Lis'an El Qa'thi / Iraqi Stuffed Eggplant

This month’s challenge with the MENA cooking club, the recipes chosen are from Iraq. One of them is Lis'an El Qa'thi  when means stuffed eggplant with meat filling. Its is a yummy and delicious dish. Quick to make and really different way to present the humble Baingan ( what we Indian's call eggplant).  It's a classic party dish.  We really loved it.

Serve 2
Ingredients 

1 large Eggplants
1 Medium Onion - finely chopped
250 Grams Chicken Mince
1 Tablespoon Tomato paste
1/2 Teaspoon Baharat Masala - Homemade
1/2 Teaspoon Chilly powder
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
2 Tablespoons Coriander Leaves - finely chopped
Salt to taste
Oil as required
For Garnishing
1 Tomato - de seeded and cut in strips

1 Green Capsicum - cut in strips

Method

Cut the eggplants length ways and make  diamond cuts lightly (do not go too deep) as shown in the pic. 

Brush it oil and rub  a pinch of salt.

Pour a two tablespoons of oil into a frying pan to coat bottom generously. Heat over medium heat and fry eggplants, cut side down, for 8 to 10 minutes (ensuring they don’t blacken). Turn and fry the skin side another 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and keep aside to cool lightly.

In a another pan heat two tablespoons oil and fry onions until they are translucent. Add mince and cook, stirring till it turns pink to white. Add tomatoes paste, turmeric, chilly powder, Baharat masala and salt to taste. Stir and let the chicken mince cook till done and all the  moisture is evaporated. Add the coriander leaves and mix well. Keep aside to cool

Now preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

Oil an ovenproof dish. 

Use the back of a spoon to press the eggplant flesh in order to create a cavity in the center of each half.

Fill the eggplant halves with an equal amount of the chicken mixture, piling it up so all the stuffing is used and patting it down gently. 

Garnish each eggplant with tomato and the capsicum strips. Arrange eggplant halves in the ovenproof dish. Sprinkle a little cold water over each eggplant half.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the eggplant is slightly blackened around the edges and the mince has browned. Serve at once.

Homemade Baharat Masala  recipe to  be posted soon.

Labels : Eggplant, Baked, Chicken, Iraqi, Continental Cuisine, Middle Eastern, Mena Cooking Club

Potato Latkes - Jewish Pancakes #BreadBakers

The Jewish call Potato Pancake - Latkes which are a must for Hanukkah, which are meant to symbolize good luck . These are addictive, delicious and mouth melting pancakes. Made mini pancakes using a ring mold, hence you can see them same in size. 

 This month’s Bread Bakers host Mayuri Jikoni choose the theme Pancakes. 

Makes: 8 to 10 small pancakes
Ingredients
1.1/2 Cups Mashed Potatoes
2 Tablespoons scallions- chopped green and white parts
2 Eggs - lightly beaten
1/3 Cup All Purpose Flour

1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper powder
Oil as required for pan-frying
For Serving
1 Cup Sour cream / Crème fraîche - Homemade
1 Cup Apple Sauce - Homemade

Method

First we make the sour cream, so that it can be chilled in the refrigerator. 

To Make Sour Cream / Crème fraîche 

200 Ml Fresh Cream

2 Tablespoon White Vinegar or Lime Juice

Method

Mix them all to get and keep it aside at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes then refrigerate till ready to serve.  Sour cream / Crème fraîche is ready.

For the Pancake Mix 

In a large bowl, mix  the mashed potatoes, scallions, egg and  flour until combined.Heat 3 to 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Place the ring molds and drop spoonfuls of the  mixture,  into the hot oil, slightly flatten the latkes into the oil with the back of your spoon so they are evenly thick.  When the pancake is done on one side lift the ring mold and then flip and cook the other side.

Fry the pancakes, in batches, until they're golden brown and crispy on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Add more oil to the pan as needed between batches. Transfer the pancakes to a paper towel-lined plate. 

Serve the potato pancakes  with sour cream or  apple sauce,  garnished with additional chopped scallions.  Enjoy these delicious pancakes.

My Notes
If the  pancake mixture looks too dry and isn't holding together, add one more egg. If it looks too wet, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is thick. 

Labels : Potato, Pancakes, Israel, Latkes, Bread Bakers, Sandwiches 

#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. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers 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

Check out the Pancakes from different parts of the world that our fellow Bread Bakers have made this month:
Alagar Kovil Dosai from Sara’s Tasty Buds
Blueberry Dutch Baby from Hostess At Heart
Brown Rice Dosa (Indian Savory Crepes) from Spiceroots
Buckwheat, Blackberry and Saffron Drop Scones from A Shaggy Dough Story
Chinese Scallion Pancakes from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Corn Pancakes from Kids and Chic
Crepes from A Baker’s House
Dutch Baby from Herbivore Cucina
Galettes de Sarrasin from The Bread She Bakes
Greek Tiganites from Gayathri’s Cook Spot
Hotteok (Korean Pancakes) from Cook’s Hideout
Hotteok (Korean Stuffed Pancakes) from Passion Kneaded
Kabalagala (Ugandan Pancakes) from Mayuri’s Jikoni
Keralan Yeast Appam from Food Lust People Love
Malpua (Sweet Indian Crepes) from SimplyVeggies
Oven Baked Tropical Pancakes from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Pannukkau (Finish Pancakes) from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Potato Latkes (Jewish Pancakes) from Sneha’s Recipes
Savory Finnish Baked Pancakes(Pannukakku) with Smoked Salmon from The Wimpy Vegetarian
Srilankan Hoppers from I camp in my Kitchen
Strawberry Nutella Crepes from Spill the Spices
Swedish Pancakes from Palatable Pastime
Sweet Potato Pancakes with Brown Sugar and Pecan Sauce from A Salad For All Seasons
Wholegrain Yeast Pancakes from Ambrosia

Fruity Custard #FoodieExtravaganza

This Fruity Custard is pure vegetarian, healthy, filled with fiber. When this months event - Hosted by Wendy Klik , who choose the theme fiber filled, heart healthy recipes for Foodie Extravaganza {Party}, was very happy since I,  had just prepared this sweet dish for my hubby who very rarely eats a full fruit and refuses to eat a banana . He will eat a slice of any fruit .. that's it.  Give it to him in this form and he will eat a bowl full of fruits.  To make him eat fruits, have devise different ways.. since he has a sweet tooth, I try to make sweet dish with fruits and some time add  nuts too.

Most fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, so it's  good  to include them in your daily diet. Here for this recipe,  have not peeled the  apples, and pears since peeling can reduce the amount of fiber in fruits and vegetables, so one should eat the peel of such fruits . According to nutritionist fiber supplements won't provide the same vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients offered by fiber foods.  Thank you Wendy for choosing this theme. Let's go to the recipe...

Ingredients 

For custard
500 Ml Milk - I used full fat milk can use low fat too
4 Tablespoons Heaped Sugar
2 Tablespoons Heaped Vanilla Custard Powder
Chocolate Sauce as required  
1 Banana -   sliced 

1 Apple - cubed

2 Kiwis - cubed

1 Pear - cubed

1 Cup Cubed Musk Melon 

1 Cup Pomegranate seeds

1/2 Cup Tinned Cherries

1/2 Cup Cubed Papaya
100 Grams Sweet Biscuits  - broken into pieces

Method

Mix in  vanilla custard 2 tablespoons water or cold milk ( I used milk ) till it dissolves.

Heat milk, add sugar and bring it to a boil, keep stirring in between so that is does not burn at the bottom. When it comes to a boil,  add the custard powder mixed in cold milk, stirring continuously ,  cook till sightly thick and creamy (it should be ribbon consistency).  Take off flame and whisk it well to make smooth and silky. Keep aside to cool.

Arrange the biscuits in the base of a serving dish,( have used different sweet biscuits ) sprinkle 2 tablespoons of  tinned fruit syrup, on the biscuits.

Arrange the bananas slices and add the fruits.  

Drizzle  little chocolate sauce.

Pour the cold custard drizzle with chocolate sauce. Then take a fork or tooth pick and swirl it to give a marble look.  Serve chilled... enjoy this healthy and fiber filled dessert.

Labels : Fresh Fruits, Milk, Sweets & Desserts, Healthy, Foodie Extravaganza Party 

Foodie Extravaganza is where we celebrate obscure food holidays or cook and bake together with the same ingredient or theme each month.




Wendy Klik is hosting this month's event, with the theme Heart Healthy Fiber Rich Foods. Here are some of the delicious, fiber filled, heart healthy recipes.
5-Way Cincinnati Chili Spaghetti Squash Boats from Palatable Pastime 
Apple Oatmeal Breakfast Bake from Cookaholic Wife
Baked Oatmeal from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Black-eyed Pea Salad - Saladu Ñebbe from Food Lust People Love |
Cranberry Nut Muffins from Hardly A Goddess
Easy Breakfast Oatmeal from Basic N Delicious
Farmer's Salad from Fearlessly Creative Mammas
Fruity chewy granola bars from Caroline's Cooking
Fruity Custard from Sneha's Recipe
Heart Beet Smoothie from Sew You Think You Can Cook
Moroccan Sweet Potato and Lentil Stew from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Vegetarian Spicy Asian Lettuce Wraps from cookinandcraftin

Talniche Modak / Fried Modak

Ganesh Jayanti is known as Maghi Ganpati this  is an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Ganesha and it's "Ganesha's birthday". Modak's are Lord Ganesha's favorite, so here are Talniche Modak / Fried Modak, the covering is of wheat flour. 

I have already posted  Ukadiche Naralache (Coconut) & Chocolate Modak.

 

Ingredients
For the outer covering or shell:
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Warm Melted Ghee
Water as required to knead the dough

For the Filling

4 - 5 Tablespoons Jaggery - grated 
1 Cup  Freshly Grated Coconut  - can use dessicated  coconut 

2 Tablespoons Toasted Sesame seeds
1/2 Teaspoon Cardamom powder
A pinch Nutmeg powder

A Teaspoon Ghee

Method

For the Covering

Sieve the flour with salt and add warm ghee and mix well, then  knead it into a smooth dough by adding little water at a time and keep it covered aside for 15-20 minutes. 

Meanwhile let's make the filling

In a pan add ghee and jaggery,  when the jaggery starts to melt add the  coconut and mix till the jaggery melts and the mixture is dry, add the  sesame seeds, nutmeg and cardamom powder. Keep the mixture aside to cool.  When it is cool, divide this into small equal sized ball. keep aside to cool.

Making the Modaks

Take a small ball of dough and oil the surface and roll it into in thin and round circle,( I used the puri maker) 

Place it into the greased modak mould. 

Place the ball of filling onto the dough

Close the mould tightly remove the excess flour from the side and with bottom flour 

fold it to seal the modak. 

Modak is ready. Likewise make all.

Deep fry the modaks in medium hot oil or ghee ( I used ghee) till golden browned.  Drain on kitchen towel.  Talniche modak are ready.  

Share these with your family and friends and enjoy. My hubby and daughter, loves modak.

Labels: Sweets & Desserts, Festival Sweets, Coconut

Veg Minestrone Soup #soupswappers

Wendy has started a new group, Soup Saturday Swappers, on every third Saturday of each month, our group will be posting soup recipes based on a theme. This month's theme is "healthy".

Since many of us make resolutions in the new year to start living a more healthy lifestyle.  I too took this theme seriously and made a healthy and nutritious  soup.  This is a comforting and delicious soup full of veggies and takes just few minutes for prepare. Try this healthy soup you will absolutely love it.

Ingredients

1.1/2 Cup Homemade Pasta Sauce - recipe follows
1/4 Cup Coloured Bell pepper - finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Carrot - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Celery - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Cauliflower - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon French Beans - finely chopped
5 Cups Water
1 Cup Boiled Chick Peas - Lightly mash a few of them
2 Teaspoons  Basil Pesto Sauce
Salt and Pepper powder to taste
1 Cube  Veg Soup Cube

Method

In a pot add the water, soup cube , pasta sauce, all the veggies,  chickpeas, basil pesto sauce,  salt and  pepper to taste.  Bring the ingredients in the pot to a rolling boil. Reduce the flame and let it simmer for a 4 to 5 minutes. Your soup is ready, taste for seasonings, add accordingly.   Enjoy this healthy and delicious soup in this cold weather.

Labels: Soup, Vegetarian, Pasta sauce, Basil, Pesto Sauce, Soup Swappers, Healthy, Vegetables, Minestrone Soup

Check out the link up, for more nutritious soups.

An InLinkz Link-up