This recipe is certainly not ‘Quick’ but it’s well worth the time. We were pottering in the kitchen between us for most of the afternoon in shifts! Oh and we used pretty much every utensil we have…..
Ingredients for the Za'atar:-
You can make batches of this seasoning mix and keep them in a jar for future use.
2 Tbsp of Toasted Coriander Seeds
2 Tbsp of Toasted Cumin Seeds
2 Tbsp of Toasted Sesame Seeds
1 Tbsp of Oregano
1 Tbsp of Thyme
2 Tbsp of Sumac
1 Tsp of Chilli Flakes
Salt & Pepper to season
Method:-
(1) Grind up the Coriander, Cumin and Sesame Seeds.
(2) Combine with the remaining ingredients.
Ingredients for the schug:-
2 Jalapeños, trimmed
2 Handfuls of fresh Coriander
3 Garlic cloves, minced
¼ of a Tsp of ground Cumin
¼ of a Tsp of ground Cardamom
1 Tsp of lemon juice
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Method:-
You can make this up to a week in advance and use it like hot sauce on anything.
(1) In a food processor, combine Jalapeños, Coriander, Garlic, Cumin, and Cardamom.
(2) Add lemon juice and Olive Oil until you have a texture you like.
(3) Season with Salt to taste.
(4) Set aside in the fridge.
Ingredients for the Tahini Cream Sauce:-
2 Tsp of Tahini Paste
220ml of Mayonnaise
Juice from ½ Lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Water to thin
Method:-
(1) Combine and set aside in the fridge.
Ingredients for the Israeli salad:-
1 large Cucumber, seeded and diced
2 plum Tomatoes, seeded and diced
½ small Red Onion, diced
1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
Juice from ½ of a Lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste
½ Tsp of Za'atar
Method:-
(1) Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl except the za'atar.
(3) Set aside in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
(2) Sprinkle on za'atar just before serving.
Ingredients for the Chicken:-
500g of boneless skinless Chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into cubes
1/2 Tbsp. Olive Oil plus more for frying
The Juice from 1/2 of a Lemon
¾ of a Tsp of ground Cumin
¼ of a Tbsp of Paprika
¼ of a Tsp of Allspice
¼ of a Tsp of Cinnamon
¼ of a Tsp of Chili powder
½ of a Tsp of Sumac
¼ of a Tsp of Garlic powder
¼ of a Tsp of Cardamom
Salt & Pepper to season
Method:-
(1) Marinade the Chicken in all the dry ingredients, Oil and Lemon juice in the fridge for a few hours.
(2) Fry over a medium heat until the Chicken is cooked and tender.
Ingredients for the latkes:-
2 Large Potatoes, grated and squeezed to death!
1 Egg, beaten
1 Tbsp all-purpose Flour (Gluten free for us)
½ of a Tbsp of Potato Starch (Optional)
¾ of a Tbsp of ground Cumin
¼ of a Tbsp of Paprika
¼ of a Tsp of Allspice
¼ of a Tsp of Cinnamon
¼ of a Tsp of Chili powder
½ of a Tsp of Sumac
¼ of a Tsp of Garlic powder
¼ of a Tsp of Cardamom
Salt & Black Pepper to season
Oil to fry
Method:-
(1) Dry the Potatoes very well with towels. Let them sit for 10 minutes for the starch to accumulate on the bottom.
(2) Add in the egg, flour and all the shawarma spice.
(3) Heat Oil in a frying pan.
(4) Scoop heaping spoonfuls of the Potato mixture and flatten slightly and fry until golden brown, for about 3 minutes, in batches.
(5) Flip and fry the other side.
(6) Drain on a rack over paper towels.
Drizzle the cooked Chicken with the remaining Lemon juice and serve immediately with Latkes and all the toppings.
We had a little Pork mince in the fridge so Sue decided to make a variation on her Monster Burger. We're calling this the Boar Burger! Yes it's a bit elaborate, but it was fun – tasted really goos and fed three of us ( Including Buster the Dog!) For less than the cost of a “Reasonably Content Meal from Burgers R Us”!!!! ( Let's not get into Registered Name wars - but you know the place I mean.....)
Burger Ingredients:-
200g Pork mince
1 small Onion, finely diced
Onion Salt
Garlic Salt
Black Pepper
Paprika
1 tsp of Capers
Dried Parsley
1 Egg to bind
Courgette Fritters:-
½ a Courgette sliced
Soaked in White Wine Vinegar for 20 minutes
Dredged in seasoned flour
Fried until crispy
Bun Dressing:-
Mayonnaise & Tomato Sauce
Method:-
(1) Prepare all the ingredients.
(2) Fry your burgers until cooked but not over done.
(3) Assemble as below.
Putting it all together:-
(1) Cut the bum in half (We used Sue's Gluten Free bun – Recipe here).
(2) Add your bun dressing to the bottom.
(3) Add the following ingredients from the bottom up – Lettuce, Sliced Onions, Sliced Tomatoes, your cooked burgers with cheese melted over, fried Bacon Bits and Courgette Fritters.
(4) Plonk the top on.
(5) Enjoy!
We served ours with Potato Fritters and home made Coleslaw.
Today's Round the World for £4 or Less took us to Qatar with Thareed “ Thareed is a very common dish made during Ramadan as it is light on the stomach. It is basically a crispy flat bread layered with meat soup. Thareed can be made with lamb, chicken, and also with just vegetables. “
Ingredients:-
6 Chicken Thighs
1 ½ I boiling water to make the Stock
1 Large Onion
3 cloves of Garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Oil
1 tablespoon Tomato purée cubed
1 large Courgette cut into think batons
1 large Carrot cut into 4 pieces
4 medium Tomatoes, chopped
2 Black Limes cut in half
3 Chillies sliced
3 cubes of Chicken Stock
1 tablespoon of Arabic Bizar spice mix – see below (Optional)
1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 teaspoon Black Lime powder
1 teaspoon Curry powder
1 teaspoon Coriander powder
1 teaspoon Cardamom powder
½ teaspoon Black Pepper powder
¼ teaspoon chilli powder
¼ cup Coriander, finely chopped
3 Pitta Breads opened out. (We used Gluten Free)
Method:-:
(1) Roast the Chicken thighs until cooked and set aside.
(2) In a large pot, heat the oil and sauté the onions until they get a nice golden brown colour. Don’t burn the onions. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant.
(3) Add the Tomato purée and all of the vegetables, except the Courgette. Mix together to coat the vegetables with the tomato paste.
(4) Add the Black Limes.
(5) Add the Chicken meat, Stock, and the remaining ingredients except the Courgette and Coriander.
(6) Add more water if necessary.
(7) Bring to a boil and then simmer until the potatoes are almost done. You can now add the Courgette and Coriander. and cook until the ourgette is fork tender.
This recipe suggested that we put the Pitta bread in the bottom of a large casserole dish and pour the Thareed over them. We did as we were told, but really they we a soggy mess! Just dip them and enjoy!
“P” in our Around The World for £4 Or Less took us to Peru yesterday. According to the recipe (Which we modified slightly to keep in budget) these are a favourite snack or street food with kids, which are often dipped in Tomato Sauce. To be fair we thought the mashed Potato would have benefited by the addition of a little Mustard and Salt. But that aside.....
Ingredients:-
2 eggs
3 pounds of Potatoes
1 large Onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of Garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Red Chillies, minced with Oil to make a paste
Vegetable oil, for cooking
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
250g mince Pork
3/4 cup beef stock
1/3 cup Capers
Salt & Pepper
Flour for dusting (We use Gluten Free flour)
Method:-
(1) Cook one of the eggs in boiling water until hard-boiled and set aside. Reserve the other egg.
(2) Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the unpeeled potatoes until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
(3) While the potatoes are cooking, cook the onions, garlic, and Chilli paste in the vegetable oil until soft and fragrant.
(4) Add the Cumin and Paprika to the Onions and cook 2 minutes more, stirring.
(5) Add the minced Pork and cook until browned.
(6) Add the Stock and the Capers and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes more, or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
(7) Season mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and let cool.
(8) When the potatoes are cooked, drain them.
(9) When they are cool enough to handle, peel them, and then mash the potatoes thoroughly.
(10) Season the mashed potatoes with salt and pepper to taste.
(11) Chill the potatoes uncovered for several hours.
(12) Once the potatoes are very cold, stir the reserved egg into the mashed potatoes until well mixed.
(13) Peel the hard-boiled egg and chop into about six pieces.
(14) With floured hands, place about 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes in one hand, and make a well in the center.
(15) Fill the well with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the beef mixture and a piece of hard-boiled egg.
(16) Shape the Potato around the Pork, adding more Potato if necessary to fully enclose the filling, and shape the whole thing into an oblong potato shape, about the size of a medium potato.
(17) Repeat with the rest of the mashed potatoes. Coat each stuffed "potato" generously with flour.
(18) In a deep a deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 180C.
(19) Fry the potatoes in batches until they are golden brown.
(20) Drain them on a plate lined with paper towels.
We enjoyed ours with home made Garlic Bread and Coleslaw. It sould like a lite snack, but these guys are remarkably filling.
We use Gram Flour (Chickpea Flour) quite a lot. It's inexpensive, filling and Gluten Free. Onion Bhajis are a favourite here and we've made various flat breads with it. Here's a recipe for something to dip in casseroles etc. It's also Vegan.
Ingredients:-
160 g Gram (chickpea) flour
2 tbls Oil
200g water
Salt and Pepper
Baking Powder
Garlic Salt
Chilli Flakes
Method:-
(1) Line a baking tray with parchment.
(2) Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
(3) Pre-heat the oven to 180c
(4) Allow the mix to sit for 10 to 15 minutes and give it a good stir.
(5) Spoon into the lined tray.
(6) Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
(7) Tip out onto a wire stand and allow to cool or serve hot.