Tales from the kitchen, culinary techniques, cultural practices, recipes,travel, health and life
Bessara is a middle eastern dish served as a dip or as a soup and is made with cooked fava beans.This can be served as part of a mezze platter.Preparation time:30 minutesServes:6-8Ingredients:1 cup dry split fava beans (also called as habas, soaked in water overnight)3 garlic cloves1 teaspoon of salt1 teaspoon of cumin1/2 teaspoon Shatta(red... Continue Reading →
Baba Ghanoush is a smoked eggplant dip eaten with pita bread or as part of the mezze platter.Slight variations are made to the recipe with other ingredients like paprika,onions,tomatoes and is called with different names.This can be served as part of the Mezze platter.Preparation time:30 minutesServes:2Ingredients:1 large eggplant1/4 cup tahini(sesame paste)3 garlic cloves1 tablespoon lemon... Continue Reading →
Hummus is a healthy middle eastern chickpea dip, gently spiced and blended. This is eaten with pita bread or crackers or served as a part of mezze platter.Preparation time:30 minutesServes:6-8Ingredients:1 cup dry chickpeas soaked overnight1/4 cup tahini(ground sesame paste)1 tablespoon olive oil(more if you like)1 tablespoon lemon juice5 garlic cloves1 teaspoon salt1 green chili(optional for... Continue Reading →
Polenta is of Italian origin.It is cornmeal cooked with water or cream.Served usually the starch in a main course.Polenta goes well with marinara sauce or other italian sauces.This recipe uses cooked polenta and bakes them to crisp them and topped with a sundried tomato goat cheese spread for an appetizer.Preparation time:1 hourServes:12 moonsIngredients:1 Polenta logor1... Continue Reading →
Usually served in Italian restaurants, Lobster is an expensive meat and is considered a delicacy in fine dining. This recipe is a subtle Italian preparation with basil,butter and lemon juice.Preparation time:30 minutesServes:2Ingredients:2 lobster tails1/2 cup butterjuice of 1 lemon2 basil leaves choppedsalt as per taste1/8th teaspoon chili powder or hot sauce or black pepper powder(all... Continue Reading →
I had some leftover cranberry sauce from thanksgiving that I wanted to get rid off,so I decided to make some sort of bread.I've baked cakes before, but its my first time baking bread and it turned out quite good.I think this will do great as a breakfast or tea time bread.Theres nothing like the smell of... Continue Reading →
A mousse is a thick and creamy,airy and fluffy food which can be sweet or savory.The sweet ones are made with eggs,cream or fruit.The savory kind usually called as Pate are made with liver,fish or eggs.My brother is a die hard fan of White chocolate mousse,My husband doesn't like white chocolate too much,so I thought Id meet them... Continue Reading →
This recipe cooks Brussels sprouts in a simple onion tomato gravy seasoned with spices.Brussel sprouts are highly nutritious,but are ignored due to the light bitterness in them.The tomato in the curry balances the bitterness making is a tasty curry.Preparation time:25 minutesServes:6Ingredients:1/2 cup diced onion1/2 cup diced green onion(optional)2 pinches pinch of turmeric powder6 green chili... Continue Reading →
Potatoes are everyone's sinful pleasure. Potatoes are cooked in a million different ways, Mashed potatoes, home fries, roasted potatoes, french fries,chips etc.While Loads of butter or oil will enhance the taste of potatoes,this recipe uses a technique called as blanching potatoes and roasts them in tempering and some indian spices with very little oil.Blanching is... Continue Reading →
Poaching is a process by which food is simmered slowly in a liquid to achieve the cooked state.Food like eggs,meat etc can be poached to obtain a tender final product.Poached eggs are also served as a breakfast item and as a topping on meats as main course.This recipe poaches eggs in a onion tomato gravy... Continue Reading →
Prathima Koneru 