Foodies

Layered Achari Chicken Rice

Ingredients:
50ml Oil
500g large cubes breast chicken
1 tsp tumeric powder
1 heaped tbsp ginger and garlic paste
1 tsp salt
250-300g pasatta
3 tbsp yogurt
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp chilli flakes
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 heaped tbsp achar (pickle)
2 tsp biryani masala (spice factory or box)
2 cups rice (and 1 tsp salt)
Handful of fried onions
Handful of chopped coriander
Handful of chopped mint

Method:
1. Soak the rice in cold water. Heat the oil in a small pot and add the washed and patted chicken with the tumeric, salt and garlic & ginger paste. Let it cook on a high heat till the chicken releases all its water and is mostly cooked.
2. Now add the pasatta, yogurt, mustard, cumin seeds, coriander powder, chilli flakes, lemon juice, biryani masala and achar to the chicken. Mix together and let this cook on a high heat till the mixture is fully cookes and oil bubbles appear at the top, (approx 5-10 minutes). It may still appear a little watery but it’s fine. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile wash the rice and cook it in cold salty water on a medium flame. Remember adding boiling hot water directly into the rice makes for less fluffier rice.
4. Once rice is cooked but not overcooked, layer a medium-sized pot with foil. Put 1/3 of the rice as a layer at the bottom. Now evenly spread half the achari chicken mix (not the soupy bit), then layer on top another 1/3 of the rice and add the rest of the chicken mix and sprinkle half (about 50ml) of the soupy masala evenly over the rice. Lastly add the rest of rice and pour over any leftover soupy masala over the rice evenly. Sprinkle on top the fried onions and freshly chopped herbs. Cover the top of the pot with foil and place over it the lid. If it is a heavy-bottomed pot then put it on a low flame for five minutes. If not then put it on a hot frying pan (tawa) to cook on a low heat for five minutes. Serve with mint raita and poppadoms.

Zesty Lime Cheesecake

Ingredients:
250g digestive biscuits
100g unsalted butter
1 tin carnation condensed milk (405g)
300ml double cream
Juice of 5 lemon/limes
Zest of 5 lemon/limes

Method:
1. Crush the digestive biscuits and melt the butter. Then mix the two together.
2. Press the mixture into a greased tin and let it chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.
3. Now whisk together the condensed milk and cream. Then add the lemon juice and zest. It will immediately thicken itself. After which pour this over the chilled biscuit base and let it set for 1-2 hrs in the fridge.
4. When ready to serve take out of the fridge and decorate the with lemon and lime zest

Jerk Chicken

Ingredients:
1 medium-sized chicken
1 small white onion
5 sprigs of spring onions
Juice of 1 lime
Zest of 1/2 lime
2 garlic cloves
1 inch piece ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 tbs oil
1/2 tsp all spice
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
50ml vinegar
50ml soya sauce
2 or 3 scotch bonnet chillies

Method:
1. First roughly chop the onion, ginger and garlic. Then blend together.
2. Now grate half the lime skin to create a zest & squeeze all the limes’ juice into the blender.
3. Finally add the rest of the ingredients and blend into a smooth paste. Marinate the chicken in this blend overnight. Roast in the oven when ready.

Classic Gausht (Meat Curry)

Serves approx. 15 people.

Ingredients:
2 tins chopped tomatoes
3 tsp cumin seeds & 2 tsp for step 2
3 lb chopped onions
1/3 litre oil & 1 cup for step 2
3 tsp salt & 3 tsp for step 4
3 fresh tomatoes chopped
Handful coriander stems
7-9 cinnamon sticks
9 whole cloves
5 – 7 cardamon pods
9 pepper balls
5lb lamb (leg/shoulder)
5 tbsp blended garlic and ginger paste
2 tbsp crushed garlic
3-5 tsp chilli paste
2 pinches saffron
5 bay leaves
4-5 tsp tumeric powder
7-9 tsp coriander powder
5-7 tsp cumin powder
3-5 tsp crushed red chillies
Whole green chillies & freshly chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:
1. Fry whole cumin in oil. Then add the onions and salt. Let it fry till very onions become very brown. Add the tinned & fresh tomatoes. Simmer till oil bubbles for at the top.
2. In a separate pot fry the cinnamon, cloves and pepper balls in a cup of oil till the smell of the spices becomes prevalent. Then add the cumin and cardamon pods. Lastly add the coriander stems.
3. Now add the meat to the whole spice fry. When the colour of the meat add all the garlic, ginger, saffron and bay leaves. Cook on a low heat, covered for about an hour. Stir occasionally.
4. When the meat is fully cooked and all the powdered spices. Let it cook for a few minutes.
5. Finally add the fried onions from step 1. Let the curry simmer for a little while and then garnish with corriander and chillies. Serve hot with naan bread or rotis.

Hot Chocolate Croissant Pudding

Ingredients:
6-7 mini croissants/3-4 large croissants
1 mug milky hot chocolate
1/2 cup double cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 eggs
Chocolate chips/white chocolate chunks (optional)

Method:
1. Boil the sugar and water together in a pan and let it cook on medium heat for about 3-5 minutes till it starts to turn golden and thick.
2. Meanwhile make the hot chocolate using only milk. As well as tear and place the croissants in a buttered oven-proof dish.
3. Once the caramel is formed from the sugar and water combination, take it off the heat and let it sit in the pan for a minute. Then add the hot chocolate whilst whisking continuously (expect it to act crazily).
4. Then place the pan back onto low heat and add the cream. Keep whisking till there are no more lumps.
5. Take the mixture and place into a bowl or dish and let it cool till its room temperature.
6. Then whisk in the two eggs till fully incorporated. Pour this caramel custard over the croissants evenly, trying to soak all the croissants. Sprinkle with milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chunks.
7. Bake the pudding in a preheated oven at gas mark 5 for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream or custard ornslathered in maple syrup.

Peri Peri Roast

Ingredients (for marinate):
1 whole medium chicken (legs tied and gutted with skin)
2 tbsp greek yogurt
2 tbsp tomatoe puree
2 tbsp Peri Peri cooking spice (panache or nandos marinade sauce)
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp tandoori masala
1 tsp chicken spice (packet or jar)
1 tsp mixed herbs
1 tsp ground salt and pepper
1 tsp Aromat
Squirt of lemon juice
1 heaped tbsp ginger and garlic paste

Method (for marinade):
1. Make cuts into the chicken breast and any other meaty areas so to increase the surface area of the chicken. Mix all the ingredients above and slather all over the chicken including the inside.
2. Cover and put the chicken to marinate in the fridge at least overnight.

Ingredients (for roasting and basting):
50g butter (olive oil can be used for a healthier option)
Chopped red onions (optional)
Chopped sweet peppers (optional)
Chopped spring onions (optional)
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp peri peri spice
1/2 tsp tandoori masala
1/2 tsp of Nandos spice rub or lemon pepper
Sprinkle of dried herbs

Method (for roasting):
1. When ready to cook take out the marinated chicken from fridge and let it become room temperature whilst you make the basting sauce. Place it on a roasting tray and preheat the oven to gas mark 6.
2. (Basting sauce) Melt the butter in the microwave. Then add the rest of the spices above and mix together.
3. Cut the vegetables you would like to roast with the chicken and place them around the chicken. Now pour from a jug or use a brush to cover the chicken and the vegetables in the spiced butter. Sprinkle with dried herbs.
4. Place the chicken in the oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Do not cover. Make the spiced butter again and every 15 minutes to half an hour, take out the chicken and brush it over the whole chicken. Sprinkle a tiny bit of Nandos chicken rub on top each time.
5. Once the chicken appears crispy on the outer skin layer, check the inside with a knife and then leave to rest for about 10 mins with foil very loosely placed on it. Serve with chips and restaurant style lamb ribs.

Montreal Chicken Pastry

Ingredients:
Ready made puff pastry
2 knobs of butter/margerine
400g boneless chicken cubed finely
Small red and yellow sweet pepper cubed finely
2 shoots of spring onions chopped
1 tsp crushed black pepper
(not finely grounded)
1tbs parsley flakes/freshly chopped parsley
1tsp mixed herbs
1tsp aromat
2 tbsp chopped mint
1tsp crushed green chillies
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp blended garlic & ginger paste

Method:
1. Melt butter in a pan and add chicken with the ginger and garlic paste, salt, chillies and all the dry spices including any dry herbs but not the fresh herbs yet. Let it cook uncovered, stirring occasionally till the chicken is cooked through
2. In a separate pan add another knob of butter and the peppers and spring onions. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper and let it cook on low heat till softened.
3. Add the cooked peppers to the chicken and mix together. Now add all fresh mint and parsley (if adding).
4. Cut the rolled puff pastry into squares and then slice the squares to make two equally sized triangles. Place filling on one triangle covering the whole triangle and the place the other triangle on top. Place in a high heated I’ve on gas mark 6-7 and cook for twenty minutes maximum till pastry is cooked.

Pineapple Salad

Ingredients: (Salad)
1 pineapple cut into small pieces
1 green pepper cut into julienne strips
1 red pepper cut into julienne strips
Carrots cut into julienne strips
1 onion sliced
Cucumber sliced (optional)

Ingredients: (Salad dressing)
1/2 cup yoghurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3-4 tbsp olive oil
3-4 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp sugar (less if you like)
1 tsp ground pepper
Garlic paste
Fresh coriander chopped

Method:
1. Chop and mix all the salad ingredients.
2. For the sauce whisk together the mayonnaise and yoghurt.
3. Then add the rest of the dressing ingredients and mix well.
4. Toss in the chopped pineapples, peppers, onions and carrots or serve separately. Finally garnish with fresh coriander.

Holiday Pilau

Ingredients (all fresh):
2 tomatoes
2inch piece of ginger
2 pieces of fresh garlic
Bunch of spring onions
Bunch of coriander leaves and stalks
1 green pepper
4 small new potatoes
2 handfuls sweetcorn
5 handfuls rice
1 tsp curry powder
1-2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Method:
1. Chop roughly and blend together the tomatoes, spring onions, coriander, ginger and garlic.
2. Heat a little butter or oil in a pot and add the blended ingredients. Add salt and spices and let it cook till mixture darkens slightly.
3. Then add finely chopped pepper, sweetcorn and cubed potatoes and cook till potatoes are 70% cooked.
4. Then add the washed rice and the same amount of water as there is rice plus a quarter more. Not too much. Taste and add salt if needed.
5. Let this cook on high heat for a few minutes and then on low heat for about 15 mins. Once cooked garnish with chopped herbs and serve warm with mint chutney.

Falooda Dessert

Ingredients:
6 cups of milk
1 1/4 tsp falooda/agar agar powder
1 tin carnation milk
1 tin condensed milk
Ice cream essence
Food colouring
Ground almonds & pistachios (optional)
Cardamom

Method:
1. In a sauce pan add milk and ghas powder. Once the milk is warm add carnation milk. Keep stirring and bring to a boil.
2. Then add condensed milk. Add colour of your choice and essence.
3. Set in individual bowls or one big bowl. Leave in the fridge until set.

Enjoy x

Love from Foodie Ayesha Kasu

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