Plachinda (Moldovan Breads With Cheese & Leafy Greens)#EatTheWorld

Plachinda is a round flat bread that is commonly stuffed with cheese. This flatbread is a stuffed bread what we call here in India a paratha. In this flatbread no yeast is used instead it is leavened with baking soda or baking powder. I have seen so many recipes on the internet some make it round and some make like a turnover. I have watched YouTube video's and decide to adapt one with which I can get ingredients readily available here. Most of the recipes use sorrel leaves as one of the ingredients and kefir to make this stuffed flatbread. But I couldn't find it in market as this is not the season for this leafy green here instead went with spinach and used buttermilk instead of kefir to make the dough.

Also subbed the all purpose flour with little freshly milled whole wheat flour to make it healthy.
Makes 4
Ingredients
For The Dough
1 Cup Kefir / Buttermilk
½ Tablespoon Olive oil
½ Tablespoon Caster Sugar
½ Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
250 Grams All Purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
100 Grams Whole Wheat Flour
½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
½ Teaspoon Baking powder
For The Filling
200 Grams Feta cheese - crumbled
200 Grams Homemade Cottage Cheese / Paneer - crumbled
50 Grams Sorrel or Spinach leaves - finely chopped
4 Spring Onions / Scallions - finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Dill Leaves - finely chopped
½ Teaspoon Black pepper powder
¼ Cup Olive Oil - for frying
To Fry
¼ Cup Olive Oil
Method
For The Dough 

In a large kneading bowl add in ¾ cup buttermilk, oil, sugar and salt in a large bowl and mix together well with a fork.

Sift the flour with the baking powder & baking soda, then sift again into the buttermilk mixture and mix in start to incorporating to make a soft and smooth. If it’s still slightly sticky, incorporating more flour into it & if it is stiff then add the remaining buttermilk a little at a time to make a nice soft smooth dough. Take this on to lightly floured work surface and start to knead the dough till it should stop sticking to your hands and forms a soft smooth dough. Cover the dough and let it rest for 20 minutes.
In the meantime Let's Make The Filling

Mix the feta, cottage cheese spinach, spring onions and dill together, making sure that the feta is finely crumbled. Divide this into 4 parts.

Divide the dough into 4 part. Flour the work surface really well and roll out each piece of dough, one by one, into a 20 cm (8 inch) diameter circle.

Moisten the surface of one dough circle with your finger tips with a little bit of oil and place one part of the filling on the center of the circle.

Next, take edges of the circle and fold it into the middle ( like a moneybag) pinching them to the top well. 

Then flatten it in the center. The dough should resemble a flattened moneybag.
Now flour the top lightly and gently flatten it with the rolling pin flouring the work surface till it form a thick circle 6" - 8" circle. The filling will be breaking at the edges but no worries this flatbread does taste so good.
Repeat the process with the remaining dough and filling.

Heat the a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan on medium low flame until hot and gently lower in each flatbread, one at a time. Fry for 2–2½ minutes on each side.

Enjoy these with ketchup!

Labels: Feta Cheese, Eat the World, Paratha, Scallions, Pan Fried, International Cuisine, Dill, Cottage Cheese, Moldova, Spinach, Stuffed Flatbreads, Breads

Check out all the wonderful Moldova recipes 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!

• For Eat The World we are sharing recipes of Moldova

• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Moldovan Roasted Eggplant Salad 
• Sneha's Recipe: Plachinda (Moldovan Breads With Cheese & Leafy Greens) 
•  Culinary Cam: Sarmale (Moldovan Cabbage Rolls) 
•  Amy's Cooking Adventures: Zeama (Moldovan Chicken Soup)

Moroccan Rghaif#BreadBakers

Rghaif is a squared flatbread usually eaten in Morocco for breakfast or tea time. You can have them plain or stuffed, sweet or savory, their texture is very soft. It’s richer, but also crispy and super comforting. I have made a vegan version of this bread. This is also made with a meat, caramelized onions filling and there’s many ways to prepare this bread. Traditionally they are individually pan-fried but we can also bake them.

Ingredients

For The Dough
1 Cup Heaped All Purpose Flour
2 Tablespoons Semolina
¼ Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Oil 
For The Stuffing
2 Tablespoons Oil
1 Cup Sliced Onions
Salt to taste
2 Chopped Olives
2 Chopped Jalapenos

Method 
Prepare The Dough

Mix the flour and semolina together. Add oil and mix well, then keep adding little water at a time and knead to a stiff dough. Keep aside covered for at least 15 minutes.
In the meantime let's make the stuffing

In a pan heat oil, add the onions with add a pinch of salt and sauté until light golden brown/caramelized. 
Transfer the onions in bowl add olives, jalapenos and mix well.

Divide the dough into 4 parts and roll each into a round circle about ¼ inch thick. 

Place the filling in the center and now fold it like an envelope to make a square. Lightly roll it to make it slightly thin and to even out the stuffing.

Fold it into a square parcel.

Roll this square rghaif to flatten it a little.

Heat a skillet with oil and fry these on low flame until golden on both sides. 

Serve hot with pickle.

Labels: Moroccan, Middle Eastern, Stuffed Flatbreads, Caramelized Onions, Breads, Bread Bakers, Vegan, Pan Fried

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. http://www.pinterest.com/flpl/bread-bakers/ Links are also updated after each event on the BreadBakers home page. https://www.foodlustpeoplelove.com/p/breadbakers.html 

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

• French Onion Soup Rolls from Food Lust People Love
• Garlic Cloverleaf Rolls from Passion Kneaded
• Garlic Confit Focaccia from What Smells So Good?
• Gluten-Free Millet Chives Flatbread (Bajra chives Paratha) from Cook with Renu
• Moroccan Rghaif from Sneha’s Recipe
• Onion and Bay Loaf from A Messy Kitchen
• Onion Garlic Loaf from Ambrosia
• Onion Lover Rolls from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Scallion and Sesame Rolls from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Whole Wheat Onion Kulcha from Magical Ingredients 

Keto Fried Beef Steak #SundayFunday

These Keto Fried Beef Steaks are so delicious and yum. They are low crab, quick to make. Half I fried in egg batter and the other half with egg batter, both methods taste delicious. So you can use egg to dip or completely skip this step.

Makes 16 - 18
Serves 6
Ingredients
1/2 Kg Beef (Undercut) - cut into slices
6 - 8 flakes garlic
2 Inch Piece of Ginger
30 Mint Leaves
1/2 Cup Coriander leaves
1/2 Teaspoon Garam masala powder
1 Scallion - Chopped
1 Sour Lime
Salt to taste
Coconut oil as required for frying
2 Eggs  - lightly beaten  

Method

Wash and cut the meat into slices abut 1 inch thick. Lightly beat each slice with a meat mallet to flatten them lightly.
Grind the garlic, ginger, mint, coriander leaves, scallions to fine paste ( do not add water to grind). Mix in the lime juice and salt to the paste. Apply this paste to the meat slices and marinate it in the refrigerator or an hour. 

Dip each slice in egg. Shallow fry them till golden brown. Serve these as sides to a main course meal or as starters. 

Enjoy hot with chutney or spicy tomato sauce.

Labels: Steaks, Pan Fried, Appetizer, Keto, Sunday Funday, Main course, Beef

For Sunday Funday our theme is "Steakhouse Recipes". 

• Palatable Pastime: Chopped Steak with Longhorn Steakhouse Seasoning 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Grilled New York Strip Steaks with Herb Compound Butter 
• Sneha’s Recipe: Keto Fried Beef Steaks 
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Shallots and Rosemary 
• Food Lust People Love: Ruth’s Creamed Spinach 
• Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Steakhouse Garlic Butter  

Crumbed Fresh Herbed Fried Fish#FishFriday

This fish recipe is so easy to prepare and it’s ready in just 25 minutes – that’s your starter for a party or meal is sorted. This fish doesn't require any sauce or chutney to go with it, since it's flavorful and delicious.

Ingredients
3 White Fish Fillets - cut into big squares
Grind To A Coarse Paste
3 Big Cloves Garlic
1" Piece Ginger
1 Spring Onion /Scallion - chopped
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
½ Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Black Pepper powder
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
A Handful Chopped Coriander leaves
For Coating
¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
¼ Cup Fine Semolina
Oil as required for frying
Method

Grind all the ingredients given to a coarse paste without adding water.
Wash and pat dry the fish fillets, Apply the ground paste to the fish well and keep it aside for at least 15 minutes.
Mix the flour and semolina well. Coat the fish in this flour by pressing it well into the mix. Shallow fry them on a cast iron frying pan.

Serve these as a starter or as a main course accompaniment.
Enjoy!! 

Labels: Fish, Fish Friday, Starters, Main course,  Herbs, Pan Fried

Are you a food blogger who 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 (at) gmail.com. Visit our Facebook page and Pinterest page for more wonderful fish and seafood recipe Seafood Appetizer

• Air Fryer Crab Rangoon from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Crumbed Fresh Herbed Fried Fish from Sneha's Recipe
• Peel-N- Eat Shrimp from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Piri Piri Shrimp from Palatable Pastime
• Spiced Salmon bites from Zesty South Indian Kitchen
• Vietnamese-Style Summer Rolls with Smoked Trout Pate and Smoked Salmon from of Goats and Greens

Tandoori Chicken 2 Ways with Homemade Tandoori Masala

Ask any Indian what's your favorite grilled chicken dish they will promptly say "Tandoori Chicken" that's how much this is loved by all, now it's not only in India but abroad too, it's become a loved one of all. This leaves amazing taste in your mouth, from the very first bite to the last, "Dil Mange More".

Marinate the chicken, you can bake/broil or even pan fry and they are fantastic. That’s how simple it gets. The ready-made masala is expensive and even for that you have to add  ginger-garlic paste,  yogurt etc., So then why spend money on the package? Just make your own, with all ingredients that use in your daily cooking, it's preservative and gluten free! It’s tasty, simple and you choose the amount of spices as to what goes into the marinade!

Ingredients 
For the Homemade Tandoori Masala 
4 Teaspoons Kashmiri Red Chilly powder
2 Teaspoons Coriander powder
1 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin powder
½  Teaspoon Citric Crystals
1 Teaspoon Salt
½  Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
1 Teaspoon Garam masala powder
1 Tablespoon Kasuri Methi
1 Teaspoon Salt  
½ Teaspoon Tandoori color 
For the Pan Fried  Chicken Tandoori Bites
550 grams Boneless Chicken
3 Tablespoons level Tandoori Masala
3 Tablespoons hung curd
2 Tablespoons Heaped Ginger Garlic paste
1 Tablespoon each Vinegar and Lemon juice
1 Teaspoon Salt
A pinch of Tandoori color 
2 Tablespoons Butter or Olive Oil 
For the Baked Tandoori  Chicken Legs 
400 Grams Chicken Legs - I go two
1 Tablespoon HP Sauce - optional
2 Tablespoons Level Tandoori Masala
2 Tablespoons Hung Curd
1½  Tablespoons Heaped Ginger Garlic paste 
1 Tablespoon each Vinegar & Lemon juice
½  Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Butter or Olive Oil 
Method

For the Homemade Tandoori Masala

 Mix all the ingredients well and your homemade tandoori masala is ready. 

Quick and simple isn't it! All ingredients that you have at home. 
For the Pan Fried  Chicken Tandoori Bites

Mix all the ingredients and rub it into the chicken cubes, marinate it overnight in the refrigerator.

Heat a grill pan with oil and fry the chicken cubes are done on one side

then flip and fry till done on the other side.  

Serve with toothpicks on lettuce leaves.

  Enjoy!! 

For the Baked Tandoori  Chicken Legs

Give cuts to the chicken leg, wash and pat dry.

Mix all the ingredients and rub it into the chicken legs, marinate it overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 200°C for 10 minutes.   

Place the chicken legs along with the marinade in a lined tray, bake it for 35 - 40 minutes.  

After 20 minutes change the side, just brush it with oil and bake again till done.  If you want this tandoori effect on it then broil it for 5 minutes or more accordingly.  

Enjoy!!  

My Notes

Add HP Sauce to the marinade give a smoky flavor to the tandoori chicken, do add it if you have.

This will last for year or so without loosing it's taste or color if refrigerated, in a zip lock bag.
Labels: Homemade, Masala, Chicken, Baked, Pan Fried, Gluten free, Healthy, Starters, Kebabs

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.