A Pilaf Glossary

From Ajvar to Za'atar

(Quite a few of the items listed on our glossary are available at our Global Pantry store located 3 blocks downstream at 225 Water St. across from the skateboard park. We'd love to have you pay us a visit!)

Aegean Spread is a Pilaf original! Feta, cream cheese, garlic and extra virgin olive oil are blended until smooth. Served as is or with our house smoked feta and herbs.

Aioli is garlicky mayonnaise.

Ajvar (eye vahr) is a spread made of peppers and eggplant. At Pilaf we use mild red pepper ajvar in sandwiches and salads in place of mayonnaise for its beautiful color, rich flavor, and low fat content. Available at the Global Pantry Store.

Baba Ghanooj is a puree of roasted eggplant, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic.

Basmati is a fragrant delicate long-grained rice from India.

Bulghur is husked wheat which is steamed, dried, and ground either coarse or fine.

Calle Guanajuato (cah yay gwah na hwah toe) is the street where we live. "Calle" is Spanish for "street" and Guanajuato is our sister city in Mexico. They have a Calle Ashland.

Chai is Indian spiced tea served with milk. Regular or decaf? Hot or Iced? Small or large? 2% milk, soy milk, or rice milk? Any way you have it, ours is the best! Packages are available at the Global Pantry Store. Great for souvenirs or gifts!

Chevre is soft fresh goat cheese.

Chutney is a sweet and spicy vegetable or fruit relish. Ours most often features apples and the mix is available packaged in the Global Pantry Store. Another great gift item or souvenir!

Couscous is a North African preparation of semolina (hard durum wheat) rolled into tiny grains. Larger "grains" are called maftool or Israeli couscous. Check the store if you are interested.

Dal refers to legumes, particularly any of the small varieties such as lentils or split peas. Our golden dal is made from yellow split peas and our own masala, both available at the Global Pantry Store.

Edamame are fresh soybeans in the pod eaten sort of like an artichoke leaf by sucking the beans out and discarding the pod.

Falafel is a fried patty of garbanzo beans and spices eaten in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, New York City, and Ashland. Our mix is available at the Global Pantry Store.

Fava Bean is the ancient bean of the Mediterranean region, eaten fresh, dried, or split. It's the base of our Egyptian Market Soup and Ta'amiya. The dish called ful mudammes is said to be "breakfast for a rich man, lunch for a laborer, and dinner for a pauper."

Garbanzo Bean (a.k.a. chickpea and ceci bean) is the ancient bean of the Middle East and India. Eat ten a day for a healthy heart! Hummus rules!

Harissa is a spicy Moroccan and Tunisian spice paste. Available at the Global Pantry Store. It's in our Sicilian fry dip.

Hummus is a puree of garbanzos, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic.

Imam Bayildi is a popular eggplant creation, so good the imam fainted when his bride prepared it!

Kalamata is a region of Greece famous for olive oil and brined black olives.

Kashkaval is a Bulgarian sheep's milk cheese similar to the Greek kasseri.

Lassi is the Indian name for a smoothie made with yogurt.

Lavash is a dried flatbread like a large cracker which can be rehydrated and used to wrap fillings.

Lebni is a whole milk yogurt which has been drained of excess liquid until it is thick as sour cream or cream cheese.

Masala refers to a blend of spices used in the Indian kitchen. We blend our own and sell them in the Global Pantry Store.

Pakora is a garbanzo flour fritter. Ours feature potatoes. You can buy it in the store.

Panini is Italian for sandwiches, specifically those cooked in a double-sided grill.

Pepperoncini are small pickled mildly spicy green peppers.

Pilaf means rice sautéed in a little fat cooked in a flavorful broth with vegetables, herbs, fruit, and nuts. Recipes are as varied as cooks, but always interesting. Just like PILAF!

Pita is a yeasted flatbread. Ours are made of white flour and are made to our specifications at a Middle Eastern bakery in L.A. Yes, we sell them in the store!

Polenta is coarsely ground dried cornmeal cooked until thick and grilled.

Pomegranate Molasses is pomegranate juice reduced to a syrup more tangy than sweet. Sold in the store!

Pullao is an Indian pilaf with delicate sweet spices that is frequently made at Pilaf. It is packaged by our sister business Global Pantry and is available at the Global Pantry Store.

Raita is a cooling refreshing yogurt salad served as part of a traditional Indian meal.

Red Sauce is a Pilaf special. Indian marinara? Indian catsup?

Romesco Sauce is a Spanish roasted sweet pepper sauce thickened with almonds.

Rose Water is distilled from fragrant roses. Essence of Spring! And the soul of Pilaf's Mediterranean cooler.

Sour Cherry Syrup imported from the Balkans is the base of our Mediterranean Cooler. Available at the store to make your own.

Ta'amiya is a fried patty of fava beans and spices eaten in Egypt.

Tahari is a spicy Indian rice dish with potatoes. It is one of the pilafs commonly used at Pilaf and is available in the Global Pantry Store.

Tahini a paste make of sesame seeds similar (sort of) to peanut butter. High in protein and iron, it is the basis of tahini dressing and a major player in hummus and baba ghanooj.

Vegan (vee ghin) refers to a dish containing no ingredients of animal origin or a person who eats no items of animal origin.

Za'atar (zah tahr) has two meanings. It is the name of a wild thyme that grows in the Middle East and also a spice blend of the herb mixed with dried ground sumac berries and sesame seeds. Sumac has a lemony flavor that was used in the ancient Mediterranean world for tartness before the lemon was introduced. Za'atar is the sprinkle on our grilled pitas. Both sumac and Pilaf za'atar blend are available at the Global Pantry Store.