Homemade Hollandaise Sauce#Alphabet Challenge

Making hollandaise sauce is one sauce that I was very apprehensive to make. Every time an opportunity would arise to make it, but, because of fear that I will not succeed, the sauce will curdle and all ingredients will be wasted, always put me off. But, somehow today I took a positive step, today 'am going to make it, since I wanted to enjoy the traditional egg benedict muffin sandwich.

I must have seen around 20 videos on YouTube to see the exact technique of making one of the most difficult mother sauces of the French cuisine. With a positive attitude in mind ventured to make this Hollandaise Sauce. Hip Hip Hurray I succeeded in making it perfectly. My hubby licked his fingers so that nothing is wasted so delicious was this sauce. Made of one egg only, since this sauce cannot be refrigerated and has to be had warm.

The key of perfecting this sauce is the temperature of the water, I made this on a double boiler. The pan for the water and the bowl for making the sauce should such that the pot should not touch the water and temperature of the water should be just warm, not boiling. The flame of the stove should be on sim.

I started making this sauce with cold ingredients, the butter and egg were cold. This sauce has just two ingredients the others are just added according to your taste.

Ingredients
75 Grams Cold Unsalted Butter - cubed
1 Large Egg Yolk
½ Teaspoon Freshly Squeezed Lemon juice
Salt to taste
A Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
¼ Teaspoon Chopped Dill
Method 
In a large sauce pan filling it just a cup of water . Place this on low flame.

In a meantime take a bowl that will exactly fit on top of the pan, but it should be shallow. Do not take a deep bowl or else it will touch the water and the sauce will curdle.

Add the butter into the bowl, one teaspoon normal tap water, a pinch of salt and the lemon juice. Take a whisk in your hand and get ready. As soon as you seen that base of sauce pan bubble start to appear. Place the bowl of butter on top of the pan and start to whisk till the butter start to melt and you can hold the bowl with your other hand, i.e left hand, when you feel that the bowl is getting hot, take the bowl off the pan and whisk it on the kitchen platform whisking continuously,

when the bowl again starts to get a cold, place it again on the sauce pan and start to whisk till the butter is melted and when you dip your finger into the butter it should feel warm, take the bowl from the sauce pan and add the egg yolk and and whisk vigorously to mix it well, when it is well mixed and the mixture is smooth, but has a watery consistency, place bowl back again on the sauce pan seeing that the water is not bubbling. If the water has started to bubble or lots of steam is emitting switch off the flame and take sauce pan on the kitchen platform then place the bowl and continue to whisk till it starts to thicken a little at this stage also you should be able to hold the bowl with your other hand comfortable.

The time you feel the bowl is getting hot, take it off the sauce pan and whisk it on the kitchen platform continuously till it starts to thicken a little. This sauce is not as thick as a mayonnaise.

To check the sauce is done, take a spoon and dip it into the sauce, if the sauce coat the back of spoon it's done.

At this stage taste for salt and lemon juice, I add a dash of lemon juice, cayenne pepper and dill, give it good whisk and it's ready to be served.

Serve this warm!!

This sauce can be enjoyed with poached egg, steamed broccoli or asparagus , eggs benedict, fried fish fillet, I would say this will taste good on anything. It's a finger licking sauce, sad but this sauce cannot be refrigerated or enjoyed cold, it has to be served warm.

Labels: Egg, French Cuisine, Hollandaise Sauce, Butter, Mother Sauce, Sauces, Alphabet Challenge, International Cuisine

Sneha’s Recipe: Homemade Hollandaise Sauce 

Culinary Cam: Halva with Fiori di Sicilia 

Mayuri’s Jikoni: Panna Cotta With Hibiscus Berry Sauce 

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Corned Beef and Cabbage Hash 

Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Spicy Hashbrown Waffles 

Blogghetti: Grilled Hawaiian Ham Skewers 

Palatable Pastime: Batter Fried Halloumi Cheese 

Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Harissa Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner 

Food Lust People Love: Crispy Bacon-wrapped Chicken Hearts 

Magical Ingredients: Hummus Herb paratha 

Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Sweet Honey Deviled Eggs with Fennel Fronds

Easy In A Minute Super Thick Mayonnaise#SuperClubSaturday

This super thick mayonnaise is made in one minute! Thick, creamy and super easy to make, homemade mayonnaise is delicious. This recipe is no fail recipe! The color is yellow because I used American mustard paste, there is no difference in taste.

Ingredients
¾ Cup Extra Light Olive Oil
1 Egg Yolk
2 Teaspoons Dijon mustard - I used American Mustard
1½ Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
½ Teaspoon Level Lemon Juice
¼ Teaspoon Sea Salt or to taste

Method

Place the ingredients into a pint-sized, wide-mouth mason jar. Insert the immersion blender all the way to the bottom of the jar. Start blending and leave the blender at the bottom for 10-20 seconds, allowing the mixture to start emulsifying.   

Once the ingredients are incorporated you see it thicken at the bottom then keep processing immersion blender pulling it up and down until completely blended.  

Use a spatula to stir the mayo vigorously after blending to smooth it out.   

Store in the fridge for 4-5 days.

My Notes

If you like a strong mustard taste then increase it by ½ teaspoon.

Labels: Super Club Saturday, Mayonnaise, Jams & Sauces, Salad, Sandwiches, Homemade  

Welcome to Supper Club Saturday #2 (February 2022)  

• Easy In A Minute Super Thick Mayonnaise from Sneha’s Recipe
• Leftover Turkey Salad (Sandwiches) from Making Miracles
• Olive Garden Salad Dressing from Palatable Pastime
• Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Grapes from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Ratatouille with Cheese from Patyco Candy Bar
• Rose Chia Pudding from Magical Ingredients
• Steak Diane from Art of Natural Living

Homemade Salsa Verde#SundayFunday

Salsa Verde is a Green Salsa made from roasted green tomatoes, garlic, onions, and peppers. It's incredibly delicious! The main difference between regular Salsa and Salsa Verde is that green tomatoes are used instead of regular red ones.

These are from my garden - organic green tomatoes
Salsa Verde is really easy to make from scratch, all you need are green tomatoes, onion, jalapeño/green chilly, lime and coriander/cilantro leaves.

To make the Salsa Verde, you can cook the tomatoes, which you can be done either by boiling them, broiling them in the oven or pan roasting them. All three approaches are quick and easy, though with broiling or pan roasting, you get added smoky flavor from the searing of the tomatillos.

I used my air fryer ( @ 200°C for 30 minutes) to roast the tomatoes, garlic, onion and chillies. 

All got roasted perfectly, except the chillies they got charred and dried there was no flesh in it. 

I, then roasted 2 green chillies on the fire and used them after washing the charred skin. 

I did not remove the seeds and used them so my salsa verde is quite spicy, but, I am loving it, taste awesome. Please read My Notes before you make this.

Makes 1 Heaped Cup (250Ml)
Ingredients
450 Grams Firm Green Tomatoes
2 Jalapeno Peppers/Spicy Green Chillies
2 Cloves Garlic
½ Cup Coriander Leaves - finely chopped
1 Small Onion
1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon juice
½ Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt or to taste
A Pinch Cumin Powder 

A Pinch Black Pepper powder

Method

Chop the green tomatoes in halves. Place the tomato , onion and garlic roast them in the oven at 200°C for 30  minutes, I used the air fryer (at 200°C for 30 minutes) and then place them in a blender with cumin and black pepper powder, salt and a teaspoon of olive oil. 

Blend it then add the coriander/cilantro leaves and lemon juice, just pulse it once or twice.

Taste for salt and lemon juice. Remove this into a serving bowl and Enjoy.

My Notes

To maintain the green bright color of the Salsa Verde, drizzle a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil while grinding. Do not add the coriander/cilantro leaves while grinding the tomatoes. Chop the coriander leaves fine and at the end just pulse the grinder for once or twice. If you grind it along with the tomatoes you will get a green tomato chutney not the look and taste of Salsa Verde. 

If you want to store this for a longer period then drizzle EVOO on top at least to cover the top, this will maintain the color and also preserve it.

Labels: Chutneys & Dips, Jams & Sauces, Green Tomato, Green Chilly, Roasted, Spicy, Mexican, Sunday Funday, Vegan, Gluten free

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 Karen of Karen's Kitchen Stories.

Chile Pancakes from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
Chili Plum Sauce from Food Lust People Love
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup from Amy's Cooking Adventures
Beef Enfrijoladas from Making Miracles
Homemade Salsa Verde from Sneha's Recipe
Maharashtrian Green Chilli Thecha from Cook with Renu
Mirch Ka Salan from Mayuri's Jikoni
Roasted Monkfish Over Mole Negro from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Southwestern Casserole from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Spicy Carrot and Broccoli Salad from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Thai Curry Noodles from Palatable Pastime

Homemade Strawberry Balsamic Sauce

My daughter went for a holiday to Panchgani and came back with loads of organic large sweet strawberries. They were super delicious, most we enjoyed eating and few I, freezed .
The other day while watching television seen this recipe and decided to recreate in my kitchen. Tweaked this recipe to my taste and turned out finger licking. You will love the tartness of the strawberries, lemon zest, balsamic vinegar and sweetness the sugar.

Fruity, tangy, sweet and bright red color this sauce is finger licking.

Ingredients
½ Cup (125ML) Balsamic Vinegar
20 Large Frozen Strawberries - roughly diced
3 Tablespoons Level Brown Sugar
¼ Teaspoon Sea Salt
Zest of One Big Lemon

Method

The frozen strawberries when  thawed, it was mushy and left a lot of juice. In a sauce pan add the juice of the strawberries along with balsamic vinegar and bring it to a rolling boil then, reduce the flame a let it reduce into half. Now add in the strawberries, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Mix well and bring this again to a rolling boil on medium high flame. 

Then reduce the flame until strawberries have released their juices and softened, let this simmer on very low flame until the sauce thickens. Keep stirring in between a bit. Allow to cool. It will stay in the refrigerator for a week or two. If you freeze this sauce it remains good for a long time, the best thing about freezing this sauce that it does not get ice granules, remains in sauce form only.  

This strawberry balsamic sauce it's finger licking.. ready for a multitude of uses.

Keep checking to see so as in which recipes I used this sauce. 

Labels: Jams & Sauces, Strawberry, Balsamic Vinegar, Homemade,  Vegan, Gluten free 

Salmon Katsu For Two With Tonkatsu Sauce#FishFriday

For this month Fish Friday we are asked to make a Japanese dish. Today, I am stepping out totally from my comfort zone and trying my hand at a famous Japanese  dish called Katsu,  Katsu also means “to win.”

Katsu is a fried cutlet where the Japanese always use Panko breadcrumbs as opposed to ordinary bread crumbs which provide a crispier texture. The Panko crumbs give an amazing texture to the Katsu. 

Ingredients 

200 Grams Salmon Fillets- cut into long thick fingers
Salt to taste
1/2 Teaspoon Black pepper powder
1 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
1 Egg - lightly beaten
Panko Bread crumbs as required
Vegetable oil as required for frying
Homemade Tonkatsu sauce 

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon Ketchup
1 Tablespoon Honey

Method 

In a bowl add a tablespoon of egg, salt and pepper and apply it on the salmon on both sides and and marinate it for at least 15 minutes .
In a bowl beat the remaining egg lightly. Place the panko bread crumbs in a zip lock bag .

Then dust each salmon piece with an even coating of flour. Then dip the salmon pieces in the egg and coat evenly and then transfer it to the panko bag and shake it well and press it between your palms so the salmon is evenly coated in breadcrumbs. Let these rest in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.

In the meantime, pour  vegetable oil to a heavy bottomed pan / pot and heat on medium high flame. Place a wire rack with 2  to 3 sheets of paper towels to drain the salmon katsu. Fry the salmon until golden brown (about 2 minutes) on full flame and then transfer to the prepared wire rack. 

Serve with tonkatsu sauce. 

Dip it and enjoy..

For the Tonkatsu sauce

Whisk all the ingredients together well and pour it into a serving bowl. Tonkatsu sauce is ready. The sauce has a sweet and tangy taste which you will love.
My Notes 

The key to making a great salmon katsu is to fry it at a higher temperature than you normally would for meat. The reason is, so that the hot oil browns the outside quickly before the fish has a chance to overcook. 

Labels :  Seafood/Fish, Japanese, Deep Fried, Panko Bread Crumbs,Tonkatsu, Jams & Sauces, Fish Friday, Homemade


For Fish Friday Foodies this month our host is Sue the theme is Japanese Fish and Seafood.

A Living Legend + Panko-Crusted Abalone Over Green Tea Soba Noodles from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Grilled Salmon Packets from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Hibachi Shrimp with Yum Yum Sauce from Palatable Pastime
Salmon Katsu for Two with Tonkatsu Sauce from Sneha's Recipe
Temaki Sushi Hand Rolls from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
Tuna Tataki from Caroline's Cooking
Yuzu Kosho Grilled Scallops with Onion Salad from Karen's Kitchen Stories

Green Chilly Pesto Fried Fish#FishFriday

T

This is a simple and quick fried fish.  Very tasty too.
Serves 2
Ingredients

For The Green Chilly Pesto Sauce
15 Whole Cashewnuts
3 Green Chillies
1 Big Clove Garlic
A Juice of One Small Lemon
1 Tablespoons Olive Oil or as required
Salt to taste
Few Basil Leaves

For the Fish Marination
2 Thick Slices of Seer Fish / Surmai
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons Heaped Green Chilly Pesto Sauce
Juice of Half a Lemon

2 Tablespoons Fine Semolina

Oil for frying
Method
For The Green Chilly Pesto Sauce

In a small blender jar blend all the given ingredients and your green chilly pesto is ready. If you want to store it then see that it is a olive oil on top.  

Marinate the fish with the given ingredients and keep if cling wrapped in the refrigerator for at least an hour or two.

Heat a griddle / frying pan with a tablespoon of oil.

Lightly coat the fish in fine semolina and fry till golden on both sides.

Serve it on a bed of shredded purple cabbage and lettuce leaves enjoy.

Labels : Pan Fried, Seer Fish,Green Chilly Pesto Sauce, Jams & Sauces, Fish Friday, Seafood/Fish

Fish for Good Friday our host for the month is Sue Lau
Crab Deviled Eggs by Karen's Kitchen Stories
Fish and Tots by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Fiskefrikadeller med Karry (Fish Cakes with Curry) by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
Green Chilly Pesto Fried Fish by Sneha's Recipe
Lemon-Caper Black Cod by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Sardinian Fregola with Clams by Caroline's Cooking
Vietnamese Crispy Catfish (Ca Tre Chien) by Palatable Pastime

Would you like to join Fish Friday Foodies? We post and share new seafood/fish recipes on the third Friday of the month. To join our group please email Wendy at wendyklik1517@gmail.com. Visit our Facebook page and Pinterest page for more wonderful fish and seafood recipe ideas.