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  • Egyptian Fatteh

    Egyptian Fatteh

    Category: Beef

    Area: Egyptian

    Ingredients:

    • 1lb Beef
    • 1 Onion
    • 1 Chicken Stock Cube
    • 2 Tomatoes
    • 4 Garlic Clove
    • 1 tbs Tomato Puree
    • 2 cups Rice
    • 1/4 cup Noodles
    • 1/4 cup Butter
    • 2 cups Olive Oil
    • 1 Pita Bread
    • 1 tbs Cumin
    • 3 tbs White Wine Vinegar
    • To taste Salt
    • To taste Pepper

    Instructions:

    To prepare bread for bottom of dish: Take pita bread and rip into bite size pieces. In a frying pan, add about a 1/4 stick of butter, add bread pieces and fry until golden brown and crisp. Put these pieces in a glass baking dish, preferably a square sized dish. Set aside.
    Then add to same pan, a little more butter, salt, approximately 2 cloves of crushed fresh garlic, and a teaspoon or so of cumin stir around a bit until you can smell aroma, then add fried bread pieces to this mixture, stir to coat bread and put back into glass baking dish. Set aside.
    To prepare meat: put some butter in a pot, stir fry meat until brown, add 1 onion quartered, salt & pepper, 1 cube of chicken bouillon and water to cover meat. Bring to a boil, turn down to simmer, cover and cook until tender, approximately 2 hours. After meat has cooled, take out chunks of meat and put in a bowl, set aside. Reserve soup from the meat separately.
    To prepare the rice: Put some butter into a pot, add shareya (fideo noodles) like a handful or so, keep stirring until golden brown, not too dark, but very golden. Then add two cups of rice, stir a little bit until some of the rice turns an opaque white. Add 2-1/4 cups of water and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, cover and turn down to simmer, cook until tender. Test the rice tenderness after about 35 minutes.
    Now take some of the soup from meat and add to the top of the bread pieces in baking dish to saturate.Add cooked rice on top of bread pieces. Slowly spoon remainder of soup onto rice, looking at glass dish sides to see level of soup, should reach just to top of rice, don’t worry, this doesn’t have to be exact. Now you’re ready to make the sauce and fry the meat to put on top.
    To prepare red sauce: In a pan, add a little oil or butter, crushed tomato, a half teaspoon of tomato paste, salt & pepper, 2 cloves of fresh crushed garlic and cumin. Add also approximately 3 tablespoons of vinegar, stir this until you smell aroma and it is a bit smooth. It should be a bit thick, not watery, but if too thick you can add a bit of water. Spread with a wooden spoon atop the rice to cover.
    To fry meat: In a pan add a bit of butter or oil, the meat, just a touch of tomato paste, about a tablespoon of fresh crushed garlic, salt & pepper, a teaspoon of cumin. Cook until meat is golden fried.
    Spoon this atop the rice and serve. Enjoy!

  • Polskie Nalesniki (Polish Pancakes)

    Polskie Nalesniki (Polish Pancakes)

    Category: Dessert

    Area: Polish

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cup Flour
    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 cup Milk
    • 3/4 cup Water
    • Pinch Salt
    • 1 tsp Sugar
    • 3 tbs Butter

    Instructions:

    Add flour, eggs, milk, water, and salt in a large bowl then mix with a hand mixer until you have a smooth, lump-free batter.
    At this point, mix in the butter or the vegetable oil. Alternatively, you can use them to grease the pan before frying each pancake.
    Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat, then pour in the batter, swirling the pan to help it spread.
    When the pancake starts pulling away a bit from the sides, and the top is no longer wet, flip it and cook shortly on the other side as well.
    Transfer to a plate. Cook the remaining batter until all used up.
    Serve warm, with the filling of your choice.

  • Bitterballen (Dutch meatballs)

    Bitterballen (Dutch meatballs)

    Category: Beef

    Area: Dutch

    Ingredients:

    • 100g Butter
    • 150g Flour
    • 700ml Beef Stock
    • 30g Onion
    • 1 tbs Parsley
    • 400g Beef
    • Pinch Salt
    • Pinch Pepper
    • Pinch Nutmeg
    • 50g Flour
    • 2 Beaten Eggs
    • 50g Breadcrumbs

    Instructions:

    Melt the butter in a skillet or pan. When melted, add the flour little by little and stir into a thick paste. Slowly stir in the stock, making sure the roux absorbs the liquid. Simmer for a couple of minutes on a low heat while you stir in the onion, parsley and the shredded meat. The mixture should thicken and turn into a heavy, thick sauce.

    Pour the mixture into a shallow container, cover and refrigerate for several hours, or until the sauce has solidified.

    Take a heaping tablespoon of the cold, thick sauce and quickly roll it into a small ball. Roll lightly through the flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs. Make sure that the egg covers the whole surface of the bitterbal. When done, refrigerate the snacks while the oil in your fryer heats up to 190C (375F). Fry four bitterballen at a time, until golden.

    Serve on a plate with a nice grainy or spicy mustard.

  • Baked salmon with fennel & tomatoes

    Baked salmon with fennel & tomatoes

    Category: Seafood

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 2 medium Fennel
    • 2 tbs chopped Parsley
    • Juice of 1 Lemon
    • 175g Cherry Tomatoes
    • 1 tbs Olive Oil
    • 350g Salmon
    • to serve Black Olives

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Trim the fronds from the fennel and set aside. Cut the fennel bulbs in half, then cut each half into 3 wedges. Cook in boiling salted water for 10 mins, then drain well. Chop the fennel fronds roughly, then mix with the parsley and lemon zest.

    Spread the drained fennel over a shallow ovenproof dish, then add the tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil, then bake for 10 mins. Nestle the salmon among the veg, sprinkle with lemon juice, then bake 15 mins more until the fish is just cooked. Scatter over the parsley and serve.

  • Moussaka

    Moussaka

    Category: Beef

    Area: Greek

    Ingredients:

    • 500g Beef
    • 1 large Aubergine
    • 150g Greek Yogurt
    • 1 beaten Egg
    • 3 tbs Parmesan
    • 400g Tomato
    • 4 tbs Tomato Puree
    • 350g Potatoes

    Instructions:

    Heat the grill to high. Brown the beef in a deep ovenproof frying pan over a high heat for 5 mins. Meanwhile, prick the aubergine with a fork, then microwave on High for 3-5 mins until soft. Mix the yogurt, egg and parmesan together, then add a little seasoning.

    Stir the tomatoes, purée and potatoes in with the beef with some seasoning and heat through. Smooth the surface of the beef mixture with the back of a spoon, then slice the cooked aubergine and arrange on top. Pour the yogurt mixture over the aubergines, smooth out evenly, then grill until the topping has set and turned golden.

  • Chelsea Buns

    Chelsea Buns

    Category: Dessert

    Area: British

    Ingredients:

    • 500g White Flour
    • 1 tsp Salt
    • 7g Yeast
    • 300ml Milk
    • 40g Butter
    • 1 Eggs
    • Dash Vegetable Oil
    • 25g Butter
    • 75g Brown Sugar
    • 2 tsp Cinnamon
    • 150g Dried Fruit
    • 2 tbs Milk
    • 2 tbs Caster Sugar

    Instructions:

    Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and add the yeast.
    Meanwhile, warm the milk and butter in a saucepan until the butter melts and the mixture is lukewarm.
    Add the milk mixture and egg to the flour mixture and stir until the contents of the bowl come together as a soft dough. (You may need to add a little extra flour.)
    Tip the dough onto a generously floured work surface. Knead for five minutes, adding more flour if necessary, until the dough is smooth and elastic and no longer feels sticky.
    Lightly oil a bowl with a little of the vegetable oil. Place the dough into the bowl and turn until it is covered in the oil. Cover the bowl with cling film and set aside in a warm place for one hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
    Lightly grease a baking tray.
    For the filling, knock the dough back to its original size and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Roll the dough out into a rectangle 0.5cm/¼in thick. Brush all over with the melted butter, then sprinkle over the brown sugar, cinnamon and dried fruit.
    Roll the dough up into a tight cylinder , cut ten 4cm/1½in slice and place them onto a lightly greased baking sheet, leaving a little space between each slice. Cover with a tea towel and set aside to rise for 30 minutes.
    Preheat oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
    Bake the buns in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until risen and golden-brown.
    Meanwhile, for the glaze, heat the milk and sugar in a saucepan until boiling. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
    Remove the buns from the oven and brush with the glaze, then set aside to cool on a wire rack.

  • Crispy Eggplant

    Crispy Eggplant

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: Filipino

    Ingredients:

    • 1 large Egg Plants
    • 1 cup Breadcrumbs
    • 50g Sesame Seed
    • 2 Eggs
    • To taste Salt
    • To taste Pepper
    • For frying Vegetable Oil

    Instructions:

    Slice eggplant into 1 cm (0.4-inch) slices. Place them in a bowl and sprinkle them with salt. allow them to sit for 30 minutes to render some of their liquid and bitterness.
    2. After 30 minutes wash eggplant slices from salt and pat dry with a kitchen towel.
    3. In a large bowl/plate place breadcrumbs and sesame seeds. In another bowl beat 2 eggs with pinch salt and pepper.
    4. Heal oil in a large skillet over high heat.
    5. Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in crumbs, and place in hot oil. Fry 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel.

  • Blini Pancakes

    Blini Pancakes

    Category: Side

    Area: Russian

    Ingredients:

    • 1/2 cup Buckwheat
    • 2/3 Cup Flour
    • 1/2 tsp Salt
    • 1 tsp Yeast
    • 1 cup Milk
    • 2 tbs Butter
    • 1 Seperated Egg

    Instructions:

    In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup buckwheat flour, 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon yeast.

    Make a well in the center and pour in 1 cup warm milk, whisking until the batter is smooth.

    Cover the bowl and let the batter rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

    Enrich and Rest the Batter
    Stir 2 tablespoons melted butter and 1 egg yolk into the batter.

    In a separate bowl, whisk 1 egg white until stiff, but not dry.

    Fold the whisked egg white into the batter.

    Cover the bowl and let the batter stand 20 minutes.

    Pan-Fry the Blini
    Heat butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.

    Drop quarter-sized dollops of batter into the pan, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for about 1 minute or until bubbles form.

    Turn and cook for about 30 additional seconds.

    Remove the finished blini onto a plate and cover them with a clean kitchen towel to keep warm. Add more butter to the pan and repeat the frying process with the remaining batter.

  • Soy-Glazed Meatloaves with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Carrots

    Soy-Glazed Meatloaves with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Carrots

    Category: Beef

    Area: American

    Ingredients:

    • 5 Potatoes
    • 12 ounces Carrots
    • 1 Scallions
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 1 Slice Bread
    • 1 Garlic Powder
    • 2 Soy Sauce
    • 1 Ground Beef
    • 1 tsp Vegetable Oil
    • 2 tsp Sugar
    • 2 tbsp Butter

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and dry all produce. Dice potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces. Trim, peel, and cut carrots on a diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens; finely chop whites. Peel and finely chop garlic.

    2. In a medium bowl, soak bread with 2 TBSP water (4 TBSP for 4 servings); break up with your hands until pasty. Stir in beef, sriracha, scallion whites, half the garlic, salt (we used 3/4 tsp kosher salt; 11/2 tsp for 4), and pepper. Form into two 1-inch-tall loaves (four loaves for 4). Place on one side of a baking sheet. Toss carrots on empty side of same sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. (For 4, spread meatloaves out across whole sheet and add carrots to a second sheet.) Bake for 20 minutes (we'll glaze the meatloaves then).

    3. Meanwhile, place potatoes in a medium pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook until very
    tender, 12-15 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup potato cooking liquid, then drain. While potatoes cook, in a small bowl, combine soy sauce, garlic powder, 1/4 cup ketchup (1/2 cup for 4 servings), and 2 tsp sugar (4 tsp for 4).

    4. Once meatloaves and carrots have baked 20 minutes, remove from oven. Spoon half the ketchup glaze over meatloaves (save
    the rest for serving); return to oven until carrots are browned and tender, meatloaves are cooked through, and glaze is tacky, 4-5 minutes more.

    5. Meanwhile, melt 2 TBSP butter (4 TBSP for 4 servings) in pot used for potatoes over medium heat. Add remaining garlic and cook
    until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add potatoes and 1/4 tsp wasabi. Mash, adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as necessary until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (If you like things spicy, stir in more wasabi!)

    6. Divide meatloaves, mashed potatoes, and roasted carrots between plates. Sprinkle with scallion greens and serve with remaining ketchup glaze on the side for dipping.

  • Squash linguine

    Squash linguine

    Category: Vegetarian

    Area: Italian

    Ingredients:

    • 350g Butternut Squash
    • 3 parts Garlic
    • 3 tbs Olive Oil
    • 350g Linguine Pasta
    • Small bunch Sage

    Instructions:

    Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the squash and garlic on a baking tray and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast for 35-40 mins until soft. Season.
    Cook the pasta according to pack instructions. Drain, reserving the water. Use a stick blender to whizz the squash with 400ml cooking water. Heat some oil in a frying pan, fry the sage until crisp, then drain on kitchen paper. Tip the pasta and sauce into the pan and warm through. Scatter with sage.