Tomato, Onion and Chilli Salad

This refreshing salad is absolutely great with fried or grilled foods.  Serve this over rice with the Tandoori fish. Yummmmm..... Adjust the spiciness by increasing or decreasing the number of chillies.

Ingredients:
2 large tomatoes (chopped)
1 red onion (finely chopped)
1-2 green chillies (remove seeds and finely chopped)
1/2 lime
1tsp sugar
salt and pepper

In a non-metallic bowl, place all the igredients and mix well.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Taste and adjust with salt and pepper before serving.

Quick Fried Shrimp with Garlic

This is so good. Even my picky hockey player had two helpings.  If you love garlic this is the dish for you.  The spices really compliments the shrimp and you can make it spicy or mild.  Just play around with the amount of chili powder and cayenne.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coarsely chopped garlic (about 2 large heads)
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt (more to taste)
Juice of 1 lime
2 tblsp chili powder
1 tblsp paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne (more to taste)
2lbs medium-large shrimp (shelled and deveined)
3 tblsp cilantro (roughly chopped)
Slices of lime
Salt and pepper

In a small sauce pan add olive oil and garlic.  Using medium heat, cook until garlic is lightly brown.  Add chili powder, paprika and cayenne.  Continue stirring for another minute.  Add the lime juice and continue cooking for another 8 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a separate bowl, season the shrimp with salt and pepper.  In a deep frying pan, add 3 tablespoon of the oil (make sure you do not include the garlic) from the sauce pan. Make sure pan is hot, add 4-5 pieces of shrimp.  Quick fry the shrimp in batches for about 3-4 minutes.  When shrimp is pink and opaque, transfer to a bowl.  Continue to add the oil from the sauce pan without the garlic while cooking the shrimp in batches until all the shrimp is done.  Strain the garlic from the sauce pan and add to the cooked shrimp.  Add the chopped cilantro to the shrimp. Toss shrimp, garlic and cilantro until it well mixed.  Season with salt and pepper if needed.  Serve with slices of lime and your favorite rice (i.e. Spanish, Cilantro lime etc.)

Fried Brown Rice

I recently wrote an article on brown rice based on a recent discovery that this very healthy food has changed. The new organic growing and processing methods has definitely changed this rice.  So, I decided to start adding brown rice to my repetoire.  Check out this new version of fried rice.  It goes great with any of your Asian dishes.

Ingredients:

2 tblsp sesame oil
2 green onions (chopped)
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 tblsp pine nuts
2 tblsp soy sauce
1 small red chillie (finely chopped)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 inch ginger (minced)
Salt and pepper

Heat sesame oil in a frying pan or work.  Add garlic and ginger, stirring continuously for approximately 1 minute.  Add green onions and pine nuts and continue stirring for  2 minutes until pine nuts have a light golden color.  Add the brown rice and the soy sauce.  Continue stirring until rice clumps are removed and rice is well incorporated with the other ingredients (approximately 3 minutes).  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Transfer to a bowl and garnish with the red chillie. Enjoy with your favorite Chinese or Asian toppings.

Brown Rice with Chicken and Chorizo

This is a hearty one pot meal.  The chicken combined with the chorizo and rice is similar to the classic Spanish dish called arroz con pollo.  The brown rice adds a nice twist.  Check it out.

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken thighs
3/4 lbs smoked or Spanish chorizo (cut into 1" thick slices)
2 tblsp olive oil
2 tblsp chopped fresh oregano or 1 tblsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper or less (to taste)
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 large onion (minced)
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups long grain brown rice (rinsed)
1/2 cup white wine
3 cups chicken broth
3 roasted red peppers (cut in strips)
1 cup frozen peas
Salt and pepper


Preheat oven at 400 degrees.  In a large dutch oven or a deep oven proof pan, heat the olive oil.  Add the sliced chorizo and cook for approximately 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove to plate with a slotted spoon.  Working in batches, add the chicken thighs.  Do not crowd.  Brown each side (about 4-5 minutes each). Remove from the pan and set aside. Once all the chicken thighs are done, Pour off some of the fat and grease, leaving approximately 3 tablespoon in the pot.  Add the onion and garlic stirring constantly until onions are lightly browned. Add the bay leaf, red pepper flakes and oregano and cook for another 30 seconds, then add the roasted red pepper.  Continue stirring for another 2 minutes, then add the brown rice.  Stirring constantly until rice is well coated and well mixed with the other ingredients.  Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes.  Add the wine and continue to cook for another minute.  Return the chicken and chorizo to the pan and add the chicken broth.  Season with salt and pepper and cover bringing it to a boil; add the peas. 

Transfer the covered pot to the oven and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes until chicken is done and rice is tender.  Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes covered before serving.

Vegetable Jambalaya

I am always trying to find vegetarian recipes.  I have friends who are vegetarian and it is always nice to surprise them with a special vegetarian dish.  I also like to bring a vegetarian dish to the office pot luck so that the vegetarians can enjoy as well.  This is a really beautiful and impressive looking dish.  The flavors are wonderful.  The original jambalaya calls for spicy sausage, but with this recipe, you don't miss it.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup brown rice
3 tblsp oilive oil
4 garlic cloves (minced)
1 red onion (large chopped)
1 eggplant (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1/2 can of baby corn on the cob (sliced in half)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 small broccoli head (broken into florets)
2/3 cup vegetable broth
8oz can chopped tomatoes
1 tblsp tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp creole seasoning
1/2 tsp chili flakes
Salt and pepper

Cook brown rice following package instructions or your normal cooking process.  When done, fluff with a fork to loosen and set aside.

In a large skillet or pan, heat oil and add onions and garlic.  Cook stirring constantly for 3 minutes until onions are translucent.  Add creole seasoning and chili flakes.  Stirring constantly, cook for approximately 1 minute to heat the spices.  Add eggplant, bell peppers and broccoli.  Continue stirring for another 2-3 minutes.  Stir in peas, corn and tomatoes and mix well with the other vegetables in the pan.  Add the vegetable stock and tomato paste stirring until tomato past is incorporated.  Season with salt and pepper to taste and let cook  covered in low heat for approxmately 15 minutes stirring occasionally.  Stir in the brown rice and mix well.  Cook for another 4 minutes. This is best served warm, so serve immediately.

Cuban Chicken with Chorizo and Rice

Don't let the long ingredients list scare you. Remember, you are making an entire meal in one dish.  The dish will be prepared in stages which makes it more manageable, marinading the chicken first, then preparing the rice. I tried it with andouille sausage for some interest and WOW! It was great. The andouille sausage gave the rice a nice bite. Do not use Mexican chorizo. The spices will overpower and not mix well with the other seasonings.  We had leftovers, and this was even better the next day. 

Ingredients for the chicken:

1/3 cup fresh lime juice (or key lime juice)

1/3 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

3 tblsp olive oil

1 tsp thyme

2 tblsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp allspice

Salt and pepper

4lbs chicken pieces

Combine all the ingredients above except for the chicken. Whisk until thoroughly mixed. place chicken pieces in a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade. Seal the bag and rub marinade around chicken. Place in refrigerator and allow to marinade for at least 4 hours turning bag occasionally.

Ingredients for rice:
1/4 lbs fully cooked Spanish chorizo or Portuguese linguica (chopped) (for spicier version, try andouille sausage)
2 cups onions (minced)
1 yellow bell pepper (chopped)
5 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 cups arborio rice or short grain white rice
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 medium tomato (chopped)
1 1/2 tblsp paprika
4-5 saffron threads
1 whole pimiento or roasted red bell pepper (thinly sliced)
1 tblsp olive oil
Lime wedges

Take chicken out of bag and save the marinade.  In a large deep frying pan heat 1 tblsp of olive oil. Gently fry the linguica/chorizo/sausage until lightly brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.  Fry chicken pieces skin side down about 2-3 pieces at a time.  Do not crowd. Brown each side approximately 4 minutes. Remove from pan and continue to cook the rest of the chicken pieces.  Transfer chicken pieces to a plate.  Pour off about half of the oil from the pan, leaving the othe half and return to the stove top.  Add onions and bell peppers.  Saute for approximately 4 minutes scraping the bottom of the pan to get all the browned pieces.  Add garlic and paprika, continue to stir for another 2 minutes.  Add the rice and continue to saute for another minute.  Add the chicken broth and tomatoes with their juice, saffron thread and the reserved marinade. Continue stirring and bring to a boil. Return the chorizo and stir, press the chicken pieces lightly into the rice mixture.  Reduce heat to low, cover and let cook for 20 minutes checking frequently to ensure bottom does not burn.  Add more broth or water (about 1/4 cup) if rice appears dry and stir to mix the liquid. Season with salt and pepper, stir and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Serve rice and chicken in a bowl with sliced limes.

Asian Steak with Spicy Mushrooms

This dish is beyond incredible!  It can be served with flour tortillas or over rice. Either way, you cannot go wrong.  If you do not have chipotle chile peppers, regular chilli powder will work as well.  Adjust the spicyness to your taste.

Asian Steak Ingredients:
2lbs steak skirt (trimmed)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tblsp honey
Juice of 1 small lime
6 cloves of garlic (minced or paste)
1 tsp ginger (paste)
8 flour tortillas (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Spicy Mushroom Ingredients:
1/2lb of sliced mushrooms (shitake or crimini - button will do in a pinch)
1 onion (sliced into rings)
2 tblsp olive oil
1 tsp of garlic (paste or powder)
2 tblsp rice vinegar
1 tblsp sugar
1 tblsp sesame oil
1 tsp of chipotle chili (paste or powder)
2 green onion stalks (chopped)
1 handful cilantro (chopped)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tblsp toasted sesame seeds

For Marinade: mix oil, soy sauce, honey, lime, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper in a bowl until well blended. Place steak in a glass dish or zip lock bag, pour marinade, seal and refrigerate over night.

Grill steaks on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes per side or until medium rare doneness.  If cooking indoors, add a little olive oil to a pan and heat until very hot (oil is smoking) and fry each side for 3-4 minutes per side or until medium rare doneness.  Remove steak and let it rest on a cutting board for approximately 5-8 minutes.  Slice thinly on a diagonal.

For the spicy mushrooms, heat the oil on high. Add mushrooms and saute for 1 minute.  Add the onion rings and continue to cook until mushrooms and onions begin to brown; add the chipotle pepper and garlic.  Continue stirring for approximately 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl.  Add green onions, rice vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and cilantro. Mix well.

Place steak on warm tortillas or over jasmine rice.  Top with the spicy mushrooms and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.  Yummmmmmm!

Eggplant with Chilli Sauce (Terong Belado)

This is another Indonesian favorite that can be found in street stalls.  It is great with rice and with the Kashmiri pork chops.  The small eggplants with stems make a great presentation when cut in half but are still connected. Again, adjust the amount red chillies to suit your taste.  If you don't like it spicy, remove the chillies completely or just add one (1).

Ingredients:

4 small eggplants or 2 large eggplants

4 tblsp oil (coconut, peanut or olive oil)

1 onion (minced)

6 cloves garlic (minced)

1inch fresh ginger root (minced)

3 red chillies (seeded and minced)

14oz can of diced tomatoes (drained)

3 tsp sugar

Juice of 1 lime

Salt and pepper to taste

1 handful of cilantro (chopped) for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (Gas 4). Butterfly eggplants, be sure not to cut all the way through. Brush the cut eggplants with half of the oil.  Bake in the oven for 40 minutes (for large one, until soft and tender).

In a small food processor, add onion, garlic, ginger, red chillies to create a paste.  In a pan, heat the oil.  Add the paste and cook for approximately 2 minutes stirring constantly.  Add the tomatoes, sugar and lime juice. Continue stirring for another 3-4 minutes; add salt and pepper to taste.

When eggplants are done, remove from oven,  using the back of a small spoon, push down in center of each eggplant half creating a pocket or identation.  Spoon the sauce into the dip or pocket.  Fill each generously.  Garnish with the chopped cilantro and serve with basmati rice or a pulao.

Charred Chili Relleno

This is a great vegetarian dish I made  for lunch when my friends Nita and Vera came over to prepare gifts for the volunteers of My Friend's Place.  They absolutely loved it! My husband came back for more and Nita (the vegetarian) wanted the largest stuffed pepper. It is definitely in my repetoire of "must do again".

Ingredients:

4 large poblano peppers
3 cups frozen corn kernels
4 tblsp peanut or vegetable oil
1 red onion (finely chopped)
1 jalapeno, (seeded and minced)
6 cloves garlic (minced)
3 tomatoes (chopped)
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper
1 cup shredded Chihuahua cheese, Asadero or Monterey Jack

Preheat broiler on low.  Place poblano peppers in a shallow pan and lightly coat with  2 tblsp of the oil. Place the poblano peppers in the broiler for 15 minutes, rotating occasionally. Remove from the broiler and allow to cool. Remove outer skins carefully without tearing the peppers (keep whole).
In the meantime, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot add  the onions and until edges appear char.  Reduce heat to medium and add cumin, garlic and oregano.  Continue to stir and heat through.  Add corn and jalapeno and continue to cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Return heat to medium-high and add tomatoes; season with salt and pepper. Cook another minute or 2 then turn pan off.

Split the charred peppers open on one side only, not in half with small sharp knife. Remove the seeds with a small spoon. Place peppers in a shallow baking dish and stuff each split pepper with lots of the corn mix, top each pepper with 1/4 cup of cheese and place back under broiler to melt and char the cheese. Serve with Cilantro Lime Rice (included in this blog) or Spanish rice.

Chicken Tikka Masala

This is probably one of the most popular Indian dishes.  This is a recent invention made in one of the restaurants here in the United States.  Oven roasted or grilled chicken will work as well if you do not have tandoori chicken. To make Tandoori chicken all you need is Tandoori paste, which can be purchased in most ethnic grocery stores,  mix it with 1 cup of yogurt. Marinade the chicken piece then broiler in the oven.

Ingredients:

8 pieces cooked Tandoori chicken

1 14oz canned chopped tomatoes

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

2 tblsp butter

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1 fresh red chilli (seeded and minced)

3 tsp cumin

3 tsp paprika

salt and pepper to taste

Cilantro sprigs for garnish

Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add garlic and chilli and stir fry for 1 minute. Stir in cumin and paprika. Continue to stir for another 30 seconds.  Do not allow spices to burn.  Add  the tomatoes with juice and continue stirring.  Stir in the heavy cream and allow sauce to simmer in low for 10 minutes stirring frequently. Sauce should thicken.

Remove bones from the chicken pieces.  Add the chicken pieces to the sauce.  continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes or until chicken is heated through. Garnish with cilantro.

Korean Beef with Spicy Chinese Cabbage

For ten years, a group of us prepared dinners for the terminally ill with AIDS.  They loved spicy foods and one Sunday, we were asked if we could prepare Korean food.  Doing some research, I found this recipe and made some adjustment to "Americanize" it and it turned out better than we had hoped.

Beef w/Marinade:

1 1/2lbs sirloin (cut in 3/4in thick)

1 tblsp sesame seed

1/3 cup soy sauce

2 scallions (finely chopped)

1 tblsp sugar

1 tblsp dark sesame oil

1 tblsp fresh ginger (minced)

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

Chinese Cabbage:
1 medium (1 1/2lb) Chinese/napa cabbage
1 tblsp vegetable oil
3 scallions (chopped)
1 tblsp ginger (minced)
4 garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp ground hot pepper
2 medium carrots (shredded)
2 tblsp rice vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

To make the marinade, heat a small skillet.  Add the sesame seeds and stir constantly until toasted and brown.  Do not allow it to burn. Remove and place on a plate to allow to cool.  Crush the sesame seed and place in a bowl.   Add the remaining marinate ingredients into the bowl. Add the steak and rub the marinade into the steak. Cover and allow to marinade as long as possible at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

For the spicy cabbage, cut the cabbage in half and cut into strips. Do not include the core. Heat the oil until very hot. Add the scallions, ginger and garlic. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds. Do not let garlic burn. Add the cabbage, continue to stir fry.  Add chicken broth, salt and hot pepper. Cook stirring constantly.  Add carrots and continue to stir until cabbage is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar, stir and cover; remove from heat and keep warm.

Preheat broiler. Remove the meat form the marinade. Reserve the marinade.  Place meat on a broiler rack and broil turning once until cooked to desired doneness (7 minutes for medium rare).

Pour marinade into a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for approximately 2 minutes. Set aside.

Remove meat from broiler allow to sit and rest.  Spoon rice into a shallow bowl, top with the spicey cabbage and the sliced meat.  Drizzle some of the heated marinade on top.  Serve immediately and enjoy!

Kashmiri Style Chops

The cooking method to this is pretty interesting...so I had to try. It came out really great! I paired it up with the wild rice and mushroom pilaf and it was dinner. So simple.  I know it sounds very different, but I recommend it, you will not be disappointed.

Ingredients:
6 pork chops or lamb chops
1 piece cinnamon bark
1 bay leaf
1 tsp fennel seed
1/2 tsp peppercorns
4 green cardamon pods (pierced)
3 1/2 cups of milk (use whole)
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tbsp flour
1 1/2 tsp chilli powder
1 1/2 tsp of ginger pullp
1 tsp garlic pulp
1 tsp garam masala
salt and pepper
enough oil to fry chops

In a large sauce pan, place chops with milk, cinnamon bark, bay leaf, fennel seeds, peppercorns, cardamom pods, and salt. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and continue to cook for another 15 minutes or until chops are cooked through.

In a bowl, mix yogurt, flour, chilli powder, ginger pulp, garlic pulp, garam masala, salt and pepper. Mix until well blended.  Remove the chops from the milk and coat with the spicy yogurt mixture.

Heat oil in a frying pan. Make sure oil is not smoking or very hot. Use medium to low heat. Add the chops, fry until one side is golden brown, turn them over and brown the other side. When done, transfer to a serving dish and serve with lime quarter and your favorite rice.

NOTE: To make it spicier, just increase the chilli powder, garlic and ginger pulp, and garam masala in the spicy yogurt mixture to suit your taste.

Sweet-Spicy Mexican Meatballs

This is a great recipe! I've made this for special ocassions and those potluck lunches at the office.  This is really a very easy dish, but it does take some time since you make your own meatballs.  I have made it with pre-made meatballs and it does work if you want to do that.  The homemade meatballs have more flavor since you add some wonderful spices and raisins.

This is not your everyday Tex-Mex dish. This gives you a glimpse of another part of the Mexican culture.  Serve it with the Cilantro Lime Rice and fried plantains and you have an authentic south of the border menu. 

Ingredients:
1/2 lb of ground beef
1/2 lb of ground pork
1/4 cup finely crushed tortilla chips
1 egg (slightly beaten)
1 onion (minced)
6 garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp raisins
1 tbsp dark brown sugar
1 tbsp cider vinegar
1 14oz can of tomatoes  (drained and finely chopped)
1 1/4 cup beef bouillon
1-2 tbsp chili powder (if you use 1tbsp, increase paprika by 1 tbsp)
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp cilantro (chopped)
1 tbsp mint (chopped)
2 tbsp of olive or canola oil (plus additional for frying meatballs)
2 sweet potatoes (peeled and chopped in bite-size pieces)
salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl mix the pork, beef, tortilla chips, egg, half the onion, half the garlic, cumin, cinnamon and raisins. Mix ingredients well. Using a spoon, separate even amounts of the meat mixture and create into meatballs. In a pan, add enough oil to fry the meatballs.  When the oil is heated, fry the meatballs. Avoid overcrowding as you cook.  Once the meatballs are brown, set them aside.

In a food processor or blender, combine brown sugar, vinegar, tomatoes, bouillon, chilli powder, paprika, and the rest of the onions and garlic. Process until well blended. then add the cilantro and mint.

You can use the same skillet that you fried the meatballs. Use 2 tbsp of oil (remove excess) from the pan. Once the oil is heated, add the chopped sweet potatoes and cook until tender and light golden brown. Add the sauce from the food processor and meatballs.  Cook for approximately 10 minutes until the sauce is hot and the meatballs are heated  through. This gives the flavors a chance to combine.  Season with salt and pepper.