Date-night dinner

In Lebanon, food is not simply eaten, it is shared, argued over, lingered on and remembered. From the mountains to the coast, and especially in Beirut, cooking is deeply tied to identity, hospitality

■ Serves 8 ■ Prep 30 mins plus 10 mins resting ■ Cook 1 hr 500g kale, thick stalks discarded and roughly chopped1 tbsp each butter and olive oil2 onions, chopped3 garlic cloves, finely chopped750g ric

Hosting a family do? Impress guests with twists on the classics, plus a pretty-in-pink pudding

This rich tart makes a lovely dish for a spring lunch – serve with a crisp green salad. SERVES 6 | PREP 20 MINS | COOK 1 HR 10 MINS | EASY 250g shortcrust pastry2 smoked haddock fillets knob of butter

Lamb kofta stew with cauliflower & chickpeas Halloumi with tomatoes & pomegranate molasses Aubergine salad Courgette & tahini dip Za’atar croutons “Lebanon is half Christian, half Muslim; half city pe

SERVES 6-8 | PREP 15 MINS | COOK 4 HRS | EASY 2 large onions, peeledolive oil1 leg of lamb1 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp ground allspice400g tin of cherry tomatoes3 garlic cloves, crushedf