Spice Route Flavor Clusters (Print Version)

A vibrant dish combining Mediterranean, Asian, and Middle Eastern flavors into aromatic clusters for sharing.

# What You Need:

→ Mediterranean Cluster

01 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
02 - 1 medium eggplant, diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
04 - 1 small zucchini, sliced
05 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
09 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Asian Cluster

10 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
11 - 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
12 - 1 cup snap peas, trimmed
13 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
14 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
15 - 1 teaspoon grated ginger
16 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

→ Middle Eastern Cluster

17 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
18 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
19 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
20 - 1/2 cup cooked bulgur or quinoa
21 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
22 - 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
23 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
24 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
25 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
26 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnishes

27 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
28 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
29 - Fresh mint or cilantro leaves

# How To Make:

01 - Wash, peel, and cut all vegetables as instructed. Arrange three large skillets or sauté pans ready for cooking.
02 - Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced eggplant and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in chopped red bell pepper, sliced zucchini, halved cherry tomatoes, and minced garlic. Season with dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes until vegetables soften and flavors meld. Keep warm off heat.
03 - In a separate skillet, heat 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil over medium-high heat. Add sliced shiitake mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Add snap peas and julienned carrot; cook an additional 2 minutes. Stir in soy sauce or tamari, grated ginger, and rice vinegar. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove from heat and keep warm.
04 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the third skillet over medium heat. Sauté thinly sliced red onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add cooked chickpeas, cooked bulgur or quinoa, ground cumin, ground coriander, and ground cinnamon. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes to combine flavors. Remove from heat, then toss with chopped fresh parsley and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
05 - Arrange the Mediterranean, Asian, and Middle Eastern clusters side by side on a large serving platter or individual plates. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and fresh mint or cilantro leaves over the top. Add crumbled feta cheese if desired.
06 - Serve the clusters warm, allowing guests to mix and combine for a dynamic flavor experience.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get to taste three entirely different cuisines without leaving your kitchen or making multiple dishes.
  • It's designed for sharing and experimenting—everyone at the table discovers their own favorite combination.
  • Each cluster comes together in about 25 minutes, so it feels fast despite the global scope.
02 -
  • Cook each cluster separately in its own skillet rather than combining them too early—this prevents flavors from muddling and ensures each one tastes clean and distinct.
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned chickpeas; their starchy liquid will make the Middle Eastern cluster heavy and unappetizing.
  • Taste for seasoning in each cluster independently before assembling the plate, because once they're together, it's harder to adjust individual flavors.
03 -
  • Prep everything the night before and store it in containers in the refrigerator, then cooking takes just 25 minutes and feels almost meditative.
  • The three clusters can be cooked hours ahead and reheated gently in a low oven, which makes this recipe ideal for dinner parties where you want to be present with your guests instead of stuck in the kitchen.
  • If anyone at your table has a protein preference, grill chicken, pan-fry tofu, or sear lamb separately and let them add it to whichever cluster calls to them.
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