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Leila Ally Eshana Suleman

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Prawns PilaauIngredients:

2 kgs extra-large Prawns (peeled and deveined) 2 teaspoons Chilli Powder 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder 2 teaspoons Fine Salt teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 cloves garlic (crushed)

4 large onions (finely slivered and fried until browned caramelised)2 tablespoons Ginger/Garlic3 teaspoons Chilli Powder2 teaspoons Gharum Masala2 teaspoons Dhunia/Jeera Powder cup sour milkCurry Leaves (2 sprigs)2 green chillies (slit in halves)3 medium tomatoes (finely chopped or grated)Salt to taste3 cups Basmathi Rice ( cooked in salted water)Butter

METHOD:

Mix the first 6 ingredients well and set aside to marinate about 1 to 2 hours. Heat cup of cooking oil in a pot and drop the marinated prawns in. Quickly fry for 2 to 3 minutes and remove onto a plate and set aside.

Fry onion until nicely browned, remove half on a plate and set aside. Now add ginger/garlic, toma-toes, masalas/spices, sour milk, curry leaves, green chillies and salt. Allow to cook until all moisture evaporated and masalas start to slightly catch at the bottom of the pot. Add your prawns, toss well and remove pot from stove.

Cook rice in salted water until half done, drain and set aside.

To assemble: Add half the onions that you set aside to the bottom of your pot. Drop about a cup of rice over this, spreading evenly. Top with the prawn masala and then the rest of the rice. At this stage you could colour your rice with saffron (steeped in a little water) or with egg yellow colouring. Now drop the rest of the onion over your rice and dot with butter.

Gently pour 1 cup of water over the rice. Brush some butter/oil on a sheet of greaseproof paper and place over the rice (buttered side down). Cover with a lid and leave to bake in an oven (180C) for +- 30 minutes.

Serve with Dahi (sour milk salad), sambals or a tossed green salad or lemon pickle.

NOTE: You may add potatoes if you wish. Colour your potatoes with some egg yellow colouring and fry them evenly on all sides. Place them in a casserole dish, cover with a lid and microwave them on high for 5 to 10 minutes, until they are almost fully cooked through. Then place them over the prawn masala before topping them with rice, onion, etc.

Pepper Steak in Fresh CreamIngredients:

500g rump or tenderised steak (cut into strips)1 large onion (finely chopped)1 tablespoon ground ginger/garlic teaspoon freshly crushed black pepperSalt to taste1 cube beef stock200g mushrooms (wiped and sliced) cup sliced red peppers (optional)4 tablespoons flour cup fresh cream2 3 tablespoons cooking oil1 tablespoon butter2 -3 whole fresh red chillies (slit)A few curry leaves bunch chopped dhunia leaves1 sprig curry leaves

Method:

Add oil and butter to pot. Heat and add onions. Braise until softened and lightly browned. Add steak and ginger/garlic. Toss well and allow to cook +- 10 minutesRemove from stove and sprinkle flour over meat and allow to brown about 5 to 10 minutes (on high heat).

Add spices, slit chillies, stock cube, peppers and mushrooms. You will find that the flour sticks to the bottom of the pot, but that is fine as it will get absorbed into the gravy and that is what gives the dish its flavour.

Cook a further 15 minutes. Add fresh cream and cook on low heat until sauce thickened (10 to 12 minutes). If too thick, you may add a little water to thin out Garnish with greens and serve with mashed potatoes, crispy rolls or garlic bread/naan and freshly braised baby veggies. Delicious!!!!

PS: If you prefer a stronger (pungent) version, simply add 1 teaspoon of freshly ground red or green chillies during the cooking process

Braised Baby Veggies(This is very quick and easy to make and I buy my baby veggies fresh and freeze them in sealed bags so I always have them whenever I need)

Ingredients:

3 yellow patty pans (cut in halves)3 green patty pans (cut in halves)4 baby marrows (cut in 1 inch pieces)12 baby carrots1 small cauliflower (cut in bite sized pieces)1 small broccoli (cut in bite sized pieces)10 baby potatoes cup cubed sweet potato cup cubed butternut squash5 baby gem squash (cut in halves) Baby asparagus (optional)1 extra large onion or 2 medium (sliced)1 heaped tablespoon crushed garlicSalt to taste1 teaspoon whole jeera seeds1 teaspoon whole mustard seeds teaspoon fresh crushed black pepper cup cooking oil2 tablespoons butterDhunia and curry leaves to garnish

Method:

Heat oil in a large pot, throw in onions, jeera and mustard seeds and braise until golden brown, then add garlic. Throw in the harder veggies like the potatoes, carrots, butternut and sweet pota-toes first. Add salt and pepper. Cook on low heat. You may add a little water to aid in the cooking process. When these veggies are half done, add the rest of the veggies and cook until softened and cooked through. Top with blobs of butter and garnish with dhunia and curry leaves.

You must taste to ensure youve added sufficient salt. You can also add some dried chillies to the onion mix, or some ground chillies if you prefer some heat.

Serve with any grills or roasts. Excellent as an accompaniment to a braai. Delicious with steak and fresh cream and crispy rolls.

PS: Most baby veggies are sold in punnets, so I use what I need and freeze the rest. Place them in a sealed packet and freeze. They keep beautifully.

Tanduri ChickenIngredients:

1 kg large chicken pieces teaspoon freshly ground black pepper3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice1 teaspoon red food colouring1 teaspoon egg yellow food colouring1 cinnamon stick4 tablespoons butter ghee1 teaspoon ginger garlic1 teaspoon freshly ground garlicSalt to taste (fine salt)2 teaspoons freshly ground dhunia/jeera1 teaspoon paprika cup fresh creamA little olive oil1 teaspoon freshly ground green chillies1 sprig curry leavesDhunia to garnish

METHOD:

Wash chicken pieces and pat dry. Put spices into a bowl (including curry leaves) and make a paste with the ghee, food colours, fresh cream and lemon juice. Rub over chicken pieces, massaging the spices in and leave to marinate overnight for 2 to 3 hours.

Place in an oven pan and cover with foil. Bake at 180C for +- 35 minutes. Remove foil, lightly drizzle with olive oil and place under grill for a further 5 to 6 minutes until it becomes golden brown. Cover with chopped dhunia.

Or you could braai it.. delicious!Serve with potato wedges or roast potatoes and baby vegetables and crispy rolls.

Leg of Lamb with Rosemary and Garlic

Ingredients:

2kg leg of lamb2 large garlic cloves50g butter, softened15ml fresh chopped rosemary or 5ml driedSalt and freshly ground pepper to taste30ml plain flour 450ml chicken stockFresh rosemary sprigs to garnish

Method

1. Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the lamb into a diamond pattern, to the depth of about 12mm2. Cut the cloves of garlic into wafer thin slices. Push the slices into the scored surface of the lamb with your fingers3. Mix butter with the rosemary and seasoning and spread over the lamb. Place the joint in a shal-low dish, cover tightly with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours4. Uncover the lamb and transfer it into a medium roasting tin. Place in the oven and cook at 180C for about 2 1/2 hours, basting occasionally as the fat begins to run. Pierce the joint with a fine skewer, when done the juices should run clear at first, then with a hint of red. 5. Place the joint on a serving platter, cover loosely and keep warm in a low oven.

Sauce

Before serving make a sauce with the following1/2 cup tomato sauce2 tablespoons Worcester sauce2 tablespoons apricot jam2 tablespoons butterCook this gently on medium heat, and pour over leg after it has been carved.

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Spicy Roasted Baby Chickens

Ingredients

4 x Baby chickens2 teaspoons paprika powder2 cloves of garlic, crushed1 teaspoon jeera seeds2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds1 tablespoon fresh dhania leaves2 sprigs green shallots chopped1/3 (80ml) sweet chilli chutney2 tablespoons olive oil or sunflower oil1 tablespoon lemon juice1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary1/4 teaspoon sugar

Method

Combine baby chickens in a bowl with paprika, garlic, jeera seeds, dhania, shallots, chutney and oil. Cover and refrigerate overnight.Place chickens on a wire rack over a baking dish. Bake uncovered, in hot oven for about30 minutes or until chickens are tender, brushing with remaining marinade several timesduring cooking. Serve with honeyed carrots/sweet potatoes.

Red Saucy ChickenIngredients

1 chicken disjointed5 whole red dry chillies8 cloves of garlic5 ml jeera seeds5 ml salt80 ml white vinegar1 medium tomato5 ml egg yellow colouringA drop of red colouring12 ml very red chilli sauce (or any homemade or bought brand)25 ml ghee

Method

1. Wash and drain chicken well. 2. Put all the other ingredients in a blender and liquidise till fine3. Marinate chicken in this for a few hours4. Place in a pot with 2 tablespoons of ghee and cook slowly till done

Serve with hasselback potatoes

Hasselback Potatoes

Slice potato broad side facing you. Slice thinly across the potato, from one end to the other 3/4 of the way down, about 1/2 cm wide or thinner if you prefer. Keep potatoes in salted water. Fry them till they half way done, then add to chicken, or if you prefer, fry till done and serve it as a side dish.

Honeyed Carrots with Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

4 medium carrots2 small sweet potatoes50g butter melted1 tablespoon olive oil1 1/2 teaspoons ground jeera1 teaspoon jeera seeds1/4 cup honey2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Method

1. Cut carrots and sweet potatoes into circles2. Add carrots and sweet potatoes to a pot of boiling water, simmer uncovered, for 5 Minutes, drain.3. Combine butter, oil, ground jeera, jeera seeds and honey in a bowl, mix well. Place vegetables in an ovenproof dish, pour over butter mixture. Bake, uncovered in a hot oven for about 20 minutes or until tender, brushing with butter mixture throughout cooking. Sprin-kle with parsley and coconut or sesame seeds.

Pista Burfee

Ingredients

500g klim milk powder (sifted)1 small tin nestles cream cup ground pista (pistachios)1 tablespoon elachi powder (freshly ground)

Syrup:500g icing sugar cup milkA few drops rose essence6 tablespoons butter ghee1 tablespoon condensed milkA few drops green food colouringSlivered pistachios to decorate

Method:

Add sifted klim powder to a large bowl. Add the ground pista and elachi powder. Shake the tin of nestles cream well to ensure that it is evenly mixed. USE ONLY TIN NESTLES CREAM (and NOT the whole tin). Add a little at a time to the klim mixture and rub in well with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Set aside for a few hours or preferably overnight, tossing every now and then to allow it to dry. Put this mixture a little at a time through a coffee grinder or a food processor, though the coffee grinder is preferable as it gives a smoother texture. Set aside in a bowl.Now add the milk, rose essence, ghee and icing sugar together in a pot and bring to boil, then let simmer for 3 4 minutes until all the sugar is melted through. Now add this hot syrup to the ground klim mixture a little at a time, using a spoon to mix it to form a soft, pliable, sticky dough (or very thick batter). Be careful not to pour all the syrup in as you may not require all the syrup to make a dough. If you add all the syrup your burfee will be ruined as it will become runny and will not set.

Now add the condensed milk, a few drops of green food colouring and mix well. Grease a casserole bowl with some butter ghee and press the burfee mixture flat into the casserole. Top with pistachios and leave to set overnight. Slice into squares and serve. The burfee can also be scooped out into disposable paper cups (as for cup cakes) and decorated ac-cordingly.

NOTE: Burfee freezes very well. Just wrap in glad wrap and place in a sealed Tupperware contain-er and freeze. Allow to thaw at room temperature when needed.

LudhooIngredients:

2 cups gram flour1 cup water1 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon powdered egg yellow or ludhoo colouring1 teaspoon freshly ground elachi powder1 teaspoons butter gheeOil for fryingSlivered almonds for coating the ludhoosSyrup2 cups sugar1 cups water1 teaspoon egg yellow colouring2 to 3 drops rose essence

METHOD:

Drop all the syrup ingredients into a pot and bring to boil. Make a sticky, slightly thick syrup and remove from stove before it starts to spin a thread. If it does spin a thread, add a little water and mix well. Keep the syrup warm by keeping the syrup pot next to your hot oil.

Sift all the dry ingredients and rub in ghee. Make a thick batter with 1 cup water. Heat oil in a deep pan. Push the batter through a ludhoo maker or colander with large holes. Hold the colander over the hot oil, drop in the batter and use a spoon to press the batter through the holes into the oil. Fry the bhoondhis until light golden brown. Remove from oil with a slotted spoon, making sure to drain off all excess oil and immediately drop into warm syrup. When all the bhoondhis have been fried and added to the syrup, toss it well to ensure all bhoodhis are coated with the syrup. Leave this to soak 2 to 3 hours or overnight until all the syrup is absorbed (tossing at intervals).

Crush these soaked bhoodhis with a potato masher and shape into balls. Roll in slivered almonds, place on a tray covered in greaseproof paper and leave to dry a few hours or overnight. Place in a sealed container. Keep refrigerated after 2 days.

Can be frozen, but first wrap each ludhoo individually in cling wrap, then place in a sealed container and freeze. Defrost when needed.

NOTE: If the syrup is less and the bhoondhis are not properly soaked, make a little more syrup and pour it over, tossing well.

Petits FoursThe Sponge

4 eggs125ml castor sugar (105g)250ml cake flour (140g)2ml salt60g, butter, melted and cooled

The Filling

125ml smooth apricot jam (165g)20ml water

The Topping

250g marzipan (almond paste)Icing sugar

Glac Icing

750ml icing sugar (400g)15ml butterAbout 30ml boiling waterFew drops vanilla, almond or orange essence

For the Sponge

1. Whisk eggs and sugar together until pale and thick2. Sift flour and salt together; fold into mixture alternately with melted butter3. Pour into a lined and greased 23cm x 32cm rectangular tin. Bake in a preheated oven at 180C (350F) for 15 -20 minutes, until lightly browned4. Turn out onto a wire rack, remove lining paper and cool completely. Divide cake into two horizontally. 5. For Filling: Heat apricot jam and water and brush half over one layer, covering with second layer. Press down well and brush the top of cake with the remaining jam6. For Topping: Knead marzipan until smooth. Dust with icing sugar, and roll out thinly into a rectangle. Cover sponge with marzipan. Place greaseproof over and leave for 24 hours. Remove paper and use cutters to cut into various shapes, such as triangles, ovals or squares7. For Glac Icing: Mix all ingredients together to form a smooth and pouring consistency. Pour over petit fours to coat and leave to set. Decorate with chocolate, glace cherries, or pretty tiny flowers.

Makes 40

Chana MagajIngredients:

500g Chana (gram) Flour cup oil cup milk250g klim (2 cups)250g icing sugar (2 cups)1 cups ghee1 teaspoon elachi powder (freshly ground) teaspoon nutmeg powder cup chopped pecan or walnuts cup badam (almonds) slicedKeep an extra cup of ghee aside (for use if your magaj is too dry)

Method:

Sift klim and icing sugar together. Then add elachi and nutmeg powders. Set aside.Mix 1 tablespoon of ghee in the cup of milk. Sift the chana (gram ) flour in a large bowl and then add the milk/ghee a little at a time, rubbing it in until it resembles breadcrumbs. Leave this mixture aside to dry (2 3 hours) or overnight, tossing every now and then. Grind this mixture in a coffee or masala grinder until it resembles fine mealie meal.

Now add the ghee (1 cups) and oil (1/4 cup) to a large flat based pot and heat. Add the ground chana mixture to the heated ghee/oil and braise on low heat stirring continuously for approximately 30 - to 45 minutes Please be careful not to burn it, as it scorches easily. It must be almost (a little lighter) chocolate brown in colour when done. Remove from stove and leave to cool a little ( hour). Now add the klim/icing sugar mixture and mix thoroughly. Cover and leave it in the pot overnight. It will set and become hard. Crush this mixture with a fork and if it is too dry, add a little more ghee (from the cup you set aside). Add a little of the chopped pecans/walnuts to the mixture. Mix well and set in a casserole or deep tray. Decorate the top with the remaining nuts and leave to set.

NOTE: Recrushing and then setting is very important for perfect chana magaj.When braising make sure that it is properly fried so as not to leave a raw chana taste in your mouth.You can also add chopped pistachios

Caramel Coffee Cake

Ingredients

5 eggs1 cup castor sugar1 teaspoon cream of tartar1 teaspoon coffee dissolved in 2 teaspoons of water1 cup cake flourPinch of saltCarnation Caramel Treat for decorationPecan nuts for decoration

Method

1. Whisk the eggs and castor sugar till light and fluffy2. Whisk in the cream of tartar and the dissolved coffee3. Fold in the flour and salt and mix well4. Pour mixture into 2 x 20cm greased cake pans and bake at 180C for 35- 40 minutes5. When baked allow to cool. Sandwich and decorate with Carnation Caramel Treat and pecan nuts.

Cream Horns

Ingredients

1 quantity puff or flaky pastry1 egg white (beaten)60ml strawberry jam125ml fresh cream

Method

1. Roll out pastry into a rectangular shape, to a thickness of 3mm. Cut into strips 2,5cm wide. Brush these lightly with beaten egg white.

2. Grease cream horn moulds and with damp side inwards, turn strips around greased moulds, starting at the pointed end of the mould and making sure that the strips overlap

3. Brush with egg white and place on a greased baking tray.

4. Bake in a preheated oven at 220C (420F) for 8 - 10 minutes, until crisp and golden brown. Allow to cool

5. Place 5ml jam inside and fill with cream

Makes 12

Chocolate Mocha Cake (No Bake)

(Very quick and easy to make and deliciously divine!)

Ingredients:

2 cups cold fresh cream1 cups Mascapone Cheese cup sugar cup strong, black liquid coffee2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon instant coffee granules1 teaspoon vanilla essence2 to 3 packets of good quality chocolate chip biscuits (I usually make my own or buy those from the home bake shops)

METHOD:

Add all the ingredients (except the chocolate chip biscuits) into a bowl and whisk using an electric beater or cake mixer, starting at a low speed and when ingredients are all well combined, move on to medium speed, until the mixture forms stiff peaks.

Use a spring form pan, place a circle of greaseproof paper at the bottom and cover with a layer of choc chip biscuits, breaking up bits of biscuit to cover any spaces. Cover with a generous layer of Mocha cream (about 2cm thick). Repeat the layers ending with a layer of cream on top.Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Run a knife along the inside edges to help release the edges. Release the springs on the pan and gently remove the cake. Place on a platter and decorate with chocolate flake or choc curls. Serve cold.

Kulfi Ice Cream

Ingredients

2 litres milk1 1/2 tablespoons corn flour1/2 tin condensed milk1/2 cup almonds1/2 cup pistachios1 teaspoon ground elachiSugar to taste

Method

1. Blanch almonds and pistachios separately2. Liquidise almonds very fine in 1/2 cup of milk. Grind pistachios coarsely3. Meanwhile boil milk gently on stove till it thickens (like thin cream)4. Mix corn flour in a little cold milk and add to pot of boiling milk. Add condensed milk. Stir vigorously until a thin custard forms.5. Add in nuts and flavourings and simmer for a few minutes, remove from heat, cover pot and allow to cool. 6. Pour into mould and freeze. Unmould when needed