Shining brightly, the sun stretches over the landscape as far as the eye can see, with only an errant, fluffy whisp of a cloud or two passing by; This final day of the weekend could hardly be more perfect. The temperature is downright summery, and yet that awful seasonal humidity has yet to settle in, so there’s nothing by dry warmth to enjoy. The familiar urge to leave the oven off is returning, and meals have become simpler as a result. Especially today, on this lovely Sunday, it’s tough to summon the ambition just to peel yourself out of your lawn chair and go fetch a new reading book.
So what’s there to eat? A perfect day would be incomplete without something delicious, if you ask me, so of course there must be something simple and satisfying to accompany the laid-back mood.
Grazing contentedly through piles of chilled, fresh veggies and fruits (bring on the watermelon!), one of my favorite new discoveries finally adds a bit of balance to my lazy day diet. Dukkah, a crunchy mix of coarsely chopped hazelnuts and spices, is not only an excellent quick-fix snack, but also a fantastic party nibble, or it can even be incorporated into a more elaborate meal. For me, I’m happy to set out a big basket of different breads, a bowl of good olive oil, and start dipping away, but the possibility are endless. Think about a dukkah-encrusted tofu cutlet, or dukkah-laced salads. That’s not even getting into all of the different ideas for combining different spices and nuts (chickpeas are sometimes used, too)- The sky is the limit!
I don’t measure to make my dukkah these days, but here’s a great recipe to get you started. The hardest thing you’ll have to do is decide its final destination, I promise!