When Mounah Jabara and his wife, Haifa Jabara, moved to Oklahoma in the 1980s from Lebanon, they saw a need for authentic Mediterranean food. Haifa, a talented home cook who learned the craft from her family, decided to fill that niche, and in the ‘90s opened a bakery and deli that sold her homemade pita bread. This was a time before hummus and tabouleh were staples at restaurants and in homes in Oklahoma, says Victoria Jabara Williams, Mounah and Haifa’s daughter.
Today, Limelite Catering – co-owned by the Jabaras and Williams – focuses on providing tasty, homemade Mediterranean favorites for various clients. Limelite also sells its products at Tulsa Whole Foods locations and in bulk form at Petty’s Fine Foods and Nourish Café.
Williams says that recipes are straightforward but are made unique because of the ingredients.
“The recipes are not a secret, but my family has been making them for years,” she says.
The family’s close ties to the country mean that the family uses olive oil directly from the Jabaras’ olive trees in Lebanon. Recipes used come from Haifa’s village, where she would surround herself with the elderly women of the community and learn how to make traditional foods.
Williams’ favorite dishes are tabouleh and hummus, as well as fattoush, a salad made with crispy pita bread. She says the recipe won a salad contest hosted by the Tulsa World in the 1980s and was submitted by her aunt. Williams likes to serve this salad with kebabs or grilled fish topped with tabouleh. www.limelitecatering.com
Fattoush Salad
- 2 lbs. tomatoes, chopped
- 1 lb. cucumber, chopped
- 1 bunch green onions, chopped
- 1 bunch green mint, chopped
- 1-2 bunches Italian parsley, chopped
- ½ bunch red radish, halved
- 20 leaves of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 large green/bell pepper, chopped
- 5 pita bread loaves, toasted and torn into pieces
For the dressing:
- 2-3 cloves minced garlic
- 2 tbsp. sumac
- 1/3 c. pomegranate molasses
- 1/2 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/3 c. olive oil
- salt, to taste
Toss salad ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate container, mix together dressing ingredients. Pour the dressing into the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately so pita remains crispy.
