Baked Brinjals with Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar

Baked Brinjals with Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar

Although I have been a fan of Nigella for years, I never tried out any of her recipes until I saw her on MasterChef recently.  Brinjals are not a favourite in our family and eaten under protest when confronted with it.  This sounded really good, so since I had some brinjals in my vegetable basket decided to give it a try with the ingredients I had in my kitchen.  The original recipe is from

http://www.chatelaine.com/recipe/vegetarian/nigella-lawsons-baby-eggplant-with-oregano-and-red-onion/

Mine is different and tastes so good.

The Recipe:

500 gms medium sized brinjals- any variety will do; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2-3 fresh Oregano leaves ( I have then growing on my balcony); 1 medium onion, sliced fine- used the Indian Onions that we always use; 4 tbsp pomegranate balsamic vinegar that was a gift and just waiting to be used; salt to taste; 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1 1/2 tbsp cold water; 1 large clove garlic, minced fine; a few fresh oregano leaves for garnish.

Preheat oven to 225 C.  Slice brinjals in half lengthwise, keeping the stalks on. Mix olive oil with fresh oregano in a bowl.  Place the eggplants, cut-side down in a baking pan and drizzle the mixture all over.  Grill in centre of oven 5-7 minutes each side until golden brown.  Mix onion, pomegranate balsamic vinegar and salt in a small bowl. Keep aside for 10 minutes. Gently whisk in extra-virgin olive oil, cold water and garlic. Transfer brinjals to a serving plate. Pour onion dressing over eggplant. Keep aside for 10 - 15 minutes.    Sprinkle with fresh oregano and serve as an appetiser or side dish.  Tastes too good to be true and I can't wait to make it again!

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Pumpkin Moussaka

Pumpkin Moussaka

This is a recipe that was given to me by one of my students who loved anything with brinjal.  Many Moussakas later and a firm family favourite we have combined the boring brinjal with practically every vegetable- from pumpkin to carrots to cauliflower, peas and broccoli.  Never mind tomatoes.  Pumpkin Moussaka, here we come.

The Recipe:

500 gms mince, washed and drained; 1 large onion, minced; 2 cloves garlic, minced fine; salt and pepper to taste; 2 tbsp olive oil

Pumpkin Puree:  2 cups orange pumpkin, boiled with 1/2 cup water till soft, cooled and pureed with 1 large clove of garlic and 1/2 inch ginger.

300 gms sliced brinjal- soak in salted water and drain.  Grill at 225 C with olive oil and salt for 2 minutes each side.  Keep warm till required.

White Sauce:

1/2  cup chicken stock; 1/2 cup milk; salt & white pepper to taste; salt and pepper to taste; 1 dsp flour; 1 small onion minced; 2 tbsp grated cheese.

      Heat oil in non stick pan.  Fry the minced onions until glazed and transparent.  Add flour and stir fry for a minute till crisp.  Lower flame and slowly pour in the chicken stock, stirring all the while to avoid lumps.  Next add the milk and keep stirring until thick and creamy.  Add the cheese and gently mix.  Season with salt & white pepper.  Keep warm till required. 

Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick pan and stir fry the onions and garlic till glazed.  Add the mince and cook till brown.  Add the pumpkin puree and pepper and salt and cook on medium heat to desired consistency.

To Assemble:

Grease a large oven proof dish and pour 1/2 cup of the mince and pumpkin mixture into it.  Place a layer of brinjal over the Pumpkin Mince Sauce and pour 1/2 cup white sauce over. Repeat layers ending with the Brinjal and finishing with White Sauce on top.   Sprinkle with more grated cheese on top.   Bake in a Pre heated oven at 225 C for 45 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly.  Take out of the oven and cover and keep for 15 minutes.  Serve hot with garlic bread.  I served it with my Multi Grain Garlic Bread which was a complete knock out..

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Aloe Vera Salad

Aloe Vera Salad

This is a versatile, tasty and nutritious salad that could pass as a snack as well.  I like to make large quantities of it and pack it in individual portions and keep it in the fridge. It goes with everything and has a lovely tangy crunch.

The Recipe:

1/4 cup moong dal or green gram dhal washed and soaked overnight in 2 cups water; 1 large carrot grated; 1 small green mango, grated;1 small cucumber, diced- seeds removed; 1/4 cup fresh, grated coconut; 1 green chilli, minced; 1/2 cup coriander leaves; 1 tsp brown sugar; salt to taste; 3 caps ( about 15 ml)  Herbalife Aloe Vera concentrate.

For Seasoning: 1 tsp olive oil; 1/4 tsp mustard seeds; 1/2 tsp black gram dhal; a pinch of asafoetida.

Next day, drain the moong dhal and mix with all the other ingredients in a large bowl. 

Heat the oil in a non stick pan and add the mustard seeds. When they start spluttering add the black gram dhal and stir fry for a minute on low flame. Add the asafoetida and mix with the salad ingredients. Serve immediately as an accompaniment or as a snack. Incidentally, eaten regularly, this salad is good for a healthy, glowing complexion.

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Fried Pepper Fish

Fried Pepper Fish

This is a recipe that is a family favourite. I had a class today and my guests loved it. You just have to make it to satisfy your tastebuds and once you do, you are hooked for life.

The Recipe:

500gms boneless fish cubes or fillets, wash, clean and drain.

Masala:  1 tsp pepper powder, 1 tsp chillie powder; 1 tsp coriander powder; 1/2 tsp jeera ( cumin) powder; 2 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice; 3 cloves garlic; 1/2 inch piece ginger; salt to taste; 2 tbsp rice flour or cornflour.  Blend to a smooth paste and rub all over fish. Marinade for 30 minutes.

1/2 litre oil for deep frying.

Coriander leaves and curry leaves for garnishing. Stir fry the curry leaves on medium heat  in 1/2 tsp olive oil till crisp and keep aside till required.

Heat oil to smoking point, lower the flame to medium heat and deep fry the fish in batches until brown and crisp on both sides. This hardly takes a few minutes, so watch the pan carefully to avoid burnt offerings. Drain thoroughly on kitchen paper and serve hot as a side dish or as an appetizer.

As I said, you have to make this dish.

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Spicy Grilled Fish

Spicy Grilled Fish

Ramadan is a great time for trying out recipes. A friend gave me some curry paste which was lying around in my kitchen for a while. And I wanted to use it before it expired. This is a blend of Indian and Malay curry paste with tweaks of my own here and there.

The Recipe:

1 large pomfret, cleaned, washed and drained.

Curry Paste:

2 inch piece ginger or galangal;, peeled and cut into pieces;3 stalks lemongrass, 
cut and use the bottom white part only; 3 candlenuts, crushed; 1/2 tsp turmeric;3 big cloves  garlic, peeled;  2- 3 dried chilies to taste; 20 shallots, peeled and cut into half;1 sq inch belachan (fermented shrimp paste); 1 tbsp coriander powder; 1/2 tsp jeera ( cumin) powder; 1 tsp salt; 2-3 tbsp olive oil.       

Fry the above ingredients in the olive oil till aromatic and then cool and blend the above ingredients to a smooth paste. Rub all over and inside the fish and marinade for 30 minutes. Grill on high heat 250 C in a pre heated oven  for 10 minutes each side. Serve with vegetables of your choice.

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Date and Banana Custard

Sugarless Date & Banana Custard

While going through recipes on Pinterest I came across this recipe which sounded good. So I hastily scribbled it down on a piece of paper. Those were the days when I was a novice on the computer and words like 'cut' and 'paste' were Greek and Latin to me.  I tweaked it to suit our tastes and got a dessert that's good enough for any occasion.

The Recipe:

3 eggs; 2 large very ripe bananas; 4 dates, pitted; 1 cup low fat milk.

Blend all ingredients to a thick cake like batter.  Pour into oven proof dish and bake at 200 C in pre heated oven for forty minutes or until skewer inserted in middle comes out clean.  

A simple, deliciously quick dessert to satisfy the sweet tooths.

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Chicken Rempah Pie

  Spicy Rempah Chicken Pie

I received some jars of Rempah paste that had to be used up within a week, so have been experimenting with various recipes  and enjoying the results. 

The Malay word rempah means spice paste and it is a blend of various herbs and spices used as an aromatic base for a range of dishes in Malaysia and Singapore.

This Malaysian spice paste recipe can be used as a base for chicken or seafood curries or just about anything.  Experiment like me and turn out an array of mouthwatering dishes.

This past week, we have had dosa with Mince Rendang, Grilled Chicken marinated with Rendang paste and also Rempah Pie- 

Chicken Pie with a  Rempah filling which was finished in one sitting. You just have to make it yourself.
 The Recipe:    
225g plain flour;100g butter ,diced; 1/2 tsp salt

 Sift the flour into a large bowl, add the butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.


Stir in the salt, then add 2-3 tbsp water and mix to a firm dough. Knead the dough briefly and gently on a floured surface. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least one hour or overnight while
preparing the filling.

Rempah Mixture:
2 inch galangal, peeled and cut into pieces;3 stalks lemongrass, 
Cut and use the bottom white part only; 5 candlenuts, smashed with large  knife;2 inch fresh turmeric, peeled and cut into pieces;3 big cloves  garlic, peeled;  2- 3 dried chilies to taste; 20 shallots, peeled and cut into half;1 sq inch belachan (fermented shrimp paste); 2-3 tbsp olive oil.                         
Grind all the ingredients in a blender.
Fry the spice paste in olive oil over low heat until fragrant.  If you’re not using it right away, you can store it in the refrigerator or freezer.          

The Filling:

500gms boneless chicken, cubed; 2 medium potatoes, boiled and cubed; 2 tbsp. Cornflour; 1 cup chicken stock;1 tbsp plain flour;  Rempah; 1 tsp salt; 1 tbsp olive oil; a handful of peas.

1 medium egg beaten- this is the egg was for the pie.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Wash, dry and dice the chicken fillet into bite-sized cubes.  Mix with the corn flour, rempah, salt and marinade for 1 hour.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large non stick pan and add the chicken mixture. Lower heat and brown chicken all over. Add the cubed
potatoes, the plan flour, chicken stock and peas and cook till thick an bubbly. Remove from heat and keep warm.

To Assemble:

Take the dough out of the refrigerator and divide into two equal parts. Return one half to the refrigerator till required.   Roll dough out to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place crust in oiled pie plate. Press the dough evenly into the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Gently put the warm filling into the pie crust. Roll out the second piece of dough and place over filling. Pinch the edges together and make
decorative patterns on  the edges if desired. Make holes in top with a fork for steam to escape.
Brush the top generously with the beaten egg. Bake in preheated oven at 200 C for 45 minutes or until metal skewer inserted in
center comes out clean. Rest pie for 10 minutes, cut into wedges and serve with salad of your choice.

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