Tasty warming dishes and pitta bread

Food is a gift – why not enjoy it?

Food is a gift. Some of the simplest and tastiest food falls quite literally off trees and into our laps, yet we spend an enormous amount of time complicating what we eat: scratching our heads for inspiration, worrying about healthy and nourishing options and any health effects. But how much time do we spend considering food that quite simply brings us joy?

Food should be appreciated slowly

It’s so important to slow down occasionally and appreciate what we eat and notice how happy good food makes us.

Spring may be around the corner, but we still have a stretch ahead of us when only warm, cosy meals will do. We dream of hearty hot soup to sip slowly as you watch the rain pummel the windows, or a spicy daal with its magic mood-lifting effect! All of which work well served with delicious pitta bread.

Pitta bread is always on the table at Mamoosh

At Mamoosh we set the table like this: fork, knife, spoon, pitta. Pitta bread can be served alongside almost any warm dish. When we’re making a meal for family or friends, we warm a few pittas up on the toaster or in the oven for a minute or two, cut them in half and pile them up in the middle of table where they are snatched away by hungry hands during the meal.

Our top five warming foods with pitta bread

Here are our top five warming foods that work exceptionally well with a toasted or warmed pitta, as well as our special recipe for our beautiful white bean stew.

Soup

Ladle out a bowl of your favourite soup and serve it with a pitta on the side. We recommend leek and potato soup, wizzed to a dreamy consistency.

Gently heat your pitta by sprinkling a little water on each side and popping it in an oven for a few minutes until it plumps up with steam. Slice the pitta open and generously smooth butter on each fluffy side. You can add a slice of cold cheddar or grate some pecorino onto your hot soup instead. Delicious!

Curry

Making or ordering your favourite curry dish is like having an old friend drop by for a catch up. Whether you choose a sauce rich recipe, or a toastier drier curry, pitta bread is a lighter and less-filling alternative to naan bread or rice. Split your pitta into two discs, toast them gently and dollop your curry on top. 

Daal

A superfood in terms of protein, nutrition and ease, daal is a wonderful warmer throughout the year. Find your favourite recipe and serve it with a pitta to scoop up marvellous mouthfuls. No spoon needed - trust us, we’ve tested it!

Sausage, mash and gravy

The ultimate comfort dish. Take your favourite sausages, make mash just the way you like it, drizzle with hot gravy and serve with a pitta to mop it all up. And if you happen to have any leftover sausages, then try a pitta sausage sandwich for lunch the next day!

Stew

Stew can be traditional, unusual, simple or complex. A slow-cooked meal full of flavour that you can serve in a bowl A year-round warmer.

Here’s a Mamoosh recipe for a healthy cannelloni bean stew. Enjoy!

Moroccan white bean, Swiss chard and harissa stew

Ingredients:

3 medium white onions - diced

4 cloves of garlic - diced

2 celery stalks – diced

2 medium carrots - diced

1 fennel - diced

200g Swiss chard or kale - chopped

2 tins of cannellini beans

3 tablespoons of harissa (or to taste)

1 preserved lemon thinly sliced or 1 fresh lemon (zest and juice)

1 litre vegetable stock

50g parsley - chopped

Olive oil for cooking

Salt & pepper

Feta for garnish

Method:

In a medium-sized heavy based pot, in a good splash of olive oil, sweat the onion and garlic, carrots, celery & fennel for 6 to 8 minutes.

Add the harissa and mix in well, cook for 2 more minutes.

Add a can and a half of cannellini beans to the stew.

The half can of beans that’s left, blend or mush with a fork and add to stew.

Add the stock and cook for further 20 minutes.

Add the Swiss chard and lemon cook for further 3 minutes.

Serve with cous cous and warm pitta. Delicious!