Posts

Showing posts from April, 2025

Crispy Crouton Salad with Creamy Garlic-Mayo Dressing

Image
Crispy Crouton Salad with Creamy Garlic-Mayo Dressing A refreshing, colorful salad packed with crunchy croutons, juicy pomegranate, and a creamy garlic dressing. Perfect as a light meal or a side dish! Ingredients Dressing: 2–3 garlic pods, finely minced 1 tbsp white vinegar Juice of 1 fresh lime 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2 tbsp mayonnaise 2 tbsp plain yogurt  1 tsp dried marjoram or oregano ( adjust to taste) Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Salad: 1 cup iceberg lettuce, chopped ½ cup purple cabbage, finely shredded ⅓ cup pomegranate seeds A few  olives (optional) Cooked chicken (optional) 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese/ cheddar (optional) Croutons: 2 slices bread (white or whole wheat) 1–2 tbsp butter or garlic butter Instructions Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, vinegar, lime juice, olive oil, mayonnaise, and yogurt until smooth. Season with marjoram/oregano, salt, and peppe...

Egg Kebabs- Malabari style scotch eggs

Image
Egg Kebabs – Malabari Style Scotch Eggs A delicious Malabar twist on the classic Scotch eggs, these Egg Kebabs feature spiced beef and Chana dal wrapped around boiled eggs, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried to perfection. Crispy on the outside, flavorful and juicy inside – perfect as a snack or appetizer! Ingredients: 500 g boneless beef (bobby veal preferred) 125 g Chana dal ½ cup water 1–2 tsp crushed ginger 1–2 tsp crushed garlic Salt and pepper to taste 1 tsp paprika powder or red chilli powder ½ tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp cumin powder   1  tsp fennel powder 1 TSP coriander powder (optional) 1 tsp meat masala 1½ tsp garam masala Handful fresh coriander leaves Handful mint leaves 3 garlic pods 1 green chilli (adjust to taste) Small piece of ginger 8 Eggs (boiled and either left whole or halved) Beaten eggs (for coating) Breadcrumbs (for coating) Oil for deep frying Instructions: 1. Pr...

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Image
  Cheesy Garlic Bread  This Cheesy Garlic Bread is soft, buttery, and filled with melty mozzarella. Flavored with garlic and herbs, it's baked to golden perfection—warm, comforting, and delicious in every bite. Ingredients For the Dough 1 cup all-purpose flour ¼ tsp salt 80-100 ml (approx. ⅓ cup) lukewarm milk or water (plus 1–2 tbsp more if needed) 1 tsp active dry yeast 1 tbsp olive oil For the Garlic Butter ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted 1½–2 tbsp minced garlic Pinch of salt Chilli flakes, to taste Paprika, to taste Oregano or marjoram, to taste Dried basil to taste. Finely chopped parsley, to taste For the Filling Mozzarella cheese, shredded Finely chopped olives (optional) Finely chopped pickled jalapeños (optional) Instructions 1. Prepare the Dough In a small bowl, proof the yeast by mixing it with lukewarm milk or water. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. In a mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the proof...

Iskander Kebab

Image
Iskander Kebab (Turkish-style Doner with Bread and Tomato Sauce) A hearty and comforting Turkish dish made with juicy beef, freshly baked bread, and a flavorful tomato sauce, finished with a drizzle of ghee and a dollop of yoghurt. Ingredients For the Kebab (Beef Strips or Mince) 500g minced beef or thinly sliced beef strips 2 tbsp yoghurt 1 tsp paprika powder 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 small onion, finely chopped Salt and pepper, to taste For the Bread (Pide-style Flatbread) 1½ cups lukewarm water 1 tbsp instant yeast 1 tsp sugar or honey 3 to 3½ cups flour (white, brown, or a mix) Salt, to taste 1 egg white Black seeds (optional) For Brushing: 1 egg yolk 2 tbsp yoghurt Roasted sesame seeds and black seeds (optional) For the Tomato Sauce 1 tbsp olive oil 3–4 tbsp tomato paste 2 tomatoes, pureed 1–2 cups water Salt, pepper, paprika to taste 1–2 tsp jaggery or sugar To Finish 1–2 tbsp melted ghee or butter Labneh ...

Mutabbaq

Image
  Mutabbaq (Stuffed Savory Pancakes) Mutabbaq is a delicious stuffed flatbread, crispy on the outside and filled with flavorful fillings. This version uses homemade thin sheets made from chapathi dough, but spring roll sheets work great too! To Make the Sheets Ingredients: Chapathi dough (prepared in advance) Cornstarch Oil Method: Take 3 small dough balls and flatten them into discs. Brush each disc generously with a mix of cornstarch and oil . Stack the discs, press gently, and roll and cook in a pan slightly till it starts to dry or press them out using a roti maker . Peel apart the layers gently to get 3 thin sheets . Repeat to make a total of 12 sheets . Alternatively, you can use ready-made spring roll sheets or roll the dough very thin. Fillings Filling 1: Chicken & Egg 1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded( Cajun flavour) 3 eggs Spring onion, chopped 1 small onion, finely chopped Mozzarella cheese ( optional) Parsley Salt ...

Baked Sweet Potatoes

Image
Baked Sweet Potatoes A warm, comforting, and healthy snack that pairs beautifully with a cup of tea. Easy to make and naturally sweet — perfect for any time of day. Ingredients Sweet potatoes (as needed) Aluminium foil Instructions Preheat your oven or air fryer to 205°C (400°F) . Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt. Wrap each sweet potato in aluminium foil. Bake for 35–45 minutes , or until they are soft when pressed. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the sweet potatoes. Cool for a few minutes after baking. Unwrap , make a slit on top, and gently peel off the skin. Serve warm — best enjoyed with a cup of tea.

Mixed Vegetables Pickle

Image
  Mixed Vegetable Pickle (South Indian Style) This tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet pickle is packed with crunchy vegetables, the warmth of spices, and the richness of sesame oil. Perfect as a side for rice, rotis, or curd rice. Ingredients Vegetables: 1 cup cauliflower florets (small pieces) 2–3 carrots, chopped ¼ cup capsicum, chopped 10–20 dates, pitted 2 green chillies (adjust to taste) Aromatics & Fresh Herbs: 1 clove garlic, finely chopped A large piece of ginger, finely chopped (slightly more than garlic) A handful of curry leaves Whole Spices: ½ tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp fenugreek seeds Powdered Spices: 1-2 tsp turmeric powder 2 – 3 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder/ Chilli powder (adjust to taste) ½-1 tspn hing (asafoetida)  1 tbsp crushed mustard & fenugreek seeds (together) Other: Sesame oil or coconut oil (sesame oil is recommended for better flavour) Salt to taste ⅓ – ½ cup vinegar (adjust to taste) ...

Menemen ( Turkish- Style scrambled eggs with tomatoes and cream cheese)

Image
Menemen (Turkish-Style Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes and Cream Cheese) A hearty and flavorful Turkish dish made with tomatoes, eggs, and cream cheese. Perfect for breakfast or a light meal, best enjoyed with warm flatbread like khuboos. Ingredients: 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp olive oil (or use only butter or oil) ¼ capsicum, finely chopped (add green chillies if you prefer it spicy) 2 tomatoes, finely chopped or pureed 2–3 tbsp water 3 eggs Salt, to taste Black pepper, to taste ¼ tsp cumin powder ¼ tsp fennel seeds or powder 2 tsp paprika 3–4 tbsp cream cheese Fresh parsley, finely chopped (for garnish) Optional Add-ins: Chopped onions Garlic Green chillies Seasonings of your choice (even just salt and pepper works beautifully) Instructions: Heat butter and olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chopped capsicum (and chillies, if using) and sauté for a minute. Stir in the tomatoes and water. Cover and cook on low heat until the tomatoes are soft and pulpy. Gently mash the tomatoes with a sp...

Beef Kebab Shawarma

Image
  Beef Kebab Shawarma . Juicy spiced beef kebabs wrapped in soft saj bread with a creamy tahini-garlic sauce and a fresh herb salad. Toasted until golden and crisp—perfectly balanced, full of flavor, and irresistibly satisfying. Beef Kebab Shawarma Serves: 4–6 | Prep Time: 40 mins (plus chilling) | Cook Time: 20 mins Ingredients For the Beef Kebabs (Makes 6 kebabs) 500g minced beef 1 onion, finely chopped 1 tsp garlic paste 1 tsp ginger paste Handful of chopped parsley 1 end slice of bread (crumbled) or breadcrumbs (to help hold shape) 1–2 tbsp ghee Pinch of baking soda (to keep kebabs moist) Salt and pepper, to taste 2 tsp paprika powder ½ tsp fennel powder ½ tsp cumin powder 1 tsp garam masala 1 green chilli, chopped (optional – for extra heat) Instructions: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Cover and refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes. Soak skewers in water for a few hours to prevent burn...

Croissant Sandwiches

Image
  Smoked Turkey Croissant Sandwich A warm, café-style breakfast sandwich that’s quick to make but feels indulgent—perfect for mornings when you’re craving something a little fancy. Ingredients Croissants, halved horizontally Gouda cheese slices (or any cheese of your choice) Smoked turkey mortadella Fresh lettuce leaves Tomato slices Instructions Preheat the oven to 160°C . Slice each croissant horizontally, leaving one edge attached to keep it hinged. Place a slice of Gouda cheese inside the croissant. Toast in the oven for 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese softens. Remove from the oven and layer with smoked turkey mortadella, tomato slices, and fresh lettuce.  Close the croissant and serve warm—with a hot cup of coffee for the perfect breakfast treat.

Honey Caramelised Figs

Image
  Honey Caramelized Figs Sweet, warm, and lightly spiced, these caramelized figs are a simple yet delicious treat. Cooked in butter and honey with a hint of cinnamon, they’re perfect over toast, pancakes, waffles or ice cream for an effortless touch of indulgence. Ingredients: 1-2 tbsp butter (use salted or add a pinch of salt) 6-8 fresh figs, cut in half 2-3 tbsp honey ½ tsp cinnamon powder Instructions: In a pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the figs, and a pinch of salt if using unsalted butter. Cook the figs, turning occasionally, until they soften and caramelize. Turn off the heat, then drizzle with honey and sprinkle cinnamon powder. Mix gently. Serve warm over toast with cream cheese, pancakes, waffles or ice cream.