Tahini

Tahini is made with toasted sesame seeds and olive oil. It complements both Middle Eastern recipe components and flavours. Tahini goes well with Falafel, fresh or roasted vegetables, hummus and flat breads.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Makes : 1/2 cup

Ingredients:

Toasted sesame seeds: 1/2 cup

Olive oil: 1/4 cup

Method:

Add sesame seeds to a blender jar and blend till a smooth powder. Add olive oil and blend into a smooth paste.

 

 

Chicken with Cilantro sauce

Tags

Chicken Recipes

Chicken is grilled or roasted with salt and pepper. Cilantro sauce adds a lot of flavour to the dish. It goes well with steamed greens. My family loved the combination of flavours in this dish. It’s a super simple dish to make on weeknights.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time : 15 minutes

Serves : 4

Ingredients:

Boneless Chicken breast or thighs : 4

Vegetable oil : 1 tablespoon

Salt : 1/2 teaspoon

Ground black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon

Green beans : 200 grams

For Sauce:

Olive oil : 2 tablespoons

Fresh cilantro : 1 cup chopped

Cider Vinegar : 1 tablespoon

Garlic : 3 halved

Red chilli flakes : 3/4 teaspoon

Lemon : 1 juiced

Method:

Heat oil in a pan or a grill pan, add chicken and season it with salt and ground pepper. Cook for 7 minutes each side or until the meat is no longer pink.

Steam or blanch the beans, drain water and keep aside.

In a small food processor, add all the ingredients listed under sauce and make a sauce by pulsing. The sauce should be almost smooth but not completely smooth.

Finely shred zest from the lemon, Serve chicken and green beans with cilantro sauce. Squeeze lemon juice over and serve immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple Greek Salad

Tags

Blogging Marathon, Greek dishes, Salads

Traditional Greek salads are simple with few ingredients, super fresh and delicious. This salad is the one that’s made with ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions and creamy feta cheese. No special dressing is needed for this salad, some extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar does the magic.

Sending this recipe over to our BM#109, week 3 day 3 under Countries by Alphabet where I’m doing Greek Dishes. Check my other Greek Dishes here

Greek Zucchini Salad

Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie)

Preparation Time:10 minutes

Serves : 2-3

Ingredients:

Ripe juicy Tomatoes : 4 medium diced

Cucumber : 1 large or 4 small diced

Bell peppers: 1sliced

Red onion : 1 medium diced

Black olives : 1/4 cup

Green olives : 1/4 cup

Extra virgin olive oil : 3 tablespoons

Red wine vinegar : 1 tablespoon

Dry oregano : 1/2 tablespoon

Feta cheese : 100 grams do not crumble

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Add all ingredients except Feta cheese into a large bowl and toss well to combine.

Once the salad is transferred to a salad bowl, add the Feta cheese blocks on the top and season with fresh ground pepper.

Serve immediately.

 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#109

Chocolate cup cakes

Tags

Baked Foods, cup cakes, desserts

These chocolate cup cakes are simple to make yet delicious. I’ve made these cup cakes so many times, don’t know why I didn’t get a chance to post it on the blog. It’s one of my kids and their friends favourite cup cake.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Bake time : 25 minutes

Makes : 12 cup cakes

Ingredients:

Unsalted butter : 4 tablespoons

Vegetable oil : 1/4 cup

Water : 1/2 cup

Instant coffee : 1 teaspoon

All purpose flour : 1 cup

Sugar : 1 cup

Unsweetened cocoa powder : 1/3 cup

Baking soda : 3/4 teaspoon

Salt : A pinch

Egg : 1 large

Buttermilk : 1/4 cup

Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place paper lines in a 12 cup muffin tray.

In a medium sauce pan, melt together butter, vegetable oil and water.

In a large bowl, add all purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt. Add the butter mixture, coffee powder and beat with a hand mixer until it’s well combined.

Add eggs, buttermilk and beat well to combine.

Pour the batter into the muffin tray and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle.

Let the cup cakes cool for 10 minutes before serving. Cool completely to store in an air tight container.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Tea with Rose Petals

Tags

drinks, tea

This Green Tea is a simple chilled drink where you can taste a wonderful flavour of green tea and the rose. It can be served as a welcome drink or a drink just to refresh when chilling out with friends/family.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Chilling Time : 1-2 hours

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

Dried Green tea leaves : 2 tablespoons

Dried Rose Petals : 1 tablespoon

Water : 1 litre

Honey : 2 teaspoons

Method:

Boil 1 litre of water, add the green tea leaves, rose petals and let them seep in for 5 minutes. Strain, let the tea cool and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Before serving add honey, mix well and serve with some ice cubes.

 

 

 

 

 

Kiwi Mango Smoothie

Tags

drinks, smoothies

Kiwifruit is native to north-central and Eastern China. Can you believe China produces about 50% of the world’s total kiwifruit. They are full of nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, folate and potassium. It’s full of antioxidants and are also a good source of fibre.

I process the mangoes during the season and store mango pulp to last me till the next season. I absolutely love organic mangoes from my farm. We’ll talk about the nutrients and health benefits of mangoes in another post.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Serves : 1

Ingredients:

Kiwi : 2 skin peeled and diced

Frozen Mango pulp : 4 tablespoons

Banana : 1/2 chopped

Almond or soy milk : 3/4 cup

Method:

Add all ingredients in a blender jar and blend till smooth. Serve immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pomegranate Banana Smoothie

Tags

drinks, smoothies

I’ve been researching fruits that best to reduce acne in teenagers and Pomegranate is topping the list. Fresh pomegranate is the best to consume but kids want variety so I’m making fresh juice and smoothies to keep as much nutrients as I can.

Pomegranate is among the healthiest fruits. They are loaded with important nutrients like Vitamin c, Vitamin K, Folate, Potassium. It has a lot of fibre and protein as well. It has anti-inflammatory effects.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Serves : 1

Ingredients:

Pomegranate : 1 cup seeds and flesh

Banana : 1 sliced (frozen)

Yogurt : 1/2 cup

Almond milk : 1 cup

Healthy Mix : 1 tablespoon

Honey : 1 tablespoon

Method:

Add all ingredients to a blender jar and blend till smooth.

Serve immediately.

 

 

 

Beerakaya/ridge gourd chicken keema curry

Tags

Andhra Recipes, Chicken Recipes

Beerakaya chicken keema is as the name says curry made with ridge gourd and minced chicken. It’s a healthy and tasty dish that goes well with rice or roti.

I first tasted this dish at a friends cousins place and was surprised to see the combination  turned out so good. She added only green chillies and used mutton keema. I tried with chicken keema and red chilli powder and it turned out yummy.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time :25 minutes

Serves : 3-4

Ingredients:

Beerakaya/ Ridge gourd: 500 grams peeled and chopped

Chicken Keema : 450 grams

Onion : 1 large chopped

Green chillies : 4 slit

Ginger garlic paste : 1 1/2 teaspoons

Red chilli powder : 1 teaspoon

Jeera powder : 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder : 1 teaspoon

Turmeric : 1/2 teaspoon

Jeera : 1 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Method:

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan and add jeera. Let them splatter and add green chillies, onions and saute for 3 minutes.

Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for 1 minute.

Add the beerakaya pieces, turmeric, close lid and cook for 7-8 minutes until the pieces are soft and tender.

Add chicken keema, salt, red chilli powder, mix well, close lid and cook for 6-7 minutes. Take the lid off, add jeera powder, coriander powder, mix well and cook for another 5 minutes.

Serve with rice or roti.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spinach Strawberry Smoothie

Tags

smoothies

Spinach Strawberry Smoothie is a very simple smoothie that is both nutritious and delicious and it takes hardly 5 minutes to make it.

I am trying to introduce smoothies to my little one as a she is a teenager and I want her to take a nutritious meal after school. Both her and I are loving these smoothies.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Serves : 1

Ingredients:

Baby Spinach : 8 leaves chopped

Strawberries : 6 chopped

Coconut cream or milk : 1 cup

Flax seed powder : 1/2 teaspoon

Sweetener : 1 teaspoon (optional)

Method:

Add all ingredients to a blender jar and blend till smooth. Serve immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

Caprese Salad

Tags

Italian, Salads

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad made with fresh Mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, Italian basil and seasoning. It’s a refreshing salad that can be served as a starter. You can use either mozzarella balls or diced/sliced mozzarella.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Rest Time : At least 15 minutes

Serves : 2

Ingredients:

Fresh Mozzarella : 250 grams diced

Cherry tomatoes : 200 grams halved

Italian basil : 8-10 leaves chopped

Fresh ground black pepper : 1/2 teaspoon

Red pepper flakes : 3/4 teaspoon

Oregano : 1/2 teaspoon

Extra virgin olive oil : 3 tablespoons

Salt to taste

Method:

Take a medium sized bowl, add all the ingredients and toss to combine.

Let it rest for 15 minutes and serve.