Nepalese Tarkari Curry

This is one of the easiest curries I have ever made! It basically makes itself to be honest, all you need is the vegetables and the casserole!

Ajwain seeds are these amazingly fragrant seeds that make your nose smile! Honestly, I was first introduced to them when I was working for a brief time in an Indian kitchen, and I remember me and my colleagues would smell them and just be in awe at the amazing scent!

Nepalese Tarkari Curry
(Serves 2-3)

Doesn't photograph well, but tastes delicious!

2 tbsp oil
1 white onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1/2 turmeric
1/2 ajwain seeds
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
3 cups chopped vegetables (potatoes, courgettes, carrots, peas, cauliflower) diced
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander to garnish

Rice and naan to serve

- In a large pot, heat the oil on medium heat and soften the onion for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and fry for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Add the spices - cook fora minute to release flavour.

- Cook the rice as instructed on the packaging.

- Add the vegetables, tomatoes, splash of water along with salt and stir until combines well. Cover and cook on low heat for about 30 minutes,stir occasionally, add a little more water if it looks a bit dry.

- Serve along with rice and naan, topped with fresh coriander!

I also thought I would include some pictures of Glasgow when it was sunny the other day, as these days seem few and far between. But on those occasions when you can spot the sky... it is so worth it!

The river Kelvin running through the Kelvin walk that is connected to the Botanic Garden - stunning! I love that little waterfall, and sometimes you can see a heron sitting on the other side of it.

The Kelvingrove Art Galleries - and look at that sky! This building is beautifully lit up at night all year'round as well *smiles*

I keep saying this is my favourite view in Glasgow... I think it is!

Architecture! I thought it was nifty how that upper part actually has a space and isn't a window like the one below....

Original source:
Red Cross Foodie Fest Team

- Jules

Sweet Potato Jollof Rice from Sierra Leone

Jollof Rice is something I have never tried before, but it sure was a hit with my friends and boyfriend! It is basically an African version of risotto almost. The simple flavours in this goes a long way, and one of my friends wanted the recipe!

As suggested by Red Cross, I used roasted dice of sweet potato instead of chicken - it was a treat! Also, the spice provided for this dish was ground crayfish, but they mentioned that this was used for a salty flavour, like salt, tamari and soy sauce is used, so I opted for a few tablespoons tamari instead!

Sweet Potato Jollof Rice from Sierra Leone
(Serves 4)

1 large/2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into dice
1 thinly sliced onion
1 tbsp fresh or dry thyme
2 tbsp tamari/soy sauce/salt to taste
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 veggie stock cube (1 heaped tbsp veggie stock powder)
360g long grain or basmati rice
1 red pepper, sliced lengthways
2 finely chopped garlic cloves
400ml can chopped tomatoes
Thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, grated
Handful fresh coriander to goarnish with (I totally forgot I had it in the fridge!)

- Pre-heat the oven to 190C, have the diced sweet potato in a bowl and drizzle with oil, salt and pepper. Place in the middle of the oven and roast for abut 20-25 minutes until tender.

- In the meantime, fry the onions in a large casserole for about 5 inutes until soft. Add the thyme, tomato puree, garlic, chopped tomatoes and ginger and fry for a further few minutes until heated through and bubbling. Turn down the heat.

- Add the stock, tamari/soy/salt and pour in 600ml boiling water. Add the rice and the sweet potatoes, cover with a lid and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes until the rice is juuuust done.

- Scatter over with the red peppers and place the lid back on, cook for a further ten to achieve that lovely creamy texture.

- Before serving, stir a little to allow the peppers to run throughout the dish and serve topped with freshly chopped coriander.

Et voila!

I hope you have had a lovely start to your week! I am currently recovering from a superbug I must have caught over the weekend - boo! But I shall recuperate soon enough, and take on the world again once I have!


Original Source:
Red Cross Foodie Fest Team

- Jules

Syrian Potato & Chickpea Kibbeh

Hey!

As I mentioned previously, I had a Foodie Fest kick started thanks to Red Cross, they gave me a spice kit and lovely recipes, and when I got in touch with them with regards to not all the recipes being vegetarian - they were quick to help and provide me with suggestions for meat free dishes, as well as including some desserts from all over the world. The five mains I rattled up that day were delicious! Some of them I will share with you here.

When I saw the recipe for Kibbeh, a Syrian version of the meatloaf, I was a bit daunted by making it vegan - simply because I know usually egg and meat binds it all together - but you know what? This was frigging delicious! Super filling, so don't be too greedy! These are perfect to cut into squares and bring in to work with some fresh salad on the side.

Syrian Potato & Chickpea Kibbeh
(Serves 8 - with salad on the side)

450g bulghur wheat
400g can chickpeas
3 medium potatoes
250g flour (I used Spelt)
30g fresh parsley, finely chopped
30g fresh mint, finely chopped
4 spring onions, finely chopped
1tsp cayenne (I used smoked paprika for a milder version)
1 tsp Baharat spice
1-2 tsp salt (because it is SUCH a bit batch)
250ml olive oil
Yogurt to serve (optional)

- Start by boiling the potatoes for about 15 minutes until soft, drain and rinse the chickpeas and add in with the potatoes, boil for a further 5 minutes (or until soft) drain well and mash.

- Rinse the bulghur wheat three-four times in cold water, drain and set aside.

- In a large mixing/salad bowl have the mash, potato, flour herbs, followed by the remaining ingredients along with 200ml of the olive oil - mix well until you have a sticky dough.

- Pre-heat the oven to 200C.

- Brush a baking dish with olive oil (mine was about 30x15cm). Tip in the dough and pat flat, it works best if you get your hands down and dirty! Pat flat and cut diamond shapes about 2.5 cm (one inch) down, and pour over the remaining oil - this will help the Kibbeh cook through.

Place in the middle of the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes, until it is brown and crispy on top. Cool for a bit before serving. This dish also works great as part of a feast!

OH and you know those fancy floral teas you can get at some sushi restaurants? I finally got to try one! Mine had marigold, green tea and coconut and it was really lovely, subtle flavours.... Mmmmm... I took a couple of snaps - have you tried them before?

I hope you have had a lovely start to your week! I had a lovely walk back from work as the sun was still out and it was quite toasty! Now I have put my feet up, and am ready to just relax before heading to Bedfordshire... zzZZzzz


Original source:
Red Cross Foodie Fest Team

- Jules

Fluffy Apple & Streusel Muffins

A Taste of Madness is safe to say one of my favourite blogs. Cathleen posted some wonderful Pear and Streusel muffins the other weeks - and I simply had to try them!

The weather last week... wasn't the best, so why not infuse the flat with cinnamon? Yes, please!

Instead of pear, I opted for apple since I already had them at hand, but I will make these time and time again - varying the fruity fillings! I can imagine adding sliced almonds to them as well, y'know - just to be fancy!

Fluffy Apple & Streusel Muffins
(Makes about 15)

2 cups flour (I used spelt)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
A good pinch salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup sugar (I use Half Spoon)
2 large eggs, lightly beat
1 apple (or pear), cored and finely diced

For the Streusel (where the magic happens)
1/3 cup sugar (preferably brown)
1 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1-2 tbsp butter, melted

- Pre-heat the oven to 180C.

- In a bowl, apart from the sugar - mix together all the dry ingredients and set aside.

- Cream butter and sugar until it goes white, and then add your eggs, and vanilla extract. Make a well in the dry flour mix and pour in the butter. Stir well to combine before adding the apple and fold in gently, set aside.

- Mix all the ingredients for the streusel, until you have a crumbly or smooth mix (it really doesn't matter the consistency as it will almost sort of caramelise in the oven - yum!).

- Divide the muffin mixture between 15 cupcake cases (the larger ones you get, fill them up about half full). Then spoon over a little bit of the streusel on each. Place in the middle of the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes (mines took 20 minutes) until a toothpick comes out clean when you check it. Leave to cool slightly before serving. These are almost like a single serving cake, and when I bit into them, I though "This'd be amazing with ice cream!". So by all means... mmmm add ice cream on the side!

Today - I am currently in the middle of a MASSIVE cooking mission, because I am having a charity Foodie Fest to support Red Cross. I received the recipe pack and spices a few weeks ago, and noticed only one out of five recipes were veggie. When I mentioned that to Red Cross, they were really helpful and gave me ideas for substitutes for the meat - and you know what? All the food that I'm making will be vegan! Hopefully I get a few snaps of the dishes before they disappear, so far it all seems pretty tasty! I will keep you posted! Tomorrow, needless to say I will do nothing... Yesterday I went to see Suicide Squad with my boyfriend, it was really interesting to see a movie with no "good guys" and I enjoyed it, although the special effects was maybe a little too much - but cartoons were always about the POW and the SWOSH weren't they? Part of the charm methinks!

How is your weekend going so far?


Original recipe
http://www.atasteofmadness.com/2016/07/pear-streusel-muffins.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ATasteOf+%28A+Taste+of...%29

- Jules