › Sides Sauteed Asparagus By Samira Kazan published February 17, 2025 Here’s an easy sautéed asparagus recipe that’s ready in just 10 minutes! Tender, buttery, and garlicky, it’s finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon for a bright, irresistible flavor. Every spring, I grab a bunch of fresh asparagus while it’s in season (and super affordable!)—store some and freeze some for later. That way, I’ve got it on hand for quick meals like this sautéed asparagus....

Recipes › Mains Shrimp Alfredo (So Amazing!) By Samira Kazan published December 20, 2024 This shrimp Alfredo is the perfect easy recipe for your weeknight dinners. Ready in under 30 minutes, the creamy garlic sauce and juicy shrimp will have you asking for more! After I learned how to make homemade Alfredo sauce , I realized I could use it in so many dishes! I whipped up this delicious chicken Alfredo and then tried it with this shrimp Alfredo pasta—and now, I can’t get enough of them!...

Seafood Shrimp Fajitas (Quick, Easy, and Full of Flavor) By Samira Kazan published June 19, 2025 Shrimp fajitas are one of the quickest, easiest meals to pull together on a busy night — and they’re packed with bold flavor thanks to a homemade seasoning blend and tender peppers and onions. This version comes together in just 15 minutes, uses pantry-friendly spices, and skips any unnecessary heat so the shrimp stays front and center....

Salads Shrimp Salad (Creamy, High-Protein, and So Easy) By Samira Kazan published September 19, 2025 When I need something quick, creamy, and actually satisfying, this shrimp salad never disappoints. It’s the kind of recipe I make when I want lunch on the table in under 10 minutes, with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor. Everything comes together in one bowl — no boiling, blending, or extra steps. Just tender cooked shrimp, crisp celery and onion, a tangy lemon-mayo dressing, and plenty of fresh dill....

Recipes › Sides Simple Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad By Samira Kazan updated July 08, 2024 This simple avocado cucumber tomato salad is fresh, fun, and packed with flavor. Dressed in a simple olive oil and lemon juice dressing and lots of fresh cilantro (or parsley/dill) and ready in just 5 minutes, this cucumber avocado salad is the ultimate side dish for potlucks, BBQs, picnics, and mid-week meals! With summer fast approaching, my crisper drawer is becoming more full by the week, ready to meal-prep tons of fresh and healthy salads to get me through the week....

Recipes Simple Fragrant Indonesian Coconut Milk Rice (Nasi Uduk) By Samira Kazan updated November 28, 2023 How to make Nasi Uduk , a fragrant Indonesian coconut milk rice with pandan leaves, lemongrass, and several aromatics for a delicious Indonesian rice side dish! Cook on the stovetop, in a rice cooker, or Instant Pot for a flavorful side whenever needed! I thought my favorite rice dish was coconut rice until I tried Nasi Uduk/Nasi Lemak....

Recipes › Sides The Best Creamed Spinach Recipe By Samira Kazan updated November 06, 2024 This classic rich and creamy steakhouse-style creamed spinach recipe is easy to make with just 8 ingredients (fresh or frozen spinach) and in under 30 minutes. Perfect for serving alongside steak, at potlucks, and during the holidays! It turns out the key to converting any spinach hater is with cream and butter – who knew? Unlike regular sauteed spinach, this easy spinach recipe is super creamy, rich, optionally cheesy, and gently spiced enough to turn even the most green-wary....

Recipes › Mains The Best Quinoa Salad By Samira Kazan updated July 16, 2024 This quinoa chickpea salad is packed with versatile mixed veggies, chickpeas, and avocado in a zesty lemon-garlic dressing, for a delicious and nutritious side salad packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and heart-healthy fats! Recently, I’ve shared a lot of simple chopped salads like an easy Greek salad , beet and carrot , and red cabbage salad ....

Seasonal What’s in Season – July Produce and Recipes By Samira Kazan updated June 30, 2025 July brings a bounty of fresh, seasonal produce perfect for the warm summer evenings. From juicy berries and ripe tomatoes to sweet melons and tender squash, the best of July produce is ready to be savored! In July, the harvest continues with an abundance of fresh, light flavors and a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables....

Salads Asian Broccoli Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing By Samira Kazan updated July 19, 2024 This cold Asian broccoli salad combines freshly blanched broccoli with just a few other ingredients and Asian-inspired sesame ginger dressing for a simple yet flavor-packed fresh and crunchy appetizer, side salad, or light lunch! Best of all, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, vegan, Paleo, and can be prepared nut-free too! I have an admission to make – other than this sweet potato breakfast hash (which technically uses broccolini), I don’t have any broccoli recipes on this blog....

Recipes Best Pavlova Recipe By Samira Kazan updated May 06, 2024 With its super crisp shell and soft marshmallow center, my Pavlova recipe is the ultimate treat. Stack pavlova layers with whipping cream and mixed berries on top for a delicious cake that is perfect for every occasion. Whether you want to impress guests on a special occasion or just wow the family, this dessert is sure to delight all those who try it!...

Recipes › Desserts Chocolate Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal (Oven or Air Fryer) By Samira Kazan updated July 30, 2024 This chocolate peanut butter baked oatmeal uses the current Tiktok blended baked oats trend to create a healthy cake for breakfast – yup, you read that right! All you need is 7 ingredients and under 30 minutes for this dairy-free, gluten-free, refined-sugar-free breakfast! Plus, you can use an oven or air fryer!...

Recipes › DIYs Garlic Herb Compound Butter By Samira Kazan updated August 15, 2024 Rich and creamy garlic herb compound butter is a must-have ingredient to elevate your weekday meals to restaurant-style gourmet dishes in just 10 minutes. With some fresh herbs, butter, and garlic, you can make the secret ingredient that makes restaurant meals taste so good: compound butter. Packed full of flavor, garlic herb compound butter is surprisingly easy to make at home....

Lifestyle › Household Tutorials Homemade All-Natural Soothing Skin Balm for Dry Skin By Samira Kazan updated September 17, 2020 A soothing, all-natural homemade skin balm for dry skin – homemade moisturizer that is easily customizable to skin type and takes just ten minutes to prepare I don’t know about all of you, but during the winter months I feel like my hands are always dry and my skin needs a little extra attention....

Lifestyle › Household Tutorials How To Clean Oven With Baking Soda (With and Without Chemicals) By Samira Kazan updated August 30, 2021 How to clean an oven with baking soda (with and without chemicals). This method teaches you how to clean the entire oven: oven racks, oven glass (window), etc., with a simple, non-laborious method! Does this situation sound familiar to anyone? The little experience you have of cleaning your oven involved heavy-duty gloves, oven cleaner packed full of ‘warnings,’ chemicals, and noxious gases enough to burn your eyebrows off, and a job that seemed like it would take an entire weekend to complete....