Thai Red Coconut Chicken Curry




As I have already shared with you in my previous post here, that my daughter and me love Thai Red Curry and this a another delicious dish.  So let's go to the recipe.
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Red Curry paste - I used Pantai
1(400ML) Can Coconut Milk 
Small Eggplants, cut into quarters
2 Garlic cloves - minced
1 Teaspoon Ginger - chopped
3 Teaspoon  Fish sauce
1 Tablespoons Brown sugar
1 Cup Chicken stock
1 Onion - chopped
300 Grams Chicken - cut in curry pieces
A few Lime leaves
A few Basil leaves
2 Tablespoon Oil
Salt to taste

Method


Heat oil to wok, stir-fry eggplants, onion, garlic, ginger and curry paste until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Then add the chicken pieces and stir fry  again for about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken stock, coconut milk and bring to boil stirring it continuously. When it comes to a boil reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.

Add fish sauce, sugar, lime leaves , salt, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened about 10 minutes. Add basil and serve hot with steamed rice enjoy.

Labels : Chicken, Thailand, Red Curry Paste, Fish Sauce, Asian Cuisine
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Baked Beans and Olives Salad


My daughter loves baked beans, this salad is often made and she has this has her dinner. This is a filling and super healthy. Its easy to make. Make this salad just when your ready to serve to preserve the crunchiness and nutrition.

Ingredients 
1 Tin Baked Beans
2 Small Tomatoes - seeded cut into squares
2 Cucumbers - cut in roundels
1 Small Iceberg Lettuce - torn in pieces  
1⁄3 Cup Black Olive, sliced - can use green too
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
3 Tablespoons Olive oil
1 Teaspoon Pepper powder  or to taste
Salt to taste

Method

Prepare the salad dressing by mixing the vinegar, mustard, olive oil, salt and pepper powder in a  small bottle. Shake the bottle well until an emulsified mixture is formed.

In a large serving bowl. Place the lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. Top it with the baked beans and olives.  Drizzle the salad dressing over it and just enjoy...  


this is bliss ....

Lables : Salads, Healthy

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MURTABAK – A Savory Pan Fried Bread of SAUDI ARABIA



In Mena's Cooking Club, this month we are going to make a savory pan fried bread of Saudi Arabia called Murtabak .

Murtabak, is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread. The name Murtabak in Arabic means "folded". This is a savory pan fried bread filled with minced meat and eggs  which can be served as snack or a complete meal. This bread originated in Yemen, but  also spread to Asian Countries. 
Let's see the ingredients to make this....


Ingredients
For the covering

3 Cups All Purpose flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Sugar
Warm Milk or Water to make a dough

For the Filling

500 Grams Minced Meat (mutton/beef/chicken)
2 Onions – finely chopped
1.1/2 Teaspoon Ginger - Garlic paste
4 Green chilies - finely chopped
2 Teaspoon Meat Masala powder
1.1/4 Teaspoon Chilly Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Oil
A pinch of Sugar
3 Tablespoon Coriander leaves – finely chopped
4 to 6 Eggs - beaten

For the Pickle

1 Small Cucumber
1 Small Onion
1 Tablespoon  Apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1/4 Cup Water
A pinch of Salt

Method
First Let's Make the Pickle

Mix all the ingredients and keep in fridge.

To Make the Filling

To make the filling  I, used chicken mince.
 
Mix chili powder, turmeric, meat masala powder and ginger garlic paste with a little water to form a paste.
Heat oil in a pan, add onions and saute till translucent, add masala paste and saute for 2 minutes then add the mince and saute till the colour changes. Add salt mix well cover and cook till the mince is done. Open and check if the mince is cooked and it is completely dry. Keep aside to cool. Add chopped coriander.

Let's Make the Dough

Sift the flour and salt together.

Take the flour, sugar, oil in a bowl and knead with milk (a little at a time) to make a soft and smooth dough. Let it rest covered for 30 minutes .

Let's Assemble the Murtabak
Divide dough into equal parts. Shape it into balls.

Divide the Mince into equal portions depending on the size of murtabak and dough balls.


Take a bowl beat an egg add a portion of filling, mix well.


Flatten each ball with a rolling pin into a medium thick roti. Add the egg filling in the middle of the flattened dough.


Fold the sides

Enclose the filling by wrapping completely.


Spread a little ghee in a frying pan place the murtabak and on medium flame fry one side till golden brown then


Turn it over and cook the other side. Keep frying and turning until both sides are crispy and golden.


Serve the Murtabak


with the pickle and tomato kethcup.... Enjoy!

Labels : Murtabak, Breads, Saudi Arabia, Continental Cuisine, Rotis, Chicken Mince, Mena Cooking Club

4 comments

CHICKEN IN A BLANKET #BREADBAKERS

A copy cat  of Pigs In A Blanket  - a sausage wrapped in dough, then baked.  It is served as a snack at parties / kitty party since they are one or two bites. They can be served with any dipping sauce. Mostly bacon or pork sausages are used for this. 

 Since I, have used chicken cocktails sausage, I have renamed them Chicken In A Blanket.When I made these and tasted them , the sausage was bland but the rolls soft and moist. I felt they required some spice, since the chicken cocktail sausages that are used is absolutely bland. So, sliced the rolls in the center poured a spoon full of spicy hot sauce and served, these were devoured in no time. I am going to make these again and with a variation.

Sending these to Bread Bakers event Host of the month  Pavani at : Cook's Hideout  - http://www.cookshideout.com/ - theme Think special! Think festive! Breads that you would bring a family feast or celebratory dinner! Thank you Pavani for hosting this event and making it special and festive.

So here goes my Chicken In A Blanket recipe.

Ingredients

3 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Sachet Fleischmann's Rapid Rising Yeast
1 + 1 Egg
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Oil
2 Tablespoon Butter - I used salted butter
Luke Warm Water for kneading the dough as required
Chicken Cocktail Sausages as required

Method
In a large bowl add flour, sugar, salt, oil, yeast and egg mix well. Add in the luke warm water and knead everything until the dough turns soft and smooth. Take it on to a work surface, add the butter a teaspoon at a time by stretching and folding the dough till all the butter is incorporated and the dough is smooth and shiny.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, wrap the bowl with a cling film and keep it to rise double its volume say about an hour and half, depending on the weather and temperature in your kitchen.

Beat the egg,  add a teaspoon of water and a pinch of salt, mix it well. Keep aside  - this is for sealing edges of the rolls and brushing the top.

When the dough rises , punch it down . Take it on to the work surface and divide the dough into 6 equal parts.   
Roll each part into a chapatti of 1/4 inch thickness, trim the sides to make a square.  
Cut it into broad strips.   
Take each strip of dough place the sausage at one end and roll it ( see pic).   
Brush the ends with egg wash.   

 Keep this in a greased baking tray - ends down to rise for a another 30 to 45 minutes.   
Then brush it with egg wash and bake in a preheat oven at 200 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes - baking time depends on the size of the rolls. These got baked in 25 minutes.  
When baked immediately brush them with butter or oil,  cool them slice it in the center and pour some spicy hot sauce and enjoy these yummy Chicken In A Blanket.   
Labels: Breads, Chicken Sausage, Bread Bakers, One Bite,  Appetizer 
Let's take a look at what my fellow bakers have baked for this month’s Family Feast Breads event:
#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.
BreadBakers
14 comments

Besan Ladoo

Besan Ladoo is an all time favorite sweet ladoo made from chickpea flour, for festivals like Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi , Dussehra, etc.  This is my hubby's favorite and its made regularly in my house. Whenever he feels like having something sweet, he will pick a besan ladoo and enjoy. Today am, going to share a simple besan ladoo recipe, I prepare these in different ways - even with dry fruit powder. This is an easy recipe with simple ingredients that are easily available.

I, roast the flour partly in the microwave and then in the end fry the flour on the stove. Roasting the flour in the microwave gets done quickly, using less energy, ghee and time.
So let's go to the recipe.


Makes 14
Ingredients
2 Cups Heaped Besan / Chickpea Flour
1/2 Cup Desi Ghee
2/3 Cup Level Powdered Sugar
2 Teaspoons Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
Raisins for garnishing

Method 
In a microwave proof plate spread a cup of flour at a time and microwave  on high for a minute, then stir it well and again microwave for a minute do this process three to four times, but after every minute stir it well, then keep it again microwave.

After completing this process 4 times, add a tablespoon of desi ghee and mix well, remove any lumps and again microwave on high - 3 -4 times - for a minute each , after every minute remove and stir well. Do the same process for the next batch of flour and keep aside.

In a heavy bottom pan, on low flame, heat the remaining desi ghee, add the roasted flour and keep frying till it changes color and releases a fragrant aroma of fried besan. Then add the milk and continue stirring till it is lump free, smooth and you will find a luster on the besan. Switch off the flame and continue stirring till the pan cools.

Remove it in a  bowl and keep it to cool completely.  When cold say after an hour or two, add the cardamon powder and sugar, mix well by taking the flour into hands and rubbing it so the the sugar is well incorporated.  

Make medium size ladoo and garnish each ladoo with a raisin. Store in an airtight container. This remains good for a month.  Enjoy....  Happy Diwali..

My Notes 
Adding milk makes the ladoos light and it does not stick to the palate while eating.

Labels : Besan, Festival Sweets, Sugar, Diwali Faral, Maharashtra
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