About Ghillie Basan

Writer, broadcaster, and food anthropologist, Ghillie Basan has worked in different parts of the world as an English teacher, ski instructress, cookery writer, restaurant critic and journalist. With a degree in Social Anthropology and a Cordon Bleu Diploma, her interest in different culinary cultures has culminated in many books, some of which have been nominated for the Glenfiddich, Guild of Food Writers, and the Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards. They have also appeared regularly in the ‘Best of the Best’ and ‘Top 50′ lists; and she has been described as one of the ‘finest writers on Middle Eastern food’. Her food and travel articles have appeared in the Sunday Times, Sunday Herald, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Tribune, Press & Journal, BBC Good Food Magazine, Diet & Nutrition USA, and various Middle Eastern and internet magazines, and she is one of the presenters on BBC Radio Scotland’s Kitchen Café. @ghilliebasan

A white plate filled with slices of roasted zucchini, olive oil, dark roasted cloves of garlic, and mint.

Roast Zucchini with Vinegar

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An exceptionally tasty way to serve zucchini that’s not basic or boring. Garlicky, tangy, and minty, it makes a side dish that definitely stands out.

A terracotta dish filled with potatoes, feta, black olives, and tomatoes.

Potatoes with Tomatoes and Feta

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A deeply spiced, but not spicy, Turkish potato and tomato casserole that makes a superb side dish. Serve with yogurt, lemon, and even a sprinkle of nuts.

A green plate topped with a few garlicky chicken wings, a bowl of salt, and a lemon wedge.

Garlicky Chicken Wings With Sumac

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An enticing example of just how exquisite Middle Eastern food is. And, for the uninitiated, it’s the perfect vehicle for trying sumac, a tangy red spice that flaunts a tartness much like lemon.