Hey there, my name is Anna!
I am a Lebanese architect living in Dubai.
I am not a chef or a dietitian by profession,
but I have had a passion for cooking for years!
I started this ever-evolving blog in 2016, as a medium to openly and efficiently share all of the recipes I have been developing.
I hope that you will find here recipes that interest you, and that you will try them out, and enjoy them!
How it all started
My interest in cooking started at an early age when I trailed my stay-at-home mother in the kitchen as she prepared signature Lebanese dishes, following every one of her moves and learning by watching.
Years later, during the stressful years at university, I was left with no time to exercise or cook and had to rely on junk food takeouts. I gained considerable weight and started suffering from chronic pains. To avoid developing more serious health problems, my healthcare provider recommended regular exercise and a healthier diet. That led to a succession of disappointing experiences with different diets, such as strict calorie-counting, or complete deprivation of some foods labeled as bad.
Just when my relationship with food started turning sour, and a sense of failure and frustration started setting in, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I did a lot of research, experiments, and mixing and matching to find the best ways to make recipes as healthy as possible, all the while tasting great. And this blog documents all of these tried and tested recipes!
I currently live in Dubai, and the price of fresh quality ingredients is considerably higher than in my home country, which adds another challenge to my experimenting, as I try to keep my meals money-conscious, but still delicious!
About the recipes
My background in architecture influences how I create and present my recipes very much. Science and art complement each other for the best outcome on all fronts, nutrition, presentation, taste, and texture.
Most of my recipes are Lebanese-inspired with a modern twist, fulfilling childhood nostalgia, but in a healthier form. So get ready for a decent dose of kibbeh, stews, kafta, and even burger recipes, as well as middle-east inspired dessert recipes like my date tart, Lebanese fruit cocktail.
Though most of the recipes are influenced by my Lebanese roots, you will find many recipes touching on flavors from all over the world, always with my wholesome health-conscious twist. My favorite cuisines to experiment in are Asian and Indian cuisines, such as my favorite Indian mac and cheese and my easy Asian brisket burger.
I am here to help you explore in the kitchen more and find your own version of tasty and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
I started first shooting with my smartphone than shifted to a Canon EOS 1200D with the kit lens that came with it (18-55mm) than recently upgraded to my newest mirrorless Canon EOS R with a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens.
All photos on annacookingconcept are copyrighted, which means that they should not be used without my permission. Permission must be granted to use annacookingconcept recipes or photographs on other websites, social media accounts, or for print purposes. This is evaluated on a case by case basis, so please reach out to us at annacookingconcept@gmail.com for more details.
Please understand that it is very hard for me to specifically answer this question since I am not in the kitchen with you. The failure of a recipe could be for many reasons: how fresh your ingredients are, if the ingredients are measured correctly, if your oven temperature is good, if you substitute some of the ingredients and many more reasons. But I only share recipes that I tested and have been successful in my own kitchen. So instead of blaming the recipe first, it is important to recheck and remember that many factors you may missed may resulted in a failed outcome. Don’t hesitate to contact me and with some more information on what you did I may able to help you as much as I can to figure out what went wrong and help you get a successful turnaround next time.
As much as I wish to do it for you, but it is not even possible for me to rework and recreate every recipe with different substitutions to fit every diet limitation. And I always recommend using the listed ingredients for the best results. But I always mention in my recipe notes what can be substituted without ruining the recipe. Some of the substitutions are tested by me and some are just out my experience, all that will be mention in the notes so you can plan and prepare before starting.
I am a strong advocate of the autopilot eating concept (intuitive eating without counting calories)
And as I am not a registered dietician, I am not comfortable sharing nutritional information about my recipes. But there is plenty of online calorie counters that you can use if you want. If you want my recommendation, the one that I find very easy and helpful is the very well fit recipe nutrition analyser tool. You can check it out
There is a million type of “diet” out there that I think we can all agree that is impossible to make all the recipe work for all the diets. And some of those diet in my opinion are not even safe!
Everyone has a different dietary need. and everyone has a different perspective on the word “healthy”. I try to eat a well-rounded balanced diet and indulge on occasions like any other living person on this planet. I don’t intend to convince anyone to follow my same lifestyle because every person have different needs and health restrictions. But I have a very wide range of recipe from different kind of dietary styles. And I love when you modify the recipe to your special dietary needs and share it with me so I can share it also with others.
It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle
Starting Anna Cooking Concept has changed my life for the better. It has taught me how to eat well and find balance in moderation.
I do not follow a specific diet, but most of my recipes are geared towards a healthy and wholesome lifestyle, sometimes falling under the vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, or gluten-free labels.
My recipes do not guarantee that you will lose weight, but they will introduce you to simple and easy changes in your meals that will help you to sustain a healthy lifestyle in the long run, while indulging in delicious food, and without having to cut out all “goodies” from your diet.
I hope my recipes will get you exploring, experimenting, and finding your version of tasty and healthy!
Come cook with me as we embark on this culinary adventure towards a better, healthier, and happier version of ourselves!
Affordable, healthy, and fast!
I try to keep the ingredients for my recipes affordable and easy to find at local stores. Most of the recipes include information about alternative ingredients and substitutions, to cater to the widest possible variety of tastes and dietary restrictions.
The cooking techniques I use are also easy to follow and replicate, often including handy meal prepping ideas for our modern-day lifestyle. Check out these one-pot meal ideas, “10 ingredients or less” recipes, “30 minutes or less” recipes, and many more easy recipes.
Get in touch!
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has inspired me, supported my blog, and gave me precious feedback. Subscribe to my blog to stay inspired, and do not forget to connect with me on social media platforms, to have a closer look inside my kitchen and share with me your experiments and reviews!