A Food Blog Link We Really Love

We're switching up our regular Link Love coverage this week to introduce you to a blogger whose recipes made us hungry.

Meet Danielle Oron, the culinary-trained Renaissance woman behind I Will Not Eat Oysters who is on a mission to get you to make hummus at home. (She's also, coincidentally, the winner of our latest contest!) Her blog features smart recipes for the modern-American arsenal and playful riffs on traditional Israeli and Moroccan flavors. Here, she talks about her pantry staples—and why hummus can anchor pretty much any meal (including the Hummus with Roasted Cabbage that caught our eye this week).

Tahini. Lemon. Garlic. Za’atar. Cilantro. Labne. If I don’t have one of these in my kitchen, I get the culinary equivalent of writer’s block... Tahini, raw sesame paste, holds a special place in my heart though. It’s the most versatile ingredient you thought was a one-trick pony. Mix it with lemon and water to make the perfect dressing for any salad. Drizzle it on vanilla ice cream with honey and a touch of salt. Replace it in peanut butter chocolate chip cookies for the best cookie you will ever eat (find that recipe in my book, shameless plug).

Hummus is to the Middle East as rice is to the Far East. Kind of. But that sounds good, right? What I’m trying to say is that hummus can be the base for so many dishes. From the meat-lover to the vegan, I have made it my mission to have you make hummus from scratch at home. From dried, not canned, chickpeas.

This Hummus with Roasted Cabbage recipe is how I’ll start drawing you in. Once you have the basic hummus recipe down, it’s easy to create something beautiful to sit on top of it. Here, I roast slices of red cabbage in a hot oven with olive oil and a drizzle of vinegar for punch. Some of the cabbage is crispy and the rest is beautifully soft and supple. Hummus just loves acid. When served in Israel, you’ll always get a side plate of pickled cabbage or cauliflower. I’ve put the two together and made it into a full dish—no pita needed (I can’t believe I just said that. Carbs for life.)—and because sumac has that tangy, citrus flavor profile, it seemed like the obvious choice for a garnish. I also really love making it rain spices from high above onto a finished dish. It’s how I know it’s complete.

A few more of Danielle's links we love:

• Tahini Dirty Blondies
• Fennel and Radish Fattoush
• Hummus & Tahini with Soft-Boiled Egg & Everything Bagel Spice

Danielle's blog is I Will Not Eat Oysters, and her book is Modern Israeli Cooking.