Poulet Fafa#EatTheWorld

Poulet Fafa is a French Polynesian chicken dish, which is an incredibly easy and delicious recipe. This dish gets it name Fafa, since fafa is taro leaves which is also called “Polynesian spinach”. This also makes a perfect low carb/keto dish.

Taro is rich in minerals, iron and calcium. Since taro/fafa leaves have an irritating effect on the throat, these must be cook for a long time in salted water to avoid a slight irritation on the tongue/throat after eating them ( in India we use tamarind to remove this irritation on the throat /tongue from the leaves). I added tamarind juice, salt to the water, then cooked the leaves, drained the water and then used the leaves in the dish.  

If taro leaves are difficult to find, then you can use spinach as a substitute. If you are using fresh spinach leaves then no need to boil them in tamarind & salt water. You can use this directly while making the dish. If using frozen spinach, thaw first, then squeeze dry before adding to the chicken. It is very easy dish to make

Serves 3
Ingredients
300 Grams Taro leaves (Fafa) or Spinach
1 Tablespoon Heaped Tamarind paste
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
600 Grams Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 Medium Onion - finely chopped
2 Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Small Piece Ginger - minced
½ Cup Chicken Stock or Water - I used Chicken Stock
Salt & Black pepper powder to taste
1 - 2 Teaspoons Cornstarch or Arrowroot powder
1/3 Cup Coconut Cream **see notes

Method 

If using taro leaves, bring a large pot of water with the tamarind paste & ½ teaspoon salt to a boil. Add the taro leaves, reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and place them in ice cold water to stop the cooking process . Then squeeze them dry.
Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large pot.
Brown the chicken on all sides in the hot oil and remove to a plate. 

Sauté the onion, garlic and ginger in the remaining oil until the onion is translucent.
Add back the chicken pieces and the chicken stock, salt and pepper to taste.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes. Add the taro leaves or spinach and simmer for another 15 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.
Stir the arrowroot powder into 2 or 3 tablespoons of cold water and then stir the slurry into the simmering sauce to thicken it lightly.

Stir in coconut cream to finish and serve over rice. I enjoyed this with cauliflower rice.

My Notes
Coconut cream is the thick coconut milk that rises to the top of a can of coconut milk. Avoid shaking the can before you open it and you can skim it right off the top.
I used coconut cream powder, mixed 1½ tablespoons coconut cream powder in 1/3 warm water.

Labels: Chicken, Main course, French Polynesian, Eat The world, International Cuisine, Low Carb, Keto

                    

Each month Evelyne of CulturEatz invites us to visit a country and explore their foods. This month it's French Polynesian.

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

 A Day in the Life on the Farm: Poisson Cru 

Culinary Cam: Dreaming of the Tropics with Chevrettes à la Vanille et Coco, Poisson Crû, and More Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Vanilla Bean Lemonade 

Sneha’s Recipe: Poulet Fafa

Red Harissa Chicken#Sundayfunday

Harissa chicken recipe is a perfect delight for spice lovers. Harissa is a fiery and garlicky North African & Middle Eastern spice paste that's traditionally served alongside bread, stews and couscous dishes. The rich, spicy harissa sauce is absolutely delicious. This harissa chicken, can be served with rice or roasted potatoes and a vegetables for a main course.

Ingredients
½ Of Whole Chicken With Bone In & Skin - It weighed around 725 Grams
For The First Marination
1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
½ Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Greek Yogurt/Hung Curd
For The Second Marination
2 Tablespoons Heaped Homemade Harissa Paste
½ Teaspoon Salt
2 - 3 Tablespoons Oil

Method
For The First Marination
Make cuts on the chicken and pat it dry.

Take the chicken and marinate it with the given ingredients. Cover and leave it in the refrigerator for about an hour or more. 
For The Second Marination

Apply the harissa paste along with the salt well to the chicken so that the marination coats the chicken well. Rub the marination into the cuts and under the skin and then refrigerate it until ready to cook. Marinate the chicken  for anywhere from an hour or overnight in the refrigerator.

Then next day or when ready to cook, apply oil well to the chicken and the grease a tray with oil. Arrange the chicken on the pan and cook in the preheated oven at 200°C for about 35 to 40 minutes. Half way through the baking time turn the side of the chicken. If you want the skin crisp then broil it for 5 minutes. 

Or you can grill the chicken on a grilling pan. Cooking on all the sides well till the chicken is cooked, I prefer the oven method, which is hassle free.

Serve and enjoy!! 

Labels: Grilled, Appetizer, Harissa Paste, Main course, Chicken, Oven Roasted, African, Sunday Funday, Side Dish, International Cuisine

Sunday Funday: African Cuisine 

• Cape Malay-ish Pineapple Chicken with Pineapple Salsa from Food Lust People Love
• Chicken and Jollof Rice (Nigerian) from Palatable Pastime
• East African Chapati from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Githeri from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Red Harissa Chicken from Sneha's Recipe
• Rgaif (Moroccan Flat Bread) from Karen's Kitchen Stories

Keto Wiener Beef Schnitzel#EatTheWorld

This is a easy keto/low carb Schnitzel recipe for crispy fried and seasoned beef steak.

This is a perfect recipe for one who has gluten intolerance. Using almond meal in the place of breadcrumbs, I was able to create a delicious (and healthy!) substitute for breaded schnitzel. 

Serves One
Ingredients
300 Grams One Big Undercut Beef Steak - flatten
½ Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
½ Teaspoon White or Black pepper powder
½ Teaspoon Mustard sauce
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce - Sugar Free
1 Egg
½ Cup Almond Flour - to coat
Olive Oil For Frying

Method 
Lay down a  strip of plastic wrap or cloth on your kitchen countertop. Place beef piece on the plastic wrap or cloth, cover with another strip of plastic or cloth so the meat is sandwiched between two layers. Use a mallet to flatten the steak until it's ¼ inch thick. Season with salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate this for at least an hour or overnight.

When ready to fry, dip in beaten egg, then with almond flour. Pat the almond flour coating onto all visible sides of the steak, making sure there’s an even layer of coating over all the visible surfaces. Refrigerate the coated schnitzel for at least 30 minutes.
Pour oil into a skillet until it’s deep enough for shallow frying. Heat the oil slowly over medium. While oil is heating,
When the oil is hot (but not smoking or splattering), fry the coated steak until they are golden brown on both sides, for about 4 minutes per side.

After frying, set the schnitzel on a paper towel and pat them dry to soak off excess oil. Serve hot garnished with sliced cucumber and feta cheese with a sprinkle of black pepper powder. 

Labels: Eat the World, Schnitzel, Beef, Austria, Vienna, Keto, Low Carb, Almond Flour, Main course., International Cuisine, Serves One

Each month Evelyne of CulturEatz invites us to visit a country and explore their foods.

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

Sugarlovespices: Mini Sacher Torte, Viennese classic chocolate cake 

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Kasespatzle 

Palatable Pastime: Frankfurter Würstchen (Austrian Hot Dog) 

Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Viennese Kaiser Rolls 

Sneha’s Recipe: Keto Wiener Beef Schnitzel 

Pandemonium Noshery: Kaiserschmarrn - Austrian Torn Pancake 

Cultureatz: Styrian Potato Field Salad

Prawn With Veggies Bafat Without Coconut#SundayFunday

This recipe is made with two East Indian Masalas and is without any coconut. It's quick, easy and tasty too. This pairs well with hot steamed rice or hand bread. 

Ingredients 
300 Grams Cleaned Prawns With Shells
1 Teaspoon Heaped Kacha Masala 
1 Teaspoon Heaped East Indian Bottle Masala
1 -2 Green Chillies - slit
1 Teaspoon Heaped Ginger Garlic Paste
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt or to taste
1 Tomato - Sliced
1 Medium Onion - sliced
1 Sprig Curry Leaves
1 Medium Potato - quartered
2 Small Brinjals - quartered
4 -5 French Beans
4 -5 Papadi/Broad Beans
1 Small Piece Snake Gourd
3 Tablespoons Oil
1 Tablespoons Tamarind Paste
1 Tablespoon Rice Flour

Method 

Heat oil, add cumin, slit chillies, ginger garlic paste and fry for a minute, later add chopped onions and fry till slightly pinkish in color. Now add the prawns and fry well till the onion turns just a little brown ( don’t fry till dark brown). Add the chopped tomato and fry till soft adding a splash of water.
Once the tomatoes are mushy add potatoes, French beans and and both the East Indian masala with a little water and let the masalas cook till the oil starts separating check and add little more water ( don’t add too much water as we will be adding it in the later stage) if required till the masala gets well sautéed. 

Now add all the veggies and a little water to get the veggies sautéed in the spices for about a minute or two stirring in between. Add the prawns and water enough to make a gravy consistency accordingly. Lightly give this a mix and cook covered for 5 - 7 minutes, stirring in between. Once the veggies and prawns are cooked add the tamarind paste mixed with the rice flour, give it a light mix and let is simmer for 2 - 3 minutes.

Switch off the flame and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Enjoy this with steamed rice or Hand Bread.  

Labels: East Indian, Prawns, Seafood/Fish, Sunday Funday, Main course, Mixed Veggies  

• Sue of Palatable Pastime shares Calabrian Chili Pasta with Shrimp
• Amy of Amy's Cooking Adventures serves up Crispy Oven Baked Fries
• Stacy of Food Lust People Love gives us Grilled Octopus with Spinach and Smoky Beans
• Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm made a Pineapple Shrimp Noodle Bowl
• Sneha of Sneha's Recipe cooks Prawn With Vegetable Bafat Without Coconut  

Grilled Cauliflower Tikka Masala#SundayFunday

This dish is so delicious and creamy, you will love this dish.

For this recipe if have used mustard oil, this oil gives a delicious and nutty flavor to the dish. Mustard oil is also a healthy oil. Once you acquire a taste of the oil you will love using it in cooking. Do try this recipe with this oil. I have made the gravy thick to enjoy it with chapatti, if you want to have with steamed rice then add more hot water and adjust the gravy consistency accordingly. This crowd-pleaser of a dish for vegetarians, a perfect, warming bowl of comfort food.

Serves 4 - 5
Ingredients
1 Medium Head Cauliflower - cut into florets
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
For The Cauliflower Marination
150 Grams Yogurt -whisked
½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
¼ Teaspoon Black Salt
1 Tablespoon Kashmiri Red Chilly powder
½ Teaspoon Amchur powder
½ Teaspoon Cumin Powder
½ Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Chutney Chana - grind to a fine powder
½ Teaspoon Kasuri Methi
1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
2 Tablespoons Mustard Oil 

For The Tikka Masala Gravy
1 Medium Onion - chopped
3 Cloves Garlic - chopped
1" Piece Ginger - chopped
2 Medium Tomatoes - blanche & peeled
2 Tablespoon Mustard Oil
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
2 Teaspoons Coriander Powder
½ Teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
¼ Cup Yogurt
½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
½ Teaspoon Sugar
For Garnishing
Coriander Leaves
¼ Cup Fresh Cream

Method
For The Cauliflower/Gobi Florets

In a large pot or kadhai, pour water add a teaspoon of salt bring it to a boil. Once the water comes to a rapid boil, add the cauliflower floret. Bring this to a boil and switch off the flame. Drain the water and let it cool down completely.

For The Cauliflower Marination

In a large mixing bowl combine, all the given ingredients to a smooth mixture, add in the cooled cauliflower florets, mix well. Set it aside for 30 minutes. 
In the mean time let's prepare the gravy

In a large pan / kadai, heat mustard oil, when it comes to a smoking point, switch off the flame let is cool for a minute or two. Now switch on the flame and fry the chopped onions, ginger and garlic till it just starts to turn golden, add the blanched and chopped tomato, sauté it for 2 minutes. Switch off the flame and let it cool.
Let's get back to the cauliflower

Heat the oven to 200°C, with both the elements on. Arrange the marinated cauliflower in a lined tray. Do not add the marinade, keep this aside, we will use it in the gravy.
Place the tray in the oven and let it grill for 15 minutes.  

After 15 minutes, remove the tray out and turn the sides of the florets. Turn the oven setting to grill only and place the tray on the top rack and grill it for 10 minutes, half way through change the sides of the tray.    

They will be slightly charred see pic.

Back To The Gravy

In blender jar add the sautéed onion and tomato along with the oil, all the given spices and yogurt, grind this to a fine paste.
Pour this back into the same kadai without adding any oil.
Wash the blender jar with little water, pour this also into the kadai. Add the all the remaining cauliflower marinade and wash that bowl too with little water. Add another cup of water and mix all this well, add salt and sugar and give it good mix. Now switch on the flame and on medium high flame stir it continuously till the gravy comes to a rolling boil. Once it comes to a rolling boil, cover with a lid and reduce the flame to low and let it simmer till oil surfaces.   

Once the oil surfaces our gravy is done. Now add the garam masala, crushed kasuri methi, cream and give it good mix, let is simmer for a minutes. Switch off the flame add the grilled cauliflower florets and mix. Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves and a drizzle of cream.

Enjoy with chapatti or naans.

Enjoy super delicious, finger licking Cauliflower Tikka Masala.

Labels: Cauliflower, Grilled, Gluten free, Main course, Indian, Sunday Funday, Oven Roasted, Vegetarian

Sunday Funday

Fire Up the Grill!

• Old Bay Pork Chops by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Mesquite Grilling Marinade by Palatable Pastime
• Grilled Cauliflower Tikka Masala by Sneha's Recipe
• Smoky Turkey Burgers by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Beef Mince / Kheema With Vindaloo Masala#Improv

This has a fiery hot color and it tastes awesome. Mouthwatering and delicious, a recipe you must try. This is my mother's recipe, an East Indian dish.

Ingredients
¼ kg Beef Mince
2 Medium Onions - finely chopped
1 Large Tomato - blanched and skinned
1 Large Potato - cubed - optional
Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves for garnishing
3 Tablespoons Oil
Grind To Paste With Vinegar
3 Kashmir Chilies
3 Bedki Chillies
8 Cloves Garlic
1"Piece Ginger
½ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder

Method

Boil the kashmiri and bedki chillies in sufficient water with a tablespoon of vinegar, till they softened. Cool. Fish out the chillies and then grind with a rest of the ingredients with a tablespoon of vinegar to a fine paste. Add more water from the boiled chillies if necessary and grind to a thick paste. When this is finely ground add the tomato and grind this too along with masala. Keep this aside.

Heat oil in a vessel / pot and add chopped onions. Fry well add the tomato puree fry well add the masala paste and fry for a few minutes more.
Add mince and salt to taste, fry for 2 minutes then add the cubed potatoes with a cup of water and bring this to a boil. Cover and let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes or till done. If there is excess gravy then cook it without the lid till it is saucy. This is thick gravy dish. 

Garnish with chopped fresh coriander. enjoy this with Brun Pav or chapatis takes super yum !! 
Labels: Beef, Mince, Improv Cooking Challenge, East Indian, Main course, Vindaloo Masala

For May 2023 in Improv Cooking Challenge the theme is - Meat & Potatoes

Beef Mince / Kheema With Vindaloo Masala from Sneha's Recipe
Smoked Sausage and Potato Skillet from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Potatoes Stroganoff from Palatable Pastime

Hilachas - Guatemalan Shredded Beef in Tomatillo Sauce#EatTheWorld

Hilachas is a popular Guatemalan dish made of cooked and shredded beef and it's simmered in a mildly spiced tomatillo sauce. This is usually enjoyed with it with a side of rice or fresh corn tortillas for a meal. This taste so good that you will enjoy it do try it and adjust the spice level according to your taste.

Serves 4
Ingredients
To Cook The Beef 
500 Gram Beef Steak - cut into slices
1 Cup Water
1 Onion
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Bay Leaf
1 Medium Ripe Tomato
Half Of A Small Onion
¼ Teaspoon Salt
Other Ingredients
1 Tablespoons Oil
3 Medium Ripe & Firm Tomatoes
3 Green Tomatoes/ Tomatillos
1 Green Pepper
3 Dried Red Chillies - deseeded or Guajillo chilies
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1 Medium Potato - peeled and chopped
2 Medium Carrots - peeled and chopped
¼ Cup Chopped Coriander / Cilantro 

Method

Place the beef, garlic, half of a small onion, cut the tomato into two and one cup water and salt in a large pressure cooker ( if you are using a saucepan then add more water accordingly to cook) and cook until the beef is very tender.
Remove the beef to a bowl, reserving the broth. When cool enough to handle, shred the beef with your fingers and set aside.
When cooled puree the broth and set aside.

Roast the green pepper, onion, tomato and tomatillos. When cooled remove the skin and puree along with dried red chillies and keep aside.

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium flame. Add the potatoes and chopped carrot sauté for a minute on medium high flame. Then add tomatillos puree and the shredded beef and the pureed the broth season with salt and pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes.

Simmer and cook until the potatoes and carrots are cooked through, about 15-20 minutes or until the sauce thickens.

When done then add in the chopped coriander, adjust seasoning. 

Serve hot with corn tortillas or steamed rice.

Labels: Beef, Guatemala, Onion, Green Tomato, Peppers, Roasted Tomato, Main course, Eat the World   

Each month Evelyne of CulturEatz invites us to visit a country and explore their foods.

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

 

Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Fiambre (Guatemalan Salad)

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Pepian de Pollo  

Sneha’s Recipe: Hilachas - Guatemalan Shredded Beef in Tomatillo Sauce