With him only ever wanting to cook curries and me favouring European food, we sometimes meet in the Middle East. His family love his lamb shawarma so much so that he made it one Christmas Day while his mum had to work! It is delicious and really easy, it just takes time. With the meat centrepiece covered, I get on with all the fun stuff- the sides: hummus, pink pickled onion, Jerusalem salad and flat breads. He also makes ‘zhoug’ which is fiery hot and absolutely necessary (not to mention addictive) with this meal!  Flatbreads

All of these gorgeous sides are amazing slapped into a flatbread and topped with some lamb and pomegranate. I’ll just put the recipes we use below- it’s all really easy and really impressive if you’ve got guests (all can be prepared earlier which is advantageous) Feast

Middle Eastern feast

Lamb Shawarma

• We use Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipe, obviously you need a hefty spice cupboard but if you’re missing the odd  ingredient don’t panic. However, sumac is quite important! 
• http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/lamb-shawarma-shop

Flat breads

• I used this link below and they were perfect- I doubled up the recipe for more people. My tip would be to roll the dough into a thick sausage and cut into even discs for continuity.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/quick_flatbreads_43123

Hummus

• I’d add way more garlic and lemon to Jamie’s recipe but that’s just my garlicky lemony preference! 
• http://www.jamieoliver.com/news-and-features/features/best-basic-houmous-recipe/#u5rxj1FG7km2KDGx.97

Zhoug

• Use Yotam’s ingriedients at the bottom of this link- this stuff lifts the whole meal. It’s also amusing to tell someone it’s pesto but DON’T let them take a mouthful- they will die.
• http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/15/yotam-ottolenghi-sabih-recipe

Jerusalem Salad

• I like the Greek vibe of this salad- it moves him further and further away from curry!
• http://thewanderlustkitchen.com/jerusalem-salad/

Pink Pickles

• We got this from a library book but I think it was Rick Stein’s ‘India’ (polite link for book below)
• This comes with a warning- you’ll become addicted and you won’t be able to eat anything without it!! We eat it with curry, chilli etc.

You’ll need:

• 1-2 limes
• 1 tbsp sea salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp of white wine vinegar
• 1 large or 2 small red onions

1. Finely slice onions and lay out flat on a plate.
2. Dress with the other ingredients and toss. 
3. You will start nibbling after half an hour but two hours with an occasional toss is optimum 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rick-Steins-India-Stein/dp/1849905789