Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a combination of eggs, tomatoes, spices and is a famous Middle Eastern dish. 

Ingredients:

Eggs                                   6
Onion                                 1
Garlic                                 2 cloves
Capsicum                           1 big
Tomato                               3
Cumin powder                   1/2 tsp                           
Ground Coriander              1/2 tsp
Ground Black Pepper        1 tsp
Ketchup                             1/4 cup
Salt

Method:
1. In a pan heat olive oil and add chopped onions, garlic, chopped capsicum, ground coriander, cumin powder, ground black pepper and salt.
2. Saute until the onion is soft.
3. Add chopped tomatoes and 1/4 ketchup.
4. Keep this on sim for 10 mins.
5. Make small gaps in between and add the eggs.
6. Close and cook until eggs are done.
7. Add chopped corianders or parsley on top. Done! :)

Balaleet (An Arabic Breakfast)

Here is another personal favorite of mine. I never knew about this yummy Arabic breakfast until one of my classmate brought this while I was doing my diploma. I loved it the very first time I tasted it. I made this one day casually for breakfast and my hubby absolutely loved it. It’s a very easy recipe. 

Ingredients:
Thick and short Vermicelli               1 cup
Sugar                                               ½ cup
Cardamom powder                            as per taste
Butter                                                2 tbsp
Saffron                                              2 pinches
Rose water                                        2 tbsp
Eggs                                                  2 
Salt                                                    as per taste
Pepper powder                                   as per taste
Oil                                                     2 tbsp

Method:

1. In a pan add 2 tbsp butter and roast the vermicelli until golden brown.

2. Now in another pan boil some water enough to boil the vermicelli.

3. When the water started to boil, add vermicelli and cook for 5 minutes.

4. Now drain the water for vermicelli.

5. In a pan add 2 more tbsp. of butter, Add cardamom powder, sugar, saffron and rose water. If required, add little water. Once the sugar is totally dissolved switch off the heat. (the sugar might crystalize at first but will loosen later. We need a loose consistency)

6. Now pour this over the cooked vermicelli and cover and keep on low heat for 2 minutes.

7. Now we need to make an omelet to go on top of this.

8. Beat two eggs with salt and little pepper.

9. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan and add the egg and fry. 

10. Place this omelet on top of the vermicelli while serving.

11.   Instead of omelet, scrambled eggs can also be made. Enjoy tasty yummy balaleet. 

Saffron Tres Leches / Saffron Milk Cake!

I am back after a real long break 😊. It is indeed hard to manage work, studies, home and finding time to blog. But now I have made it a decision to atleast post one dish a week. So I hope you all would be enjoying more of my recipes. So here is one amazing dessert to start with. Although I have seen my sister making the basic Tres Leches, I never thought of trying it until I had this amazing Turkish Trileche from Istanbul. They have a very famous café in Taksim square named Hafiz Mustafa. They are famous for their desserts and signature Turkish coffee. That day I decided I must try it at home. But being busy again I couldn’t. Later one day one of colleague brings Saffron Tres Leches and I couldn’t resist but to have atleast 2 slices. It was heavenly. So, that’s when the final decision was made to make it at home but was waiting for an occasion. So for this time when we had our wifeys party (when all the wifes in my hubby’s friends circle get together), I decided to make this and let me tell you this blowed them, my hubby and indeed myself 😀 I made a really big one that served up to 20 people. So if you want to try for a smaller group, use half the proportion. The recipe comes here:

 

Ingredients:

Cake:

Eggs                                        6

Flour                                       2 cups

Corn Flour                              2 tbsp

Sugar                                      1 cup

Baking Powder                       ½ tsp

Saffron (optional)                   ½ tsp

Milk:

Evaporated milk                     2 tins of 410 ml

Milk                                       3 cups

Condensed Milk                    1 tin

Saffron                                   ¾ tsp

Topping:

Whipping Powder                  2 sachets

Milk                                       1/2 cup

Or Egg whites beat until meringue and blow torch them

Method:

1. Preheat the oven for 10 minutes at 180 degree C.
2. In a mixer or bowl beat the eggs with 1 cup of sugar until fluffy. This must be the consistency of eggs for sponge cake which is if you take out the beater with little batter and right an 8 on the rest of the batter, the number will stay for few seconds. This is how I understand its ready.
3. Sift the flour, corn flour and baking powder.
4. Add this into the egg mixture and fold until whole batter is mixed well. Add in the saffron to this and mix well.
5. Bake this for about 30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean. 
6. Once the cake is baked, cool it for sometime.
7. Meanwhile, prepare the milk mixture. Add the evaporated milk, condensed milk and milk in a pan and heat until just boil. Add in saffron and keep it on low flame for few minutes. Switch off the flame.
8. Once the cake is cooled, prick it all over with a fork.
9. Keep around 2 cups of milk aside and pour rest of it on the cake.
10. Keep for 5 mins and beat whipping cream and spread it over as you wish.
11. Keep this closed and cool for at least 4 hours before serving. I kept it overnight and came out well.
12. Enjoy the yummiest Saffron Tres Leches :)

Arayes....!!!!

Arayes is an Arabic dish which is made with pita bread and minced meat. If you like to make your own pita and do arayes, you can. I made with store bought kubus/pita.

Ingredients:

Minced Meat (I used mutton)                                -              1/2 kg

Onion                                                                     -               1

Tomato                                                                  -                1

Pepper powder                                                       -                1 tsp

Garam Masala Powder                                          -                 1/2 tsp

Parsley leaves                                                        -                 1/2 cup

Olive oil                                                                 -                 1/2 tsp

Pita breads                                                             -                 2-3 big

Salt

Method:

1. Preheat the oven at 180C for 10 mins.

In a bowl mix all the ingredients except bread and combine well.

2. Cut each pitas into 4 pieces.

3. Open each of them and fill them with the mix.

4. Layer this on a baking tray and brush olive oil above the breads.

5. Bake this until both the sides are crispy and the meat is well done.

6. This goes well with hummus, Greek yogurt or even ketchup :) :)

Umm Ali.....!!!

One of the beautiful and delicious dessert i have ever had..... This is indeed a rich dessert and so i rarely make it at home.... At first like everyone might have, even I had the doubt that how did this dessert got named as Umm Ali? Umm Ali is a traditional Egyptian dessert.There is a story behind it....

Om Ali was the wife of a ruler from the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt calles Ezz El Din Aybek. Her rival Shagaret El Dorr was the second wife of that ruler. After his death, Shagaret El Dorr arranged for Om Ali to be murdered and to celebrate, she requested from her cooks to come up with the most delicious dessert they can think of to distribute to throughout Egypt. The successful recipe was a special pastry with milk and honey. That was named Om Ali. And this is what we call now as "Umm Ali".....

Preparation Time : 20 mins
Baking Time : 20 mins
Serves : 6 - 8

Ingredients:

Puff Pastry	5
Milk	½ l
Puck Cream	1 tin
Condensed Milk	1 tin
Pistachios	15
Cashews	15
Almonds	15
Raisins	15
Cinnamon Powder	1 tsp
Desiccated Coconut	¼ cup
Butter	½ cup

Method:
1. Preheat the oven for 10 mins at 200⁰C.
2. Now bake the puff pastry for 20 mins at 180⁰C until puffed and crispy.
3. Mean while, combine milk,puck cream,condensed milk,butter and cinnamon powder in a vessel and bring it to boil.
4. Once both are done. Grease a pan and layer the puff and pour the milk mixture above it.
5. Throw the nuts and desiccated coconut above that.
6. Bake this for 20 - 25 mins at 180⁰C.
7. U can serve it warm or cold, it tastes delicious either ways :) :) 

Hummus....!!!

Hummus is an arabic dip... This has been common everywhere now.... N its really easy to make at home.... 

Preparation Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time : 15 - 20 mins

Serves : 4 - 5

Ingredients:

White Chick Peas (cooked)	1 Cup
Garlic	2 cloves
Tahina Paste	5 tbsp
Lime Juice	2 - 3 tbsp
Olive Oil	2 tsp
Salt	3

Method:

1. Blend all the ingredients together to get a smooth paste.

2. Place it in a serving bowl and top with olive oil... Hummus ready :)