Tajin Sfinari bil Zaytun/ Libyan Lamb Casserole with Carrots and Green Olives#EatTheWorld

Traditionally, tajin sfinari bil zaytun is cooked stove top and then baked in an oven, a clay pot is used, which is later transferred to the oven. This colorful, its combination of carrots and green olives has a unusual mix of flavorings, like caraway seeds, lemon juice, cinnamon, harissa paste and parsley.

Tagine in Libya doesn't refer to the distinctive Morrocan cooking vessels, it just means casserole. 

Serves 3 -4
Ingredients  
½ Kg Boneless Lamb / Mutton - cut into 2" cubes
500 Ml Lamb Bone Stock / Chicken Stock or Water
500 Grams Carrots - sliced diagonally into thick pieces
1 Medium Onion- chopped
1 Teaspoon Grated Ginger
1 Stick Cinnamon
1 Teaspoons Caraway Seeds / Shahjeera
Salt & Black Pepper powder - to taste
½ Cup Pitted Green Olives
1 Heaped Teaspoon Harissa - I used homemade Harrisa
For Serving
Olive oil
Juice of one lemon
½ Cup Chopped Parsley

Method

Place the onion, cinnamon and caraway seeds in the pot ( I used my mud pot) with olive oil, and stir on medium heat.

Add the diced lamb, stirring occasionally until it is evenly browned. Add the stock. Cover and leave to cook on a medium heat until the meat is just done, at this point the stock should be reduced to about half the amount (concentrated). Remove the meat from the pot with a slotted spoon and strain the liquid through a sieve (fine enough to catch the caraway seeds). 

Add the meat, stock to same mud pot. Add in the carrots, cover the pot tightly with foil, and place in the oven for about 45 minutes at 200°C. When the carrots and lamb are fork tender, add the harissa and mix it in the sauce. Scatter olives on top and place the pot in the oven for about 10 minutes without a cover. 

When some of the sauce has evaporated and the lamb has browned slightly, remove from the oven. Don't let it dry out!
Stir in the fresh lemon juice over it and drizzle generously with olive oil, then garnish with chopped parsley.

Enjoy warm with bread to soak up the sauce.

Labels: Lamb, Libya, Mutton, Stew, Baked, Carrots, Olives, Main course, Eat the World, Sunday Funday

 

Each month a group of us join Evelyne of CulturEatz as she travels to different countries to Eat the World.
Check out all the wonderful Libyan dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us! 

 A Day in the Life on the Farm: Libyan Cheese Dip 

Sneha’s Recipe: Tajin Sfinari bil Zaytun/ Libyan Lamb Casserole with Carrots and Green Olives 

Palatable Pastime: Maghreb Chicken and Vegetable Stew 

Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Macroona Imbakbaka (Libyan Minestrone)  

Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Mbakbaka (Spicy Libyan Pasta) 

Kitchen Frau: Kufta bin Batinjal (Eggplant Kofta in Tomato Sauce 

Pandemonium Noshery: Sharba Libiya - Libyan Mint and Lamb Soup

Eggless Gajar Halwa Cake /Carrot Halwa Cake#SundayFunday

This Indian Gajar Halwa is famous and when in season you it's a must for even function or party. This is made in my house at least 3 times during the winter season, since my hubby and son in law loves it. My hubby was going to attend his music group get to gether and he wanted me make an eggless cake to take. Had made this gajar halwa, so decided to try this cake. It was a hit.

In this gajar halwa then is no khoya/mawa or milk powder the milks evaporates and forms in mawa itself.  You will love this gajar halwa.

Ingredients 

For The  Cake
½ Cup Fine Semolina / Rawa - not roasted 
¼ Cup Caster Sugar
1 Teaspoon Level Baking powder
½ Teaspoon Level Baking soda
1½ Cup All Purpose Flour
A Pinch Cardamom powder
½ Teaspoon Milk Essence
3 Tablespoons Butter
3 Tablespoons Oil
¼ Teaspoon Salt
¾ Cup Prepared Gajar Halwa
1/8 Cup Pistachios - chopped
⅓ cup Condensed milk
¾ Cup+- Milk
¼ Cup Yogurt - beaten
For The Gajar Halwa
1 Kg Red / Winter Carrots - grated
¼ Cup Desi Ghee
1½ Liters Milk ( Full Fat)
⅓ Cup Heaped Granulated Sugar
½ Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
A Pinch Of Saffron Strands

For The Compote
4 Strawberries - slice
1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
½ Of Red /Winter Carrot - julienned
½ Teaspoon Lemon juice

Method
For The Gajar Halwa

This halwa does take time but in the intial stage till the sugar is not added you need not stir. You can leave this on the flame and after every 10 minutes come and give it a stir. No fuss gajar halwa. Only once you add the sugar you need to keep on eye on it, stir it continuously till the sugar melts. Worth the effort and trouble.

Heat ghee in a kadai, add grated carrots. 

Cook till they are soft. 

Add milk and saffron strands, 

let this cook on slow flame till all the milk is evaporated.

Then add sugar in it. Now keep an eye on the mix and stir it continuously till the sugar melts and the mixture thickens.

Add the cardamom powder and mix well, 

switch off the flame.

Gajar Halwa is ready. Keep the halwa on room temperature. Let it cool then only use it to make the cake.

For Eggless Gajar Halwa Cake

Butter a pan ( I used two square ones) well then line the bottom with a parchment paper, dust it with flour, keep a side ( the ideal pan is a round one 6" with height, gives a nice height and looks beautiful). Since this was going for my hubby's music group party, had to make many slices so used a square one. The cake was flat but so delicious.
Preheat the oven to 180°C. 

In a bowl, add all dry ingredients semolina, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, flour and cardamom powder mix it well. Add butter and oil in the dry mixture and mix well with a hand whisk. Add gajar halwa, pistachios and condensed milk in dry mixture. Now, add milk, yogurt, essence, cardamom powder in the mixture and mix it well. 

Transfer the batter in the cake tin. Place it in a the preheat oven for about 25 to 30 minutes depending on the size of the cake. 

Check the cake with a toothpick inserted in the center, comes out clear take the cake tin out of oven. Let it cool on the wire rack.
For The Compote
Heat a pan add sliced strawberry, sugar and julienned carrot in it. Cook if for 3-4 minutes and then add lemon juice in it. Switch off the flame.

When the cake cools un mold and spread the prepared compote. 

The cake is ready to serve. 
Labels: Gajar Halwa , Carrots, Eggless, Cake, Sunday Funday

For our event called Sunday Funday, wherein we share recipes our families will love to enjoy on a Sunday. Our host for this week's event is Stacy of Food Lust People Love and the theme is Birthday Party Potluck .  

• Bhagar Rice from The Mad Scientist’s Kitchen
• Borage Sparklers, Both Boozy and Not from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Burmese-style Bean Thread Noodle Salad from Food Lust People Love
• Cheeseburger Sliders with Homemade Slider Buns from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Eggless Gajar Halwa Cake - Carrot Halwa Cake from Sneha’s Recipe
• Four Cheese Ravioli Skillet from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• French Macarons from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Greek Feta Spread (Kopanisti) from Palatable Pastime
• Maple Panna Cotta With Roasted Figs from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese from Making Miracles
• Tandoori Aloo Platter from Sizzling Tastebuds

A Healthy Salad With Sumac Yogurt Dressing#Improv

This is a salad with sumac yogurt dressing. It's makes a filling meal too. You can make the salad and dressing the day before, separately, cover and chill. Serve it just when you want.

Makes 2 Large Plates Salad
Ingredients
1/3 Cup Brown Rice
1/3 Cup Sabut Masoor / Puy lentils
2 Firm Tomatoes - de seeded & diced
1 O0ty Carrot - diced
2 Celery sticks - diced
1 Cup Colored Bell Peppers - diced
1 Cucumber - diced
1 Small Onion - diced
1 Green chilly - deseeded & finely chopped
A Juice of One Lemon
2 Tablespoons Olive oil
2 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander
Salt & Black Pepper to taste
For The Yogurt Dressing
250 Ml Fresh Thick Yogurt
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
A Juice of One Lemon
1 Teaspoon Sumac
1 Clove Garlic - grated
Method

Wash and soak the brow rice and lentil separately for at least 2 hours.
Cook the rice and lentils in pressure cooker separately with water one inch above the rice / lentils and salt to taste.  The lentils are cooked on high flame for one whistle. Drain well and set aside to cool. In the same cooker, add the brown rice, water and salt to taste, cook it on high flame for one whistle then reduce the flame and cook it for 15 minutes on low flame.  Drain well and set aside to cool.
In small jar mix in the lemon juice, oil, season it with salt and pepper. Set this aside.

Mix the yogurt dressing ingredients, season and sprinkle with sumac.

In a large plate arrange each in color contrast. Sprinkle the chopped coriander and chilly on top.  Cling wrap and refrigerate till ready to serve. 

Stir the lemony oil into the salad just before serving; serve the yogurt dressing on the side.
Labels: Sabut Masoor, Salads, Carrots, Tomato, Brown Rice, Garlic, Radish, Healthy, Improv Cooking Challenge, Sumac, Yogurt, International Cuisine

Improv Cooking Challenge: June 2021

Sumac & Yogurt

• Iranian Beef Stew with Yogurt Sauce from Pandemonium Noshery
• Persian Kebab Kubideh from Palatable Pastime
• A Healthy Salad With Sumac Yogurt Dressing from Sneha's Recipe
• Garlic and Herb Marinated Chicken from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Curried Eggplant and Chickpea Fatteh by Magical Ingredients
• Mussakhan (Roast Chicken with Sumac and Red Onions) by Making Miracles
• Mediterranean Chicken Gyro from Cookaholic Wife

Chakalaka With Pap-Pap/A Vegan & Gluten Free Stew With Cornmeal#EattheWorld

Lesotho chakalaka and pap-pap is a very typical meal. The national dish of Lesotho is Pap-pap, made from cornmeal. Chakalaka is a vegetable stew made with baked beans, peppers, carrots and onions, it's delicious. The Chakalaka is vegan and gulten free. You can make the Pap Pap also vegan instead of butter use vegan butter, substitute the milk with water. 

I made this chakalaka mild, add more chilly powder for chopped chilly for a spicy version.

Serves 3
Ingredients
For the Chakalaka/Vegan Vegetable Stew
1 Orange/ Ooty Carrots - grated
1 Medium Onion- thinly sliced
1 Cup Colored Bell Peppers - Orange, Red & Green - diced
¼ Teaspoon, Turmeric
1¼ Teaspoon Curry Powder
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
1 Cup Baked Beans
1 Small Veg Stock Cube
2 Tablespoon Oil
For the Pap Pap
½ Cup Cornmeal
1 Tablespoon Heaped Butter
2½ Cups Boiling Water
½ Cup Milk
1 Cube Cheese 

Method

To Make The Chakalaka

Heat the oil and add the onions sauté till the onions turn translucent, add the dice colored bell peppers saute for a minute, add the grated carrots and saute till they wilt a little, now add the baked beans and all the dry spices - turmeric, red chilly and curry powder, the stock cube and ½ cup hot water , cover and cook for 7 - 10 minutes. 

Taste and then add salt if necessary. Switch off the flame. 

To Make The Pap Pap

In a large sauce pan add the water and butter, when it comes to a rolling boil add milk and the polenta, keep stirring till it form a lump free batter. Keep stirring for another two minutes. Then cover and cook for 7- 10 minutes, stirring after every 2 minutes, till all the water is absorbed. 

Add the cheese and a salt to taste give it a good mix. Pap Pap is ready.

Serve the Pap Pap with Chakalaka and Enjoy!!
Labels : Main course, Lesotho, African, Stew, Vegan, Gluten free, Coloured Bell Peppers, Carrots, Eat the World, Cornmeal, International Cuisine

Check out all the wonderful Lesotho dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us! 

Pandemonium Noshery: Butha Buthe - Spinach and Tangerine Soup 

Palatable Pastime: Lesotho Likhobe 

Magical Ingredients: Lesothan Chakalaka With Papa 

Making Miracles: Lekhotloane 

Sneha’s Recipe: Chakalaka With Pap-Pap/A Vegan & Gluten Free Stew With Cornmeal 

Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Borotho - Bread from Lesotho 

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Makoenva 

Cultureatz: Butha-Buthe, a Spinach and Tangerine Soup 

Kitchen Frau: Chakalaka with Pap (Vegetable-Bean Stew with Cornmeal Porridge)

Bragoli - Maltese#Improv

I saw this recipe Bragoli recipe on tv,  it's a Maltese recipe,  very flavorful and taste delicious.  It's  the red wine in the gravy that gives an awesome taste to it.

When I, surfed the net seen so  many different variations, so you can alter your bragoli according to your taste.   I made this as seen on tv and altered it as per my taste.

  

Ingredients

2  Eggs - hard boiled and diced
6 Bacon Rashers
4 - 5 Beef Tenderloin Steak - flattened with a meat tenderizer
2  Big Cloves Garlic  - minced
1 Tablespoon Chopped Flat Parsley
2 Tablespoons breadcrumbs
Salt to taste

Red  Pepper flakes to taste
Olive oil for frying
Toothpicks

For the Gravy 
2 Bay leaves
2 Medium Onions  - finely chopped 

1 Green Chilly - finely chopped

5 Medium Tomatoes - blanched, skinned & finely chopped

2  Carrots -   diced
1 Stick Celery  - chopped
1½ Cup  Red wine

1  Cup  Green Peas - used frozen

Method
Hard boil the eggs and set aside. Once cooled chop them and the bacon.

In a bowl mix  the eggs, bacon, garlic, parsley, red chilly flakes, salt to taste and breadcrumbs.

Flatten the steak with a meat tenderizer.

Place a tablespoon of the filling  on one end of the steak.

Wrap your meat around the mixture by rolling the meat to make a wrap.

Fasten with toothpicks.

In a deep pan / kadai  heat  oil and add the bay leaves.

Over a medium heat lightly brown your bragoli and set aside.
In the same pan, add  the onions, garlic and green chillies  fry  for 2 - 3 minutes. Add the carrots,  celery and tomatoes and a cup of water cook for 5 minutes on low flame . Add the wine and  place the browned bragoli on top and  bring it to a boil. Simmer on medium low flame for an hour,  keep stirring in between.  

After an hour or so,  if you find that the bragoli are nearly cooked,  add the peas and cook till the peas and bragoli are full done. 

After an hour and a half the bragoli is cooked.

Remove the toothpicks and bay leaves before serving.

Serve with mashed potatoes and steamed french beans, or  asparagus.   I had this with steamed rice. 

Sending this Improv Cooking Challenge, hosted by Nichole Little, theme for month is " Bacon & Onions".

Labels :  Beef, Steaks, Tenderlion,Bacon, Eggs, Red Wine, Carrots, Green Peas, Improv Cooking Challenge, Malta, International Cuisine

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